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Major Events of September 1970: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from September 1970 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of September 1970: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Sep 1970 Assassination Attempt on King Hussein of Jordan: Palestinian guerrillas launched a coordinated attack on King Hussein's motorcade in an attempt to assassinate the Jordanian monarch. This event was part of the rising tensions between the Jordanian government and Palestinian militant groups during the period known as Black September.
  • 02 Sep 1970 NASA Cancels Apollo Moon Missions: NASA officially announced the cancellation of two planned Apollo lunar missions: Apollo 15 (which was later re-designated) and Apollo 19, marking a significant reduction in the lunar exploration program.
  • 03 Sep 1970 Nixon White House Plumbers Burglarize Psychiatrist's Office: The Nixon administration's secret investigative unit, known as the Plumbers, commits a significant breach of ethics by burglarizing the office of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist. Their goal was to find information to discredit Ellsberg, who had released the Pentagon Papers, marking a critical moment in the Watergate scandal.
  • 04 Sep 1970 Salvador Allende Elected President of Chile: Salvador Allende, a Marxist Senator from the Socialist Party, was democratically elected as the President of Chile, defeating his opponents Jorge Alessandri and Radomiro Tomic in a significant political moment for Latin American history.
  • 05 Sep 1970 Operation Jefferson Glenn in Vietnam War: During the Vietnam War, the United States 101st Airborne Division and the South Vietnamese 1st Infantry Division launched Operation Jefferson Glenn in Thua Thien-Hue Province, representing a coordinated military effort to combat North Vietnamese forces.
  • 06 Sep 1970 Jimi Hendrix's Final Performance: Legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix performed his last ever concert at the poorly organized and rain-soaked Love and Peace Festival on the Isle of Fehmarn, Germany, tragically marking the end of an iconic musical career.
  • 07 Sep 1970 PLO Hijacking Incident: The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) hijacked four planes, a significant terrorist action that drew international attention to the Palestinian struggle and heightened tensions in the Middle East.
  • 08 Sep 1970 Black September: Palestinian Hijacking of Airliners: A significant terrorist event where Palestinian militants hijacked three airliners and forced them to land in Jordan, marking a critical moment in Middle Eastern conflict and international terrorism. These hijackings would escalate tensions and lead to the conflict known as Black September.
  • 09 Sep 1970 Attica Prison Rebellion Begins: On September 9, 1970, inmates at New York State's Attica Correctional Facility initiated a historic prison uprising that would become one of the most significant prison protests in U.S. history. The rebellion, which lasted until September 13, 1970, would ultimately result in a violent confrontation with state authorities, highlighting systemic issues of prison conditions and racial tensions.
  • 10 Sep 1970 Black September Airplane Hijackings: On September 10, 1970, Palestinian terrorists hijacked four airplanes in a coordinated terrorist operation known as the Dawson's Field hijackings. This event was part of the Black September conflict and was a significant moment in the Palestinian-Israeli tensions, dramatically highlighting international terrorism and leading to major changes in airline security protocols.
  • 11 Sep 1970 Dawson's Field Hijackings: Hostage Release: On September 11, 1970, Palestinian terrorists hijacked four commercial aircraft in Europe destined for New York City. During this complex terrorist operation, 88 hostages were released, while the remaining hostages, predominantly Jews and Israeli citizens, continued to be held captive until September 25.
  • 12 Sep 1970 Concorde's First Heathrow Landing: The revolutionary supersonic airliner Concorde made its inaugural landing at London's Heathrow Airport, marking a significant milestone in commercial aviation technology and international transportation.
  • 13 Sep 1970 Attica Prison Riot: A violent confrontation occurred at Attica Correctional Facility when state troopers, sheriff's deputies, and prison guards stormed the prison. The tragic event resulted in the deaths of 31 prisoners and nine guards who were being held hostage, becoming a significant moment in the history of prison rights and law enforcement.
  • 14 Sep 1970 Abraham Zapruder, JFK Assassination Witness, Dies: Abraham Zapruder, the Dallas dress manufacturer who captured the only close-up motion picture footage of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, died of cancer in Dallas at age 65. His 8mm film became a crucial piece of historical evidence and was instrumental in subsequent investigations of the tragic event.
  • 15 Sep 1970 King Hussein Establishes Military Government: In response to escalating tensions with Palestinian guerrillas, King Hussein of Jordan formed a military government and appointed Muhammad Daoud as prime minister, signaling a significant political and military restructuring.
