1976 In The United States
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Events from the year 1976 in the United States. Major events include
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1 ...
defeating incumbent president Gerald Ford in the
presidential election A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is President. Elections by country Albania The president of Albania is elected by the Assembly of Albania who are elected by the Albanian public. Chile The pre ...
of that year, the incorporation of Apple Computer Company and
Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washin ...
, and the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling that Karen Ann Quinlan could be disconnected from her ventilator.


Incumbents


Federal Government

*
President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
: Gerald Ford ( R-
Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...
) *
Vice President A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on ...
: Nelson Rockefeller ( R- New York) * Chief Justice:
Warren E. Burger Warren Earl Burger (September 17, 1907 – June 25, 1995) was an American attorney and jurist who served as the 15th chief justice of the United States from 1969 to 1986. Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Burger graduated from the St. Paul Colleg ...
(
Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
) * Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Carl Albert Carl Bert Albert (May 10, 1908 – February 4, 2000) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 46th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977 and represented Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district as a ...
( D- Oklahoma) *
Senate Majority Leader The positions of majority leader and minority leader are held by two United States senators and members of the party leadership of the United States Senate. They serve as the chief spokespersons for their respective political parties holding t ...
:
Mike Mansfield Michael Joseph Mansfield (March 16, 1903 – October 5, 2001) was an American politician and diplomat. A Democrat, he served as a U.S. representative (1943–1953) and a U.S. senator (1953–1977) from Montana. He was the longest-serving Sen ...
( D-
Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columb ...
) *
Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...
: 94th


Events


January

* January 5 –
The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...
associate
Mal Evans Malcolm Frederick Evans (27 May 1935 – 5 January 1976) was an English road manager and personal assistant employed by the Beatles from 1963 until their break-up in 1970. In the early 1960s, Evans was employed as a telephone engineer, and a ...
is fatally shot by police amid a disturbance at his Los Angeles home. * January 14 – The Lutz family flees from 112 Ocean Avenue in
Amityville Amityville () is a village near the Town of Babylon in Suffolk County, on the South Shore of Long Island, in New York. The population was 9,523 at the 2010 census. History Huntington settlers first visited the Amityville area in 1653 due ...
, Long Island, New York, 28 days after having moved in on December 18, 1975, inspiring the story ''
The Amityville Horror ''The Amityville Horror'' is a book by American author Jay Anson, published in September 1977. It is also the basis of a series of films released from 1979 onward. The book is based on the claims of paranormal experiences by the Lutz family, b ...
''. * January 15 – Would-be Gerald Ford presidential assassin
Sara Jane Moore Sara Jane Moore (née Kahn; born February 15, 1930) is an American criminal who attempted to assassinate U.S. President Gerald Ford in 1975. She was given a life sentence for the attempted assassination and was released from prison on December ...
is sentenced to life in prison. * January 18 – Super Bowl X in
American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
: The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the
Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divi ...
21–17 at the
Orange Bowl The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Miami metropolitan area. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935, making it, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Sun Bowl, the second-oldest bowl game ...
in
Miami, Florida Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
. * January 19 –
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1 ...
wins the Iowa Democratic Caucus. * January 23 –
Hugo the Hippo Hugo or HUGO may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Hugo'' (film), a 2011 film directed by Martin Scorsese * Hugo Award, a science fiction and fantasy award named after Hugo Gernsback * Hugo (franchise), a children's media franchise based on ...
, the first animated film of
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
is released in theaters. * January 27 – The United States vetoes a
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...
resolution that calls for an independent
Palestinian state Palestine ( ar, فلسطين, Filasṭīn), officially the State of Palestine ( ar, دولة فلسطين, Dawlat Filasṭīn, label=none), is a state located in Western Asia. Officially governed by the Palestine Liberation Organization ( ...
. * January 30 – ''
Live from Lincoln Center ''Live from Lincoln Center'' is a seventeen-time Emmy Award-winning series that has broadcast notable performances from the Lincoln Center in New York City on PBS since 1976. The program airs between six and nine times per season. Episodes of '' ...
'' debuts on
PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
.


