1976
November 4Governor Jimmy Carter is elected U.S. President
DecemberSol 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 21Governor Jimmy Carter inaugurated as U.S. President
March 9Food and Drug Administration announces a ban on the use of saccharin in foods and beverages
March 21Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi defeated in Indian elections
April 18President Carter calls for a national energy plan that would involve U.S. citizens in "the moral equivalent of war"
May 4Former President Richard Nixon admits that he let America down in a T.V. interview with David Frost
May 30-June 12Rosalynn Carter tours Latin American countries as official representative for the President
June 7Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Silver Jubilee (25 Years on Throne)
June 16Communist Party General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev becomes first party chief to also be named president of the Soviet Union
July 13Huge power failure left 9 million people in and around New York city without electricity
July 22Chinese government announces that Teng Hsiao-ping (Deng Xioaping) is now rehabilitated and will resume posts as party deputy chairman and deputy prime minister
August 4Energy Department created.
August 10Final agreement reached with Panamanian negotiators
September 7Panama Canal Treaties signing ceremony
September 21Bert Lance resigns as director of Office of Management and Budget over disputed financial practices
October 14Carter- Torrijos Statement of Understanding -allowed treaties to; go before a national Panamanian referendum
October 23Panamanians approve Canal Treaties by a 2/3 majority
November 20President Sadat of Egypt addresses the Israeli Knesset asking for peace; Israeli Prime Minister Begin pledges "no more war"
1978
January 13Senator and former Vice President Hubert Humphrey dies at age of 66
January 19President delivers first State of the Union address
January 30Senate Foreign Relations Committee votes to recommend the Panama Canal Treaties for approval by full Senate
FebruaryFull Senate debate on Panama Canal Treaties begin
March 14Israel invades and occupies southern Lebanon
March 16Senate ratifies first Panama Treaty
April 18Senate ratifies second Panama Treaty
May 9Former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro found dead after kid-napped by Red Brigade Terrorists
May 26Legalized casino gambling opens in Atlantic City, N.J.
June 16President Carter goes to Panama to sign the official transfer documents concluding the treaty exchange
June 28U.S. Supreme Court upholds affirmative action plans, but orders Davis Medical College to admit Alan Bakke who claimed "reverse discrimination"
July 25First "Test-Tube Baby" born to John and Lesley Brown of Bristol, England
September 17Camp 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 16Polish Cardinal elected to become Pope John Paul II
December 10Prime Minister Begin and President Sadat receive Nobel Peace Prize
1979
September 27U.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 1Panama Canal Zone becomes Panamanian territory