National and world events, 50 years ago.
On September 5, the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division, joined by the South Vietnamese 1st Infantry Division, began Operation Jefferson Glen to drive Viet Cong from Thua Thien Province. It was the last major operation by American ground forces in the war. The U.S. turned over the operation to the South Vietnamese and withdrew on October 8. Four days later, President Nixon announced future U.S. troop actions would be defensive only.
Jimi Hendrix performed his final concert on September 6, appearing on the German island of Fehmarn. Hendrix was found dead 12 days later in London.
After a span of a dozen years spent mainly performing in Las Vegas, Elvis Presley began a concert tour on September 9.
The Chevrolet Vega, General Motors’ entry into the subcompact car market, debuted on September 10. List price for the first model was $2,091. On the following day, Ford introduced its second subcompact (first was the Maverick), the Pinto. Ford charged $1,919, $17o less than the Vega price.
The U.S. “Sky Marshal Program,” intended to protect American flights from hijacking, began on September 12. That same day, USC played football against Alabama in Tuscaloosa. It was the first time the all-white Alabama team hosted a team that was racially integrated. USC won 42-21.
One hundred twenty-six men and women ran in the first New York City Marathon on September 13. The first race was four laps around Central Park on its walking paths.
Several notable American television series made their debut during the month:
- The Flip Wilson Show premiered on NBC September 14, marking the first TV variety show to be hosted by an African-American, Clerow “Flip” Wilson.
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show began a seven-season run on September 19.
- Monday Night Football debuted on ABC on September 21. Announcers were Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Dan Meredith. In the initial game, the Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Jets, 31-21.
- The Odd Couple, starring Tony Randall and Jack Klugman, premiered on September 24.
- The Partridge Family made its debut on September 25.
The longest-running American television show at the time, Ted Mack’s The Original Amateur Hour, made its final appearance on September 28.