February

* February 5 – Nearly 2,000 students become involved in a racially charged riot at Escambia High School in Pensacola, Florida; 30 students are injured in the 4-hour fray. * February 11 –
Clifford Alexander, Jr. Clifford Leopold Alexander Jr. (September 21, 1933 – July 3, 2022) was an American lawyer, businessman and public servant from New York City. He first served on the National Security Council during the Kennedy administration, before becom ...
is confirmed as the first
African-American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ensl ...
Secretary of the United States Army The secretary of the Army (SA or SECARMY) is a senior civilian official within the United States Department of Defense, with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, ins ...
. * February 12 – Actor
Sal Mineo Salvatore Mineo Jr. (January 10, 1939 – February 12, 1976) was an American actor, singer, and director. He is best known for his role as John "Plato" Crawford in the drama film '' Rebel Without a Cause'' (1955), which earned him a nomination ...
, known for his role in the film ''
Rebel Without a Cause ''Rebel Without a Cause'' is a 1955 American coming-of-age drama film about emotionally confused suburban, middle-class teenagers. Filmed in the then recently introduced CinemaScope format and directed by Nicholas Ray, it offered both social com ...
'', is fatally stabbed in the alley behind his apartment building in
West Hollywood, California West Hollywood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Incorporated in 1984, it is home to the Sunset Strip. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, its population was 35,757. It is considered one of the most prominent gay villages ...
, aged 37. * February 17 – The
Eagles Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, jus ...
' ''
Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) ''Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)'' is the first compilation album by the American rock band the Eagles, released by Asylum Records on February 17, 1976. It contains a selection of songs from the band's first four albums, which were released fro ...
'' compilation is released. Globally, it will become probably the second best-selling album of all time, followed by the same band's ''
Hotel California "Hotel California" is the title track from the Eagles' album of the same name and was released as a single in February 1977. Writing credits for the song are shared by Don Felder (music), Don Henley, and Glenn Frey (lyrics). Joe Walsh came ...
'', released on December 8. * February 19 – Former
Tower of Power Tower of Power is an American R&B and funk based band and horn section, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing since 1968. There have been a number of lead vocalists, the best-known being Lenny Williams, who fronted th ...
vocalist Rick Stevens is arrested for murdering three men during a botched drug deal. He ultimately serves 36 years of a life sentence.


