Retrospective 1975

Conflicts, wars, and geopolitical upheavals

• The fall of Saigon on April 30 marked the end of the Vietnam War and the imminent unification of the country under a communist regime.  
• Two weeks earlier, on April 17, the Khmer Rouge had taken Phnom Penh, establishing a totalitarian regime in Cambodia.  
• Lebanon entered civil war after Phalangist militiamen attacked a bus in Beirut on April 13.  
• On May 15, the U.S. launched a military operation in Cambodia to free the crew of the Mayaguez, considered the final battle of the Vietnam War.  
• Angola and Mozambique gained independence following Portugal’s Carnation Revolution, though Angola immediately descended into civil war.  
• Western Sahara became a contested territory following Spain’s withdrawal.  
• Indonesia invaded East Timor in December, shortly after its declaration of independence.

Politics and leadership

• Francisco Franco died on November 20, 1975, after 36 years of dictatorship. King Juan Carlos I began Spain’s democratic transition.  
• King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was assassinated by his nephew on March 25.  
• The Suez Canal reopened to navigation on June 5, after being closed for eight years since the Six-Day War.  
• Until November 3, Henry Kissinger held both positions of National Security Advisor and Secretary of State in the United States.  
• The UN adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons.  
• The G6, precursor to the G7, held its first summit at the Château de Rambouillet, initiated by French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing.

Culture, cinema, and music

• Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg, became the highest-grossing film of the year worldwide and redefined the concept of the summer blockbuster.
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, starring Jack Nicholson, was released.  
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show became a cultural phenomenon thanks to interactive fan screenings.  
• Tommy, a rock opera adaptation by The Who, featured Roger Daltrey, Elton John, Tina Turner, and others.  
• Queen released Bohemian Rhapsody, which disrupted radio norms and became an instant classic.  
• The Bee Gees shifted toward disco with Jive Talkin’, foreshadowing their late-decade dominance.  
• Captain & Tennille topped the charts with Love Will Keep Us Together.  
• David Bowie earned his first U.S. No. 1 hit with Fame, co-written with John Lennon.  
• Patti LaBelle made waves with Lady Marmalade and its provocative French chorus.  
• Sweet gained American popularity with The Ballroom Blitz.

Sports and entertainment

• Muhammad Ali won the legendary Thrilla in Manila fight against Joe Frazier on October 1, after 14 brutal rounds.  
• The Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup.  
• The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series.  
• The Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl IX.  
• The Golden State Warriors won the NBA Championship.  
• Niki Lauda claimed his first Formula 1 World Championship title.

Science, technology, and economy

• Microsoft was founded in April by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in Albuquerque.  
• Exxon was the world’s largest company by revenue in 1975, while IBM led in market capitalization.  
• The Apollo–Soyuz mission marked the first joint spaceflight between the United States and the USSR, symbolizing détente during the Cold War.  
• Soviet physicist Andrei Sakharov received the Nobel Peace Prize for his human rights advocacy, after having helped design the hydrogen bomb.  
• The world population reached approximately 4 billion, with more than 55% living in Asia.

Notable deaths

• Aristotle Onassis died on March 15 at age 69.  
• Bernard Herrmann, composer of Psycho, Citizen Kane, and Taxi Driver, died on December 24, the day he completed his final score.  
• King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was killed by a nephew during an official audience.  
• Francisco Franco died in November, ending nearly four decades of authoritarian rule.

Births of major figures

• Many international celebrities were born: Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet, Charlize Theron, Marion Cotillard, Enrique Iglesias, Bradley Cooper, David Beckham, Tiger Woods, Jack White. All would go on to become major figures in culture, sports, and the arts in the decades to follow.