It Happened During The 1970s Trivia Quiz

Answer: True

The original Pet Rocks were gray pebbles that were marketed as though they were actual live pets. Dahl established his organization, called "Rock Bottom Productions," and sold the rocks for less than $4.00 each. He even packaged the Pet Rocks in small crates, and included an instruction manual on how to care for the Pet Rock.

He also developed a vacation resort, called "Pet Rock Sanitarium," where people could send their Pet Rock. Though the main rush only lasted seven months, ending in late 1975, Dahl ended up a millionaire.

Answer: Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter

Richard Milhous Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, was born on January 9, 1913, in Yorba Linda, California. He held office from 1969 until 1974. Gerald Rudolph Ford, the 38th President of the United States, was born on July 14, 1913, in Omaha, Nebraska.

He held the office from 1974 until 1977. And, James Earl ("Jimmi") Carter, the 39th President of the United States, was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. He held the office from 1977 until 1981. President Johnson ended his Presidency in 1969, President Reagan began his Presidency in 1981, and President Clinton began his term as President in 1993.

Answer: Lynyrd Skynyrd

While flying on a chartered airplane from Greenville, South Carolina to Louisiana State University, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the aircraft crashed near McComb, Mississippi. The group's lead singer and primary song writer, Ronnie Van Zant, its guitarist, Steve Gaines, one of its back-up vocalist, Cassie Gaines, its assistant manager, Dean Kilpatrick, the aircraft pilot, Walter McCreary, and the co-pilot, William Gray, were all killed. Several other members of the band were seriously injured during the crash.

Answer: Three Mile Island

This nuclear mishap was the worst in American history during the 20th Century. The nuclear generating station, located on the island in the Susquehanna River, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was approximately 814 acres. The clean-up finally started in August 1979, and ended in December 1993.

The clean-up cost nearly $970 million American dollars. As a result of this accident, 51 American nuclear reactors were later cancelled.

Answer: Iran

On November 4, 1979, in the American Embassy, in Tehran, Iran, Iranians captured 66 Americans hostage. Shortly afterwards, they released 13 women and African-Americans, reducing the total number of hostages held to 53. Later, another hostage, who was very sick, was released in July 1980.

The hostages, held for 444 days, were released on January 20, 1981, the day President Reagan was sworn in as the 40th President of the United States of America.

Answer: President Nixon resigned

On August 8, 1974, after serving for 2,026 days as President, the 37th President of the USA, Richard Nixon, became the only President to resign from office. He announced his intention on August 8th and tendered his resignation on August 9th. On June 17, 1972, the Democratic Party's National Committee offices, located in the Watergate, were discovered, by a security guard, Frank Wills, to have been broken into.

This break-in, allegedly ordered by the President's staff, led to President Nixon's resignation. Woodstock took place in Bethel, New York, on August 15,16,17, 1969. Apollo 11 landed on the moon on July 20 (American time), 1969. And, on December 8, 1980, Mark David Chapman killed John Lennon in New York City.

Answer: Vietnam

It was the longest American conflict during the 20th Century, starting in December 1961, with a report known as the "White Paper," and ending when Saigon fell in 1975. The "White Paper" urged an increase in military personnel, and an introduction of American advisors into Vietnam.

The conflict cost the lives of over 50,000 American service members. The signing of the Paris Peace Agreement expedited the withdrawal of American combat forces in March 1973. Only a very small number of American service members were still in Vietnam when Saigon fell on April 30, 1975.

The Grenada conflict was in 1983, the Korean War was from 1950 until 1953, and, the first Iraqi conflict didn't start until 1991.

Answer: Jane Fonda

Born on December 21, 1937, she would later express regrets for statements made and for having her photo taken while sitting on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun. In 1972, she visited North Vietnam and told the press American Prisoners of War (POWs)were being well treated and not tortured.

However, when the POWs returned home, they contradicted Fonda's statement, and told of the inhumane treatment and torture they had suffered as POWs. Some of the American POWs stated they were even tortured for refusing to meet with groups like Jane Fonda's.

In response to these allegations, she referred to these returning POWs as being, "...hypocrites and liars." In 1975, she returned to Hanoi, with her son Troy, for a celebration. Her son was christened after a Viet Cong hero, Nguyen Van Tori. Tori had attempted to assassinate Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara on his visit to South Vietnam in 1963.

Answer: Munich and Montreal

In 1972, Munich won out over Montreal, Detroit, and Madrid, Spain. Unfortunately, the Munich Games are remembered for what began on September 5, 1972, with only six days left in the Games, when eight Arab terrorists ended up killing eleven Israeli athletes and coaches after taking them all hostage (and one German police officer was killed just before the hostage drama started at a nearby Air Base)). In 1976, Montreal won out over Moscow, and Los Angeles. The Montreal Games suffered no tragedies.

Answer: Jonestown Massacre

A religious cult figure, he brought his group of followers to Jonestown, Guyana. He shot himself after he murdered his followers by convincing most of them to drink cyanide-laced fruit drink. Jones, a known prescription drug abuser, became paranoid when Congressman Leo Ryan visited Jonestown in 1978 for an inspection. Everything was okay until 16 cult followers wanted to leave Jonestown with Congressman Ryan, thus causing Jones to panic.

While they were waiting to depart at Port Kaituma airbase, a local airfield, Jones' armed security guards arrived and killed Congressman Ryan and four other people. Later on the same day, Jones and 914 of his followers committed mass suicide.

It's believed most followed Jones' instructions to drink cyanide-laced Flavor Aid; however, any followers who choose not to drink it were most likely involuntarily injected with cyanide, or were simply shot. Jones' body was discovered, in a chair, with a single gun shot wound to the head.