March

* March – The Cray-1, the first commercially developed supercomputer, is released by
Seymour Cray Seymour Roger Cray (September 28, 1925 – October 5, 1996
) was an American
Cray Research Cray Inc., a subsidiary of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, is an American supercomputer manufacturer headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It also manufactures systems for data storage and analytics. Several Cray supercomputer systems are listed ...
, with the first purchaser being the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) in
Los Alamos, New Mexico Los Alamos is an census-designated place in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States, that is recognized as the development and creation place of the atomic bomb—the primary objective of the Manhattan Project by Los Alamos National Labo ...
. * March 1 – Bradford Bishop allegedly murders five of his family members in Bethesda, Maryland. The crime goes undiscovered for 10 days and the suspect is never caught. From 2014 to 2018 he is on the
FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives The FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives is a most wanted list maintained by the United States's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The list arose from a conversation held in late 1949 between J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the FBI, and William K ...
list. * March 9–11 – Two coal mine explosions claim 26 lives at the Blue Diamond Coal Co. Scotia Mine in
Letcher County, Kentucky Letcher County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,548. Its county seat is Whitesburg. The county, founded in 1842, is named for Robert P. Letcher, Governor of Kentucky from 1840 t ...
. * March 14 – After eight years on NBC, '' The Wizard of Oz'' returns to
CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...
, where it will remain until 1999, setting what is likely a record at that time for the most telecasts of a Hollywood film on a commercial television network. (That record is broken by ''
The Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments ( Biblical Hebrew עשרת הדברים \ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים, ''aséret ha-dvarím'', lit. The Decalogue, The Ten Words, cf. Mishnaic Hebrew עשרת הדיברות \ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְ ...
'' in 1996, which began its annual network telecasts on
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
in 1973, continuing be telecast by that network as of 2020.) * March 17 – Boxer
Rubin Carter Rubin "Hurricane" Carter (May 6, 1937 – April 20, 2014) was an American-Canadian middleweight boxer, wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for murder, until released following a petition of habeas corpus after almost 20 years in prison. In ...
is retried in
New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
for murder; his conviction is upheld on this occasion but will be overturned in 1985. * March 20 – Patty Hearst is found guilty of the armed robbery of a
San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
bank in 1974. * March 27 – The first 4.6 miles of the Washington Metro subway system opens. * March 29 – The
48th Academy Awards The 48th Academy Awards were presented Monday, March 29, 1976, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. The ceremonies were presided over by Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, George Segal, Goldie Hawn, and Gene Kelly. This yea ...
ceremony, hosted by Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, George Segal,
Goldie Hawn Goldie Jeanne Hawn (born November 21, 1945) is an American actress, dancer, producer, and singer. She rose to fame on the NBC sketch comedy program ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' (1968–1970), before going on to receive the Academy Award and Go ...
and Gene Kelly, is held at
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is one of the halls in the Los Angeles Music Center, which is one of the largest performing arts centers in the United States. The Music Center's other halls include the Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theatre, and Walt ...
in
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
, broadcast on
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
for the first time. Miloš Forman's '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' receives nine nominations and wins five awards, including
Best Picture This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...
and
Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to: Film awards * AACTA Award for Best Direction * Academy Award for Best Director * BA ...
for Forman.
Isabelle Adjani Isabelle Yasmina Adjani ; born 27 June 1955) is a French actress and singer of Algerian and German descent. She is the only performer in history to win five César Awards for acting; she won the Best Actress award for '' Possession'' (1981), '' ...
becomes the youngest actress to be nominated for
Best Actress Best Actress is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organisations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actresses in a film, television series, television film or play. The first Best Actress aw ...
until 2004, while
George Burns George Burns (born Nathan Birnbaum; January 20, 1896March 9, 1996) was an American comedian, actor, writer, and singer, and one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, radio, film and television. His arched eyebr ...
becomes the oldest actor to win Best Supporting Actor until 2012, as well as the oldest awardee in general until 1989 and the final person born in the 19th century to win an acting award. * March 31 – The
New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
Supreme Court rules that
persistent vegetative state A persistent vegetative state (PVS) or post-coma unresponsiveness (PCU) is a disorder of consciousness in which patients with severe brain damage are in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness. After four weeks in a vegetative stat ...
patient
Karen Ann Quinlan Karen Ann Quinlan (March 29, 1954 – June 11, 1985) was an American woman who became an important figure in the history of the right to die controversy in the United States. When she was 21, Quinlan became unconscious after she consumed Valiu ...
can be disconnected from her
ventilator A ventilator is a piece of medical technology that provides mechanical ventilation by moving breathable air into and out of the lungs, to deliver breaths to a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently. Ventilators ...
. She remains comatose and dies in 1985.


April

* April 1 ** Conrail (Consolidated Rails Corporation) is formed by the U.S. government, to take control of 13 major Northeast Class-1 railroads that have filed for bankruptcy protection. Conrail takes control at midnight, as a government-owned and operated railroad until 1986, when it is sold to the public. ** Apple Computer Company is formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in California. * April 13 – The
United States Treasury Department The Department of the Treasury (USDT) is the national treasury and finance department of the federal government of the United States, where it serves as an executive department. The department oversees the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and ...
reintroduces the two-dollar bill as a Federal Reserve Note on
Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was previously the natio ...
's 233rd birthday as part of the
United States Bicentennial The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to historical events leading up to the creation of the United States of America as an independent republic. It was a central event ...
celebration.


