The following events occurred in April 1973:
April 1, 1973 (Sunday) VAT (Value Added Tax) went into effect in the UK. Described as "the most significant change in Britain's tax system since the war""Last-minute Rush to Beat VAT", The Daily Telegraph, March 31, 1973, p. 1 the VAT replaced the purchase tax and the selective employment tax. A government advert told readers "VAT spreads taxation more evenly. Many prices stay ABOUT THE SAME, some go UP, and some come DOWN", and emphasized that the prices on food, household appliances, newspapers and toys would go down because of the elimination of purchase tax, while those for clothing and shoes, fabrics, furniture, and most services would go up."Your guide to the VAT price changes", The Observer, April 1, 1973, p. 10"New Tax Adds Up to Confusion in Britain", Los Angeles Times, April 3, 1973, p. I-4 The government of India launched Project Tiger, a six-year campaign to save the tiger from extinction. Dr. Karan Singh, India's Minister of Tourism, announced the program, declaring Jim Corbett National Park and eight other protected areas as off limits to people."India Giving Tiger a Chance to Survive", AP report in Waterloo (IA) Courier, April 1, 1973, p. 1 Only 1,800 tigers remained in India when the Project started, compared to 40,000 at the start of the 20th century."India launches project to save vanishing tiger", Montreal Star, April 2, 1973, p. 6 The U.S. Army Health Services Command was activated as part of a reorganization of the Army Medical Department, and took control of Army medical facilities in the continental United States. The first Doraemon anime began airing on Nippon TV in Japan.
April 2, 1973 (Monday) In Northern Ireland, the Civil Authorities (Special Powers) Act was replaced by the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act abolishing the death penalty for murder in Northern Ireland and establishing the Diplock courts. The Radio Veronica pirate radio ship was driven ashore at Scheveningen in a storm after her anchor chain snapped. The LexisNexis computerized legal research service began.
April 3, 1973 (Tuesday) The first handheld cellular phone call was made by Martin Cooper in New York City, at a press conference held by the Motorola company to unveil its new "DYNA T-A-C radio-telephone" and announce its commitment to spend up to five million dollars to install transmission towers throughout the city. Cooper's call was made possible by the installation of temporary towers on two buildings on Fifth Avenue. The Soviet Union launched its second orbiting space station, Salyut 2. While the station went into Darth orbit, a cloud of fragments from an exploded rocket stage struck the station on April 15, tearing off both of its solar panels and rendering it without power to control its altitude. Salyut 2 would fall from orbit on May 28 and burn up in Earth's atmosphere. A group of 15,000 rebels began an uprising in the Kingdom of Sikkim, a semi-independent state within India, against the government of King Palden Thondup Namgyal. A group of protesters surrounded the royal palace to protest the composition of the Sikkim Council, and Crown Prince Tenzing and police fired into the crowd, killing at least three demonstrators. The King called for the assistance of the Indian Army on April 5, and the rebellion was halted the next day as Indian troops stopped the rebel column from approaching the Sikkimese capital of Gangtok. In return for the assistance, India would later annex Sikkim, which would become the 25th state of India on May 16, 1975. In India's Kerala state, 35 women at an agricultural workers colony were killed when the area where they were standing was hit by a lightning bolt. The city of Montreal announced Canada's first lottery to help pay for the 1976 Summer Olympics. Born: Adam Scott, American actor; in Santa Cruz, California
April 4, 1973 (Wednesday) The World Trade Center officially opened in New York City with a ribbon cutting ceremony that included the two tallest buildings in the world, the 110-story buildings that were high."The World's Tallest Twins; Trade Center Is Dedicated", by Owen Moritz, Daily News (New York), April 5, 1973, p. 4C"Highest Building — for Now — Debuts in N.Y.", by Robert A. Jones, Los Angeles Times, April 5, 1973, p. I-16 Prime Minister of Luxembourg Pierre Werner extended the operating livense to Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion, now RTL Group, to 31 December 1995. Born: David Blaine, American illusionist and endurance artist; in Brooklyn, New York City.
