| The Panama Canal Treaties |
| 1976 | |
|---|---|
| November 4 | Governor Jimmy Carter is elected U.S. President |
| December | Sol Linowitz, expert on Latin America and former ambassador to Organization of American States (OAS) appointed by President-elect Jimmy Carter to head Linowitz Commission on U.S.-Latin American Relations. |
| 1977 | |
| January 21 | Governor Jimmy Carter inaugurated as U.S. President |
| March 9 | Food and Drug Administration announces a ban on the use of saccharin in foods and beverages |
| March 21 | Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi defeated in Indian elections |
| April 18 | President Carter calls for a national energy plan that would involve U.S. citizens in "the moral equivalent of war" |
| May 4 | Former President Richard Nixon admits that he let America down in a T.V. interview with David Frost |
| May 30-June 12 | Rosalynn Carter tours Latin American countries as official representative for the President |
| June 7 | Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Silver Jubilee (25 Years on Throne) |
| June 16 | Communist Party General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev becomes first party chief to also be named president of the Soviet Union |
| July 13 | Huge power failure left 9 million people in and around New York city without electricity |
| July 22 | Chinese government announces that Teng Hsiao-ping (Deng Xioaping) is now rehabilitated and will resume posts as party deputy chairman and deputy prime minister |
| August 4 | Energy Department created. |
| August 10 | Final agreement reached with Panamanian negotiators |
| September 7 | Panama Canal Treaties signing ceremony |
| September 21 | Bert Lance resigns as director of Office of Management and Budget over disputed financial practices |
| October 14 | Carter- Torrijos Statement of Understanding -allowed treaties to; go before a national Panamanian referendum |
| October 23 | Panamanians approve Canal Treaties by a 2/3 majority |
| November 20 | President Sadat of Egypt addresses the Israeli Knesset asking for peace; Israeli Prime Minister Begin pledges "no more war" |
| 1978 | |
| January 13 | Senator and former Vice President Hubert Humphrey dies at age of 66 |
| January 19 | President delivers first State of the Union address |
| January 30 | Senate Foreign Relations Committee votes to recommend the Panama Canal Treaties for approval by full Senate |
| February | Full Senate debate on Panama Canal Treaties begin |
| March 14 | Israel invades and occupies southern Lebanon |
| March 16 | Senate ratifies first Panama Treaty |
| April 18 | Senate ratifies second Panama Treaty |
| May 9 | Former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro found dead after kid-napped by Red Brigade Terrorists |
| May 26 | Legalized casino gambling opens in Atlantic City, N.J. |
| June 16 | President Carter goes to Panama to sign the official transfer documents concluding the treaty exchange |
| June 28 | U.S. Supreme Court upholds affirmative action plans, but orders Davis Medical College to admit Alan Bakke who claimed "reverse discrimination" |
| July 25 | First "Test-Tube Baby" born to John and Lesley Brown of Bristol, England |
| September 17 | Camp David Summit concludes with the signing of a framework for peace signed 'by President Carter, President Sadat of Egypt, and Prime Minister Begin of Israel |
| October 16 | Polish Cardinal elected to become Pope John Paul II |
| December 10 | Prime Minister Begin and President Sadat receive Nobel Peace Prize |
| 1979 | |
| September 27 | U.S. House of Representatives sends a bill implementing the treaties to President for signature. [This legislation allowed the U.S. to operate the Panama Canal until the year 2000 and to defend the Canal Zone with U.S. forces] |
| October 1 | Panama Canal Zone becomes Panamanian territory |
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