The House Judiciary Committee holds televised impeachment hearings against President Nixon in 1974. He is charged with taking part in a conspiracy to obstruct justice in the Watergate cover-up, failure to fulfill his constitutional oath through apparent abuses of power and unconstitutional defiance of Committee subpoenas. The House recommends three articles of impeachment.

President Nixon resigns and is succeeded by Vice President Gerald Ford. Nelson Rockefeller is appointed vice president.

• President Ford issues an unconditional pardon to Nixon for all federal crimes he may have committed as President.

• President Ford proposes conditional amnesty to draft evaders and deserters of the Vietnam War.

• The 110-story Sears Tower in Chicago is completed, becoming the tallest building in the world.

• Steven King, novelist, publishes Carrie, a suspense story later made into a movie starring Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie.

• Popular rock bands include Chicago, Steeley Dan, Yes, Jefferson Starship, Santana, The Eagles and Utopia.

• Journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward publish All the President’s Men about their investigation of the Watergate case.

• Mel Brooks produces Blazing Saddles, a parody on Westerns, starring Gene Wilder.