May

* May 11 ** U.S. President Gerald Ford signs the Federal Election Campaign Act. ** An accident involving a tanker truck carrying
anhydrous ammonia Ammonia is an inorganic compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . A stable binary hydride, and the simplest pnictogen hydride, ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinct pungent smell. Biologically, it is a common nitrogenous was ...
takes place in Houston, Texas, resulting in the deaths of 7 people. * May 21 ** The
Yuba City bus disaster The Yuba City bus disaster occurred on May 21, 1976 in Martinez, California. A chartered school bus transporting 52 passengers on an elevated offramp left the roadway, landing on its roof. Of the 52 passengers (not including the driver), 28 s ...
, the second-worst bus crash in U.S. history, leaves 28 students and one teacher dead. ** The "Famous Fire" in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, destroys seven downtown structures, damages more than 12 others, and starts fires in at least 10 homes. * May 24 **
Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
Concorde The Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde () is a retired Franco-British supersonic airliner jointly developed and manufactured by Sud Aviation (later Aérospatiale) and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). Studies started in 1954, and France an ...
service begins. ** The Judgment of Paris pits French vs. California wines in a blind taste-test in Paris, France. California wines win the contest, surprising the wine world and opening the wine industry to newcomers in several countries. * May 25 – U.S. President Gerald Ford defeats challenger Ronald Reagan in three
Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
presidential primaries:
Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...
,
Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
and
Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. T ...
. * May 30 –
Indianapolis 500 The Indianapolis 500, formally known as the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, and commonly called the Indy 500, is an annual automobile race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in Speedway, Indiana, United States, an enclave suburb of Indi ...
automobile race:
Johnny Rutherford John Sherman "Johnny" Rutherford III (born March 12, 1938), also known as "Lone Star JR", is an American former automobile racing driver. During an Indy Car career that spanned more than three decades, he scored 27 wins and 23 pole positions in ...
wins the (rain-shortened) shortest race in event history to date, at 102 laps or 255 miles (408 km).


June

* June 2 – A car bomb kills ''
Arizona Republic ''The Arizona Republic'' is an American daily newspaper published in Phoenix. Circulated throughout Arizona, it is the state's largest newspaper. Since 2000, it has been owned by the Gannett newspaper chain. Copies are sold at $2 daily or at $3 ...
'' reporter Don Bolles. * June 5 – The
Teton Dam The Teton Dam was an earthen dam in the western United States, on the Teton River in eastern Idaho. It was built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, one of eight federal agencies authorized to construct dams.Perrow, Charles. '' Normal Accid ...
collapses in southeast
Idaho Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyomi ...
, killing 11 people. * June 13 – Savage thunderstorms roll through the state of
Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to th ...
spawning several tornadoes, including an F-5
tornado A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. It is often referred to as a twister, whirlwind or cyclone, altho ...
that destroys the town of
Jordan, Iowa Jordan is an unincorporated community in Boone County, Iowa, United States. History Jordan was historically called Midway and Harmon's Switch. The present name is after the Jordan River. Jordan was not officially platted. Jordan's population was ...
. * June 16 – Francis E. Meloy, Jr., the newly appointed
United States Ambassador to Lebanon This is a list of ambassadors of the United States and other Heads of Mission to Lebanon. * George Wadsworth (1942–1947) – Consul General, later promoted to Envoy. Also was head of mission to Syria but resident in Beirut. * Lowell C. Pink ...
, is assassinated in
Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
. * June 17 – The
National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
and the American Basketball Association agree on the ABA-NBA merger. * June 20 – Hundreds of Western tourists are moved from
Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
and taken to safety in Syria by the U.S. military, following the murder of the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon.


