Stories from 1973
Browse a timeline of top world events from 1973. Or, use Proust to tell your life story and share personal
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January 22, 1973
The Supreme Court ruled that women have the right to abort a pregnancy within the first two trimesters due to privacy rights in Roe v. Wade.
June 9, 1973
Secretariat was the first horse in 25 years to win the Triple Crown. Helen "Penny" Chenery's horse would win four more, place second twice, and be the only animal on ESPN's list of the Top 50 North American Athletes of the 20th Century.
August 11, 1973
George Lucas had his first box-office hit with American Graffiti, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard. The film was extremely profitable, which would allow Lucas to financially begin his next successful venture- the Star Wars trilogy.
September 20, 1973
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Houston, TX
Billie Jean King took down Bobby Riggs in the "battle of the sexes" tennis match in the Houston Astrodome. King had already won 20 Wimbledon titles, 13 U.S. titles, 4 French titles, and 2 Australian titles as well as being the first female tennis player to win over $100,000. King, a staunch advocate for women's equality in the tennis and general athletic world, defeated Riggs, former champion men's player known for his sexism, in front of a live international television audience of 50 million.
October 6, 1973
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Israel
Egypt and Syria surprise attacked Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. Israel defeated the Arab coalition through technological superiority and would sign a peace agreement with Egypt, the first Arab nation to do so, a few years later.
October 17, 1973
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) imposed an oil embargo on the United States and other countries that assisted Israel when it is was attacked by Egypt and Syria. This caused an energy crisis and a 70% price increase of oil. By December, the price would increase by 130%, causing shortages and rationing.
December 26, 1973
Horror film The Exorcist, deemed one of the scariest movies in history, debuted in theaters across the country.
