1971 — The New York Times publishes classified Pentagon papers about U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The Supreme Court upholds the right of the Times and the Washington Post to publish the papers, but Daniel Elsberg, who disclosed them, is indicted on charges of unauthorized possession of secret documents. Also that year:

_ Women in Switzerland are given the right to vote for the first time.

_ The Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church end a 400-year dispute when they agree on the meaning of the sacrament of Holy Communion.