July

* July 3 – ''
Gregg v. Georgia ''Gregg v. Georgia'', ''Proffitt v. Florida'', ''Jurek v. Texas'', ''Woodson v. North Carolina'', and ''Roberts v. Louisiana'', 428 U.S. 153 (1976), is a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court. It reaffirmed the Court's acceptance of the use ...
'': The Supreme Court of the United States rules that the death penalty is not inherently cruel or unusual and is a constitutionally acceptable form of punishment. * July 4 **
United States Bicentennial The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to historical events leading up to the creation of the United States of America as an independent republic. It was a central event ...
: From coast to coast, the United States celebrates the 200th anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence A declaration of independence or declaration of statehood or proclamation of independence is an assertion by a polity in a defined territory that it is independent and constitutes a state. Such places are usually declared from part or all of th ...
. **The
Puerto Rican Socialist Party The Puerto Rican Socialist Party ( es, Partido Socialista Puertorriqueño, PSP) was a Marxist and pro-independence political party in Puerto Rico seeking the end of United States of America control on the Hispanic and Caribbean island of Puerto ...
leads 50,000 marchers in
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
to demand a "Bicentennial Without Colonies" and independence for
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...
. * July 6 – The first class of women at the United States Naval Academy is inducted in Annapolis, Maryland. * July 12 **California State University, Fullerton massacre: seven people are shot and killed, and two others are wounded in a mass shooting on campus at California State University, Fullerton. **Barbara Jordan is the first African-American to keynote a political convention. **Price Club, as predecessor of Costco, a worldwide membership-registration-only retailer, is founded in California. **''Family Feud'' debuts on
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
-TV. * July 15 **
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1 ...
is nominated for U.S. President at the Democratic National Convention in New York City. ** Twenty-six Chowchilla, California, Chowchilla schoolchildren and their bus driver are 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping, abducted and buried in a box truck within a quarry in Livermore, California. The captives dig themselves free after 16 hours. The quarry-owner's son and two accomplices are arrested for the crime. * July 18 – Nadia Comaneci, at this time a 14-year-old Romanian, makes history by becoming the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 for her routine on the uneven bars at the Montreal Olympics. * July 20 **Viking program: The ''Viking 1'' lander successfully lands on Mars, taking the first close-up color photos of the planet's surface. **Gary Gilmore is arrested for murdering two men in Utah. * July 26 – In
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
, Ronald Reagan announces his choice of liberal U.S. Senator Richard Schweiker as his vice presidential running mate, in an effort to woo moderate
Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
delegates away from President Gerald Ford. * July 27 – Delegates attending an American Legion convention at The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
begin falling ill with a form of pneumonia: this will eventually be recognised as the first outbreak of Legionnaires' disease and will end in the deaths of 29 attendees. * July 29 – In New York City, the "Son of Sam" pulls a gun from a paper bag, killing one and seriously wounding another, in the first of a series of attacks that terrorize the city for the next year. * July 30 – Caitlyn Jenner (at this time, Bruce Jenner) wins the gold medal in the men's decathlon at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. * July 31 **NASA releases the famous Face on Mars photo, taken by ''Viking 1''. **The Big Thompson River in northern Colorado floods, destroying more than 400 cars and houses.


August

* August 1 – The Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers play their first football games. * August 2 – A gunman murders Andrea Wilborn and Stan Farr and injures Priscilla Davis and Gus Gavrel, in an incident at Priscilla's mansion in Fort Worth, Texas. T. Cullen Davis, Priscilla's estranged husband and one of the richest men in Texas, is tried and found not guilty in 1977. * August 4 – The first recognized outbreak of Legionellosis, Legionnaires' disease kills 29 at the American Legion convention in
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
. * August 7 – Viking program: ''Viking 2'' enters into orbit around Mars. * August 8 – As part of the American Basketball Association–National Basketball Association merger, ABA dispersal draft, 1976, a dispersal draft is conducted to assign teams for the players on the two ABA franchises which have folded. * August 10—13 – Hurricane Belle hits Long Island and southern New England. Twelve people are killed by the storm and damage is $100 million. * August 11 – A sniper rampage in Wichita, Kansas on a Holiday Inn results in 3 deaths while 7 others are wounded. * August 18 – At Panmunjom, North Korea, two United States soldiers are killed while trying to Operation Paul Bunyan, chop down part of a tree in the Korean Demilitarized Zone which has obscured their view. * August 19 – Gerald Ford, U.S. President Gerald Ford edges out challenger Ronald Reagan to win the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party presidential nomination in Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas City. * August 28 – Actress Anissa Jones, known for playing the child Buffy Davis in the late 60s–early 70s sitcom ''Family Affair'', is found dead of an accidental overdose in Oceanside, California.