April 5, 1973 (Thursday)
Representatives of the American Indian Movement (AIM), headed by Russell Means, and the United States government, by Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kent Frizzell, signed an agreement to end the 37-day siege of the town of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, by the AIM and militants within the Oglala Sioux nation. The six point agreement provided that Means would be invited to Washington D.C. to meet with White House representatives on April 7 and that the militants would leave Wounded Knee on the same day, submit to arrest by federal agents and travel to Rapid City for arraignment. The U.S. Department of Justice agreed to a federal investigation of affairs at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, an audit of tribal funds, and consideration of civil rights lawsuits on behalf of individuals for possible abuses by the tribal government or the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the U.S. presidential treaty commission pledged to re-evaluate an 1868 treaty between the United States and the Sioux Nation."Indians, U.S. Sign Pact to End Siege at Wounded Knee", Los Angeles Times, April 6, 1973, p. I-1 Pioneer 11 was launched on a mission to study the Solar System. The craft was sent up from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Kennedy at Florida at 3:11 in the afternoon local time."2nd Pioneer Fired Toward Jupiter, Saturn", by Marvin Miles, Los Angeles Times, April 6, 1973, p. III-24 Born: Pharrell Williams, American singer-songwriter known for the hit song Happy; in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
April 6, 1973 (Friday) Fahri Korutürk was elected as the sixth President of Turkey on the 15th round of voting that had started on March 13. Admiral Korutürk, who had previously served as the Chief of the Navy of Turkey, received 365 votes out of 635 in the Grand National Assembly. The office of President had been vacant for nine days, since the term of President Cevdet had expired on March 28, and Korutürk was sworn in immediately."Turkey Ends Deadlock, Chooses New President— Ex-Chief of Navy Picked on 15th Round of Voting; He Pledges a Neutral Policy", Los Angeles Times, April 7, 1973, p. I-8 Pierre Messmer appointed his second cabinet as Prime Minister of France, following the wishes of President Georges Pompidou to have a new image of less adherence to the policies of Pompidou's predecessor, General Charles de Gaulle."Pompidou's 'New Look' Cabinet Less Gaullist; Personal Confidant Will Direct Foreign Affairs; Reshuffle Reflects Vote Results", Los Angeles Times, April 6, 1973, p. I-14 Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees became the first designated hitter in Major League Baseball, playing in a game at Boston's Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. Blomberg Was brought in during the first inning with the bases loaded and two outs, but was walked on ball four with five pitches from Luis Tiant. In the evening, Tony Oliva of the Minnesota Twins became the first-ever "DH" to hit a home run during the Twins 8 to 3 win over the host Oakland A's. Other designated hitters who saw action on the first on their teams were Orlando Cepeda (Boston), Ollie Brown (Milwaukee), and Dave McNally (Baltimore)."Yankees'jjj born Blomberg, First DH, Draws Walk With Bases Full", Los Angeles Times, April 7, 1973, p. III-1
April 7, 1973 (Saturday) Viet Cong guerrillas in South Vietnam shot down a helicopter that was carrying members of the International Commission of Control and Supervision (ICCS), killing all nine people aboard. The multinational peacekeeping team that was supervising the truce and ceasefire arising from the Paris Peace Accords, was flying from Can Tho to Vi Thanh, and was composed of two Hungarians, one Canadian, one Indonesian, two Viet Cong officers and three U.S. Air Force crew when it was hit. A Vietcong spokesman confirmed the deaths and said "The Provisional Revolutionary Government deeply regrets this unexpected accident.""2 Truce Copters Missing", Philadelphia Inquirer, April 8, 1973, p. 1"9 Die in Truce Copter, Cong Sorry", Philadelphia Inquirer, April 9, 1973, p. 1 Another ICCS helicopter carrying 10 people (including observers from Poland, Hungary, Indonesia and Canada), was able to return safely to Can Tho after being hit by groundfire Tu te reconnaîtras ("You'll Recognize Yourself"), sung by Anne-Marie David, gave Luxembourg its second consecutive victory in the Eurovision Song Contest, finishing four points ahead of the entry from Spain, Eres tú, performed by the Spanish band Mocedades finished second and would go on to become a hit single in the U.S. and other nations in 1974. With 17 nations participating, the annual contest had 17 nations entered, and took place in Luxembourg City. For the first time, the Middle Eastern nation of Israel was allowed to participate with the European countries, and the requirement, that a nation's entry had to be sung in that nation's language, was dropped. The 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament, the first Rugby Sevens tournament to feature national representative teams, was played with teams from Australia, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Wales, and an eight team, the Scottish Rugby Union's "Presidents VII", with players from South Africa, which was not allowed to send a team. All the games took place at Murrayfield in Edinburgh. In the final, England defeated Ireland, 22 to 18. Died: Edith Baumann, 63, East German Communist who co-founded, with future Party Chairman Erich Honecker, the Free German Youth, the youth wing of the ruling SED party. Nick Stuart (stage name for Niculae Pratza), 68, Romanian-born American bandleader and film actor Ahmad Anatolly, 78, Soviet Azerbaijani stage actor
April 8, 1973 (Sunday)
Pablo Picasso, renowned as "the greatest artist of his time and a giant in the history of painting""Picasso, Greatest Artist of His Time, Dies at 91— Busy to Last", Associated Press report in Los Angeles Times, April 9, 1973, p. I-1 died of heart failure at his home in France at Mougins in the Alpes-Maritimes département. Picasso and his wife Jacqueline Roque Picasso had been entertaining friends for dinner the previous night, and the artist went to his in-home studio to work on another painting before retiring in the early morning hours for sleep. Picasso had been scheduled to bring his new works to a showing at Avignon. Another critic observed, "We have still more than a quarter left in this century but it is highly unlikely that it will produce an artist to eclipse Pablo Picasso, the world's most influential and prolific modern painter.""He Was a Creative Genius, Iconoclast", by Henry J. Seldis, Los Angeles Times, April 9, 1973, p. I-1 Israel's cabinet, led by Prime Minister Golda Meir, voted to prohibit any plans for Israeli citizens or private companies for purchase of land in the West Bank and other formerly Arab territories captured during the Six-Day War of 1967."Mrs. Meir Kills Proposal to Let Israeli Citizens Buy Arab Land", by Harry Trimborn, Los Angeles Times, April 9, 1973, p. I-1 Jackie Stewart won the 1973 BRDC International Trophy motor race at Silverstone. Born: Emma Caulfield, American TV actress; in San Diego Flying Water, French thoroughbred racehorse (died 1978)
April 9, 1973 (Monday)