Time Person of the Year - The 1970s Quiz

Answer: Willy Brandt

Willy Brandt was selected for his efforts to improve the relationship between East and West Germany. He had a bold approach to the Soviet Union and the Eastern Block called Ostpolitik, which called for openness and normal relations. Willy was the Chancellor of Germany (West Germany) from October, 1969 to May, 1974.

Answer: Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon was President of the United States from January, 1969 until his resignation in August, 1974. His 1971 selection was for the opening of communications with the People's Republic of China (Communist China) and for improving the US economy.

At the time the United States recognized the Republic of China (Taiwan) as the legitimate Chinese government and would do so until 1979. Economically, Nixon instituted a wage and price freeze and took the US off the gold standard.

Answer: Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger

It's deja vu all over again in 1972. Richard Nixon was President of the United States from January, 1969 until his resignation in August, 1974. He was also selected as the "Time Man of the Year" in 1971. His 1972 selection was for his trip to China; the SALT I pact with the Soviet Union, and being re-elected in one of the largest landslide election victories in American history. Kissinger travelled to China with Nixon and was instrumental in the Vietnam peace negotiations.

Answer: John Sirica

Nixon related again, but this time not in a good way. John Sirica was the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. He ordered President Nixon to turn over "Watergate" related recordings of White House conversations. This helped to bring about Nixon's August 1974 resignation.

Answer: King Faisal

King Faisal withdrew Saudi Arabia oil from world markets to protest western support for Israel during the Yom Kippur (1973) War. The result was the 1973-1974 oil crisis.

Answer: American Women

The magazine selected and profiled twelve specific American women for the related article, but the selection was for American women in general. The change in the status of everyday women, as represented by the twelve highlighted, as they moved into the mainstream with regard to jobs, ideas and policymaking. Those highlighted were Billie Jean King, Barbara Jordan, Carol Sutton, Betty Ford, Susan Brownmiller, Kathleen Byerly, Alison Cheek, Jill Conway, Ella Grasso, Carla Hills, Susie Harp and Addie Wyatt.

Answer: Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter, former Governor of Georgia, was selected after his election victory over Gerald Ford in November, 1976 for President of the United States. Carter won with 50.1% of the vote and 297 electoral votes, versus Ford's 240. There was one rogue electoral vote for Ronald Reagan (which should have been a vote for Ford).

This was a sign of things to come in 1980, but that's another decade!

Answer: Anwar Sadat

Prior to the Egypt-Israel Camp David peace accords signed in September, 1978, Sadat travelled to Israel in 1977 to discuss Egypt-Israel relations. Sadat was the first Arab leader to travel to Israel.

Answer: Deng Xiaoping - Third China Paramount Leader

Deng was the Vice Premier in China when he overthrew Hua Guofeng to assume control over China in December, 1978 as the Paramount (Supreme) Leader. He held power until November, 1989.

Answer: Ruhollah Khomeini (Ayatollah Khomeini)

Khomeini led the 1979 Iranian Revolution and became the Supreme Leader in Iran. This ended the monarchy and reign of the Shah of Iran (Pahlavi). Later in 1979, Iran took more than 50 American diplomats as hostages, ultimately holding them for 444 days.