September

* September 3 – Viking program: The ''Viking 2'' spacecraft lands at Utopia Planitia on Mars. * September 6 **Cold War: Soviet Union, Soviet Air Force pilot Lt. Viktor Belenko lands a MiG-25 jet fighter at Hakodate, on the island of Hokkaidō in Japan, and requests refugee, political asylum from the United States. **Frank Sinatra brings Jerry Lewis's former partner Dean Martin onstage, unannounced, at the 1976 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon in Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas, Nevada, reuniting the comedy team for the first (and only) time in over 20 years. * September 17 – The space shuttle Space Shuttle Enterprise, ''Enterprise'' is rolled out of a Palmdale, California hangar. * September 21 – Orlando Letelier is assassinated in
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by agents of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. * September 23 – The first presidential debate of the 1976 United States presidential election, 1976 presidential election takes place. * September 24 – Patty Hearst is sentenced to seven years in prison for her role in the armed robbery of a
San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
bank in 1974 (an executive clemency order from President of the United States, U.S. President
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1 ...
will set her free after only 22 months). * September 28 – American singer Stevie Wonder releases his hit album ''Songs in the Key of Life''.


October

* October 6 – In
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, during his second televised debate with
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1 ...
, U.S. President Gerald Ford stumbles when he declares that "there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe" (there is at the time). * October 9 – Pittsburgh Pirates baseball pitcher Bob Moose is killed in a car crash in Ohio on his 29th birthday. * October 13 – The United States Commission on Civil Rights releases the report ''Puerto Ricans in the Continental United States: An Uncertain Future,'' that documents that Puerto Ricans in the United States have a poverty rate of 33 percent in 1974 (up from 29 percent in 1970), the highest of all major racial-ethnic groups in the country (not including
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, a U.S. territory). * October 15 – The first ever Vice President of the United States, vice presidential debate in the United States takes place between Bob Dole and Walter Mondale. * October 18 – Ford Motor Company, Ford officially launches volume production of Ford Fiesta, Fiesta car at its Valencia, Spain, Valencia plant. * October 19 – The Copyright Act of 1976 extends copyright duration for an additional 20 years in the United States. * October 20 – The Mississippi River ferry ''MV George Prince ferry disaster, MV George Prince'' is struck by a ship while crossing from Destrehan, Louisiana to Luling, Louisiana, killing 78 passengers and crew. * October 21 – The Cincinnati Reds sweep the New York Yankees in four games to win the 1976 World Series. * October 22 – Barbara Walters hosts the final presidential debate of the 1976 United States presidential election, 1976 presidential election. * October 25 – Clarence Norris, the last known survivor of the Scottsboro Boys, is pardoned.


November

* November 2 – U.S. presidential election, 1976:
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1 ...
defeats incumbent Gerald Ford, becoming the first candidate from the Deep South to win since the U.S. Civil War, Civil War. * November 4 – Mark Fidrych, pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, wins 1976 Major League Baseball Rookie Of The Year Award. * November 15 – The first megamouth shark is discovered off Oahu in Hawaii. * November 25 – In
San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
, The Band holds its farewell concert, ''The Last Waltz''. * November 26 –
Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washin ...
is officially registered with the Office of the Secretary of the State of New Mexico. * November 29 – The New York Yankees sign free agent Reggie Jackson to a five-year $3 million contract, setting the precedent for lucrative multi-year contracts for Major League Baseball players in years to come.


December

* December 8 – The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is established by the five Latinos in the United States Congress: Herman Badillo of New York, E. de la Garza and Henry B. Gonzalez of Texas, Edward R. Roybal of California, and the nonvoting Resident Commissioner of
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...
, Baltasar Corrada del Rio. * December 20 – Richard J. Daley, Mayor of Chicago since 1955, dies while in office.


