April 1970 in History

Events in History

Apr 1 Serious riots continue in the Ballymurphy estate in Belfast between Catholic residents and the British Army

Apr 1 US President Richard Nixon signs bill limiting cigarette advertisements from 1st Jan 1971

Apr 2 2 men begin ascent of south face of Annapurna I, highest final stage in a wall climb in world
Apr 2 Meghalaya becomes autonomous state within India's Assam state
Apr 3 As part of a new 'get tough' policy in Northern Ireland, Ian Freeland of the British Army, warned that those throwing petrol bombs could be shot dead
Apr 3 Miriam Hargrave of England passes her drivers test on 40th attempt
Apr 4 Firestone World Tournament of Champions won by Don Johnson
Apr 8 Senate rejects Nixon's nomination of Judge G. Harrold Carswell to US Supreme Court
Apr 11 Apollo 13 launched to Moon; unable to land, returns in 6 days
Apr 11 San Francisco beats Cincinnati 2-1, only day Reds aren't in 1st place in 1970
Apr 13 Apollo 13 announces "Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here", as Beech-built oxygen tank explodes en route to Moon
Apr 13 Oakland uses gold-colored bases during the club's home opener: Rules Committee subsequently bans this innovation
Apr 15 Libyan leader Gadaffi launches "Green Revolution"
Apr 16 70 die in a snow crush (France)

Apr 16 Protestant Unionist Ian Paisley wins seat formerly held by Terence O'Neill in the Stormont (North Ireland Parliament)

Apr 17 Apollo 13 limps back safely, Beech-built oxygen tank no help
Apr 20 Bruno Kreisky becomes 1st socialist chancellor of Austria
Apr 21 The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI) is formed; it attempts to appeal to Catholics and Protestant to unite in support of moderate policies
Apr 21 The Principality of Hutt River (previously Hutt River Province) secedes from Australia - it remains unrecognised by Australia or other nations
Apr 22 First Earth Day celebrated, founded by Gaylord Nelson
Apr 24 Gambia becomes a republic within the Commonwealth
Apr 24 People's Republic of China launches its 1st satellite transmitting song "East is Red"
Apr 25 Buddha Records releases Melanie's breakthrough single "Lay Down"
Apr 25 Holland-Dozier-Holland's Invictus Records releases Freda Payne's signature single "Band of Gold"
Apr 29 US and South Vietnamese forces launch an incursion into Cambodia, expanding the Vietnam War
Apr 30 US troops invade Cambodia

Apr 4 Mix Master Mike [Michael Schwartz], American turntablist, born in San Francisco, California

Apr 7 American novelist and philanthropist, born in San Francisco, California

Apr 18 Saad Hariri, Lebanese-Saudi Prime Minister of Lebanon (2016-present), born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Apr 20 Adriano Moraes, Brazilian rodeo performer, born in Quintana, São Paulo, Brazil
Apr 30 Ken Stanton, American Radio Personality

Apr 4 Victor Otto Stomps, German writer and publisher, dies at 72
Apr 5 Alfred Henry Sturtevant, American geneticist, dies at 78
Apr 6 Sam Sheppard, American accused murderer (b. 1923)
Apr 7 Josina Machel, Mozambican independence activist, and wife of Mozambique's 1st president Samora Machel, dies at 25
Apr 8 Felix, of Bourbon-Parma and Prince consort of Luxemburg, dies at 76
Apr 11 John O'Hara, American short story writer and novelist (Appointment at Samarra; Pal Joey; BUtterfield-8), dies of cardiovascular disease at 65
Apr 16 Richard Neutra, Austrian-American modernist architect (Kaufmann Desert House - Palm Springs, CA; Moore House - Ojai, CA; Hassrick House - Philadelphia, PA), dies at 78
Apr 17 Sergei Aleksi [Alexy}, patriarch of Russian-Orthodox church, dies at 92
Apr 26 Erik Bergman, Swedish pastor, dies at 83
Apr 26 John Knittel, Swiss writer, dies at 79
Apr 26 Paul Celan, Romanian-born writer, dies at 49
Apr 30 Jacob Presser, Dutch historian and writer (Ashes in the Wind), dies at 71