Vietnam War: The United States halts heavy bombing of North Vietnam.

Vietnam War: First release of American prisoners of war from Vietnam takes place.

Vietnam War: The first United States prisoners of war are released by the Viet Cong.

The first portable cell phone call is made in New York City, United States.

A fire destroys the entire 6th floor of the National Personnel Records Center of the United States.

Vietnam War: The United States bombing of Cambodia ends.

The Endangered Species Act is passed in the United States.

In response to the 1973 energy crisis, daylight saving time commences nearly four months early in the United States.

After 84 days in space, the crew of the first American space station Skylab returns to Earth.

After seven years, the United States and Egypt re-establish diplomatic relations.

Western Union (in cooperation with NASA and Hughes Aircraft) launches the United States' first commercial geosynchronous communications satellite, Westar 1.

Turkish occupation of Cyprus: Forces from Turkey invade Cyprus after a "coup d' etat", organised by the dictator of Greece, against president Makarios. NATO's Council praises the United States and the United Kingdom for attempts to settle the dispute. Syria and Egypt put their militaries on alert.

Franklin National Bank collapses due to fraud and mismanagement; at the time it is the largest bank failure in the history of the United States.

The Japanese Red Army takes more than 50 hostages at the AIA Building housing several embassies in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The hostages include the U.S. consul and the Swedish chargé d’affaires. The gunmen win the release of five imprisoned comrades and fly with them to Libya.

The first American saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, is canonized by Pope Paul VI.

The Groundhog Day gale hits the north-eastern United States and south-eastern Canada.

Cold War: Soviet air force pilot Lt. Viktor Belenko lands a MiG-25 jet fighter at Hakodate on the island of Hokkaidō in Japan and requests political asylum in the United States.

President Jimmy Carter pardons nearly all American Vietnam War draft evaders, some of whom had emigrated to Canada.

The Torrijos-Carter Treaties between Panama and the United States on the status of the Panama Canal are signed. The United States agrees to transfer control of the canal to Panama at the end of the 20th century.

The Torrijos-Carter Treaties between Panama and the United States on the status of the Panama Canal are signed. The United States agrees to transfer control of the canal to Panama at the end of the 20th century.

Director Roman Polanski skips bail and flees the United States to France after pleading guilty to charges of engaging in sex with a 13-year-old girl.

U.S. President Jimmy Carter announces that the United States will recognize the People's Republic of China and cut off all relations with Taiwan

Formal diplomatic relations are established between the People's Republic of China and the United States of America.

In Kabul, Muslims kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs who is later killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police.

SALT II is signed by the United States and the Soviet Union.

U.S. President Jimmy Carter gives his so-called "malaise" speech, where he characterizes the greatest threat to the country as "this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation" but in which he never uses the word ''malaise''

Soviet dancer Alexander Godunov defects to the United States.

The Chrysler Corporation asks the United States government for USD $1.5 billion to avoid bankruptcy.

The United States returns sovereignty of the Panama canal to Panama.

Iran hostage crisis begins: a group of Iranians, mostly students, invades the US embassy in Tehran and takes 90 hostages (53 of whom are American).

Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, US President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all petroleum imports into the United States from Iran.

Iran hostage crisis: US President Jimmy Carter issues Executive order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States in response to the hostage crisis.

Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and black American hostages being held at the US Embassy in Tehran.

The United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set on fire, killing four. (see: Foreign relations of Pakistan)

Libya joins four other OPEC nations in raising crude oil prices, having an immediate dramatic effect on the United States.

Through cooperation between the U.S. and Canadian governments, six American diplomats secretly escape hostilities in Iran in the culmination of the Canadian caper.

US President Jimmy Carter announces a United States boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan.

1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens: Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington, United States, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion in damage.

The Republic of Palau achieves self-government though it is not independent from the United States.

Tehran releases American hostages after 444 days.