Undated

* California's sodomy law is repealed. * The New Jersey State Legislature passes legislation legalizing casinos in the shore town of Atlantic City, New Jersey, Atlantic City commencing in 1978. After signing the bill into law, Governor Brendan Byrne declares "The American Mafia, mob is not welcome in New Jersey!" referring to the Mafia's influence at casinos in Nevada. * Thomas A. Minetree founds Bethesda Cancer Centers. * The EAOP, Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) is established by the University of California (University of California, UC) in response to the California State Leislature, State Legislature's recommendation to expand post-secondary opportunities to all of California's students including those who are first-generation, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and English-language learners.University of California EAOP, 2003 in Review. University of California, 2009–10 Budget for Current Operations Budget Detail, as Presented to the Regents for Approval. * ''Universe (1976 film), Universe'', a public domain film produced by Lester Novros for NASA, is released. * Marc Brown (author), Marc Brown's children's picture book ''Arthur's Nose'' is published.


Ongoing

* Cold War (1947–1991) * Détente (c. 1969–1979) * Capital punishment in the United States, Capital punishment suspended by ''Furman v. Georgia'' (1972–1976) * 1970s energy crisis (1973–1980)


Births


January

* January 1 – Tank (American singer), Tank, R&B musician * January 2 ** Cletidus Hunt, football player ** Phil Radford, environmental, clean energy and democracy leader * January 3 – Angela Yee, radio personality * January 4 – Ted Lilly, baseball player * January 5 – Jason Brookins, football player * January 6 ** Roberto Bergersen, basketball player ** Johnny Yong Bosch, actor, voice artist, martial artist and musician ** Danny Pintauro, actor * January 8 ** Jenny Lewis, actress and singer for Rilo Kiley ** Josh Meyers (actor), Josh Meyers, actor and comedian, brother of Seth Meyers ** Carl Pavano, baseball player * January 10 ** Adam Burke (comedian), Adam Burke, comedian ** Adam Kennedy, baseball player * January 11 ** John Avery (gridiron football), John Avery, football player ** Alfonso Boone, football player * January 13 – Michael Peña, actor and musician * January 15 ** Meredith Bishop, actress ** Dorian Missick, actor * January 16 – Carrie Keranen, voice actress * January 20 ** Wayne Bastrup, actor and musician ** Elisabeth Bennington, politician ** Michael Myers (American football), Michael Myers, football player * January 21 ** Chad Barnhardt, football player ** Zbigniew Bzymek, Polish-born filmmaker ** Mike Daisey, monologist, author, and actor * January 22 ** Jimmy Anderson (baseball), Jimmy Anderson, baseball player ** David Bazan, indie rock singer/songwriter and frontman for Pedro the Lion and Headphones (band), Headphones ** James Dearth, football player * January 23 – Nan Whaley, politician * January 24 – Maria Gabriela Brito, Venezuelan-born curator, art advisor, and author * January 25 – Stephanie Bellars, wrestling valet * January 27 ** Clint Ford, voice actor ** Fred Taylor (American football), Fred Taylor, football player * January 28 – Rick Ross, rapper * January 29 – Chris Castle, singer/songwriter and guitarist * January 30 – Andy Milonakis, internet and television personality * January 31 ** Buddy Rice, race car driver ** Paul Scheer, actor and comedian


February

* February 2 ** Ralph Biggs, American-born Belgian basketball player ** Lori Beth Denberg, actress and comedian * February 3 ** Mequitta Ahuja, painter ** Tim Heidecker, comedian * February 4 – Cam'ron, rapper * February 5 ** Martin D. Burke, chemist ** Jaime Harrison, attorney and politician ** Brian Moorman, football player * February 6 ** Ksenia Anske, Russian-born author and novelist ** James Hiroyuki Liao, actor ** Kim Zmeskal, Olympic gymnast * February 9 ** Steve Burguiere, radio producer and personality ** Charlie Day, actor * February 10 ** Lance Berkman, baseball player and coach ** Gonzalo Lopez, fugitive, mass murderer, and prison escapee (d. 2022) * February 11 ** Tony Battie, basketball player ** Brice Beckham, actor ** Jason Miyares, politician * February 12 ** Anna Benson, model ** Jeff Brandes, politician * February 14 ** Big Smo, country rapper ** Erica Leerhsen, actress * February 15 ** Barbara Birley, American-born British archaeologist and curator ** Brandon Boyd, singer/songwriter and frontman for Incubus (band), Incubus * February 16 ** Eric Byrnes, baseball player and analyst ** Janet Varney, actress and comedian * February 17 – Scott Williamson, baseball player and coach * February 20 ** Steve Brown (yo-yo player), Steve Brown, yo-yo player ** Chris Cillizza, journalist * February 22 – Kurt Braunohler, comedian * February 23 – Scott Elarton, baseball player and coach * February 24 ** Crista Flanagan, actress and screenwriter ** Zach Johnson, golfer ** Matt Skiba, singer/songwriter, guitarist, and frontman for Alkaline Trio * February 25 ** Adrian Ballinger, British-born mountain climber and guide ** Rashida Jones, actress, writer, model, and musician * February 26 – Dan Goldman (politician), Dan Goldman, attorney and politician * February 27 ** Ryan Armour, golfer ** Tony Gonzalez, football player * February 28 ** Dave Brown (entrepreneur), Dave Brown, entrepreneur ** Ali Larter, actress and model * February 29 ** Ja Rule, rapper ** Shane Johnson (actor), Shane Johnson, actor


March

* March 1 ** Marte Alexander, American-born Italian basketball player ** Antron Brown, drag racer * March 3 ** Charlie Bethel, judge ** Bobby Brooks (linebacker), Bobby Brooks, football player ** Jill Tokuda, politician * March 4 ** Mack Bernard, Haitian-born politician ** Sean Covel, producer * March 5 – 88-Keys, record producer and rapper * March 6 – Ken Anderson (wrestler), Ken Anderson, wrestler * March 8 – Freddie Prinze Jr., actor * March 9 – Jeremiah Bishop, mountain bike racer * March 10 – Christa Pike, convicted murderer and the youngest woman to be sentenced to death * March 11 – Doug Brzezinski, football player * March 12 ** Hisham Bharoocha, musician and visual artist ** Francesco Biancamano, football player * March 13 ** Marlon Barnes, football player ** Josh Bidwell, football player ** James Dewees, musician ** Danny Masterson, actor ** Jamie Pressnall, tap dancer and musician * March 14 ** Robert Baker (gridiron football), Robert Baker, football player ** Brian Quinn (comedian), Brian Quinn, actor ** Merlin Santana, actor (d. 2002) ** Corey Stoll, actor * March 15 – Katherine Brooks, writer and director * March 16 ** Nick Spano, actor ** Blu Cantrell, R&B singer * March 17 – Brittany Daniel, Brittany and Cynthia Daniel, actresses and twin sisters * March 18 ** Eugene Baker, football player ** Justin Bolli, golfer ** FanFan, American-born Taiwanese singer/songwriter ** Eric Sorensen (politician), Eric Sorensen, meteorologist and politician * March 19 ** Derek Chauvin, police officer who Murder of George Floyd, murdered George Floyd ** Andre Miller, basketball player * March 20 – Chester Bennington, singer and frontman for Linkin Park (d. 2017) * March 21 ** Gabrielle Bell, British-born cartoonist ** Rachael MacFarlane, actress and singer, sister of Seth MacFarlane * March 22 ** Rahim Abdullah, football player ** Shawty Lo, rapper (d. 2016) ** Kathryn Jean Lopez, journalist ** Wayne Turner (basketball), Wayne Turner, basketball player ** Kellie Shanygne Williams, actress ** Reese Witherspoon, actress, producer and entrepreneur * March 23 ** Jayson Blair, disgraced ''The New York Times'' reporter known for plagiarism and fabrication ** Michelle Monaghan, actress ** Jeremy Newberry, football player ** Keri Russell, actress * March 24 ** Aaron Brooks (American football), Aaron Brooks, football player ** Peyton Manning, football player * March 25 ** Somy Ali, Pakistani-born Bollywood actress, writer, filmmaker, model, and activist ** Corey Arnold, photographer ** Terry Babcock-Lumish, professor, entrepreneur, and policymaker ** Jim Bianco, musician, singer/songwriter, and producer ** Matt Burke