  • 16 Sep 1970 Black September: Jordan's Military Response to PFLP Hijackings: On September 16, 1970, King Hussein of Jordan declared military rule following the hijacking of four civilian airliners by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). This crisis led to the formation of the Black September Palestinian paramilitary unit, marking a critical moment in Middle Eastern conflict.
  • 17 Sep 1970 Black September: Jordanian Civil Conflict with Palestinian Guerrillas: A significant internal conflict erupted in Jordan, known historically as the Black September, where Jordanian military forces launched a comprehensive offensive against Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) guerrilla groups. The conflict involved complex geopolitical dynamics, with indirect support from the United States and Israel, and included intense military operations such as air strikes using napalm against Palestinian militant camps.
  • 18 Sep 1970 Death of Jimi Hendrix: Legendary rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix died in London from drug-related complications at the young age of 27, marking a tragic end to one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. His groundbreaking electric guitar techniques and innovative musical style had revolutionized rock and blues music in the late 1960s.
  • 19 Sep 1970 First Glastonbury Festival: Michael Eavis inaugurated the legendary Glastonbury Festival on his farm in Glastonbury, United Kingdom, marking the beginning of what would become one of the world's most iconic music and performing arts events.
  • 20 Sep 1970 Soviet Luna 16 Moon Landing and Sample Collection: The Soviet spacecraft Luna 16 successfully landed in the Moon's Mare Fecunditatis region, becoming the first robotic probe to autonomously collect and return lunar geological samples to Earth. This mission represented a significant milestone in lunar exploration and Soviet space technology.
  • 21 Sep 1970 Luna 16 Departs Lunar Surface: The Soviet space probe Luna 16 successfully leaves the Moon's surface after collecting a core sample, representing a significant achievement in lunar exploration and sample return missions.
  • 22 Sep 1970 Dr. Alice Hamilton, Pioneering Harvard Professor, Dies: Dr. Alice Hamilton, a groundbreaking American physician who became the first woman appointed to Harvard University's faculty in 1919, passed away at the age of 101. Her work significantly advanced occupational medicine and workplace safety.
  • 23 Sep 1970 Abdul Razak Hussein Becomes Malaysian Premier: Abdul Razak bin Hussain assumes the role of Prime Minister of Malaysia, marking a significant transition in the country's political leadership during a period of post-colonial development.
  • 24 Sep 1970 Federal Intervention in Little Rock School Integration: Federal troops were deployed to Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce the integration of Central High School and protect African American students' constitutional right to education. This event was a critical moment in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting the federal government's commitment to desegregation and equal educational opportunities.
  • 25 Sep 1970 Terrorist Hijacking in Jordan: Palestinian terrorists conducted a dramatic and dangerous operation, blowing up three hijacked airliners in Jordan while holding passengers hostage in undisclosed locations in Amman. This event highlighted the intense political tensions and terrorist activities of the era.
  • 26 Sep 1970 Diplomatic Discussions in Chile: Korry conducted diplomatic discussions in Santiago, Chile, providing insights into the political climate during a critical period in Chilean history.
  • 27 Sep 1970 Nixon's European Diplomatic Tour: President Richard Nixon embarked on a significant diplomatic tour of Europe, visiting multiple countries including Italy, Yugoslavia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. This tour was part of Nixon's efforts to strengthen international relations and engage in diplomatic discussions during the Cold War era.
  • 28 Sep 1970 Death of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser: Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser died of a heart attack at age 52, marking a significant moment in Egyptian political history. A pivotal Arab nationalist leader, Nasser was instrumental in shaping modern Egypt and the broader Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape.
  • 29 Sep 1970 Red Army Faction Bank Robbery in West Berlin: On September 29, 1970, the Red Army Faction (RAF), a far-left West German terrorist organization, executed a coordinated bank robbery in West Berlin. The group simultaneously targeted three banks, successfully stealing over 200,000 Deutsche Marks. This sophisticated operation was part of their broader strategy to fund their radical revolutionary activities and challenge the West German government's authority. The robbery demonstrated the RAF's growing operational capabilities and commitment to violent political resistance during a turbulent period in post-war German history.
  • 30 Sep 1970 Jordan-PFLP Hostage Release Agreement: In a significant diplomatic negotiation, Jordan successfully brokers a deal with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) to secure the release of remaining hostages from the Dawson's Field hijackings, marking a critical moment in Middle Eastern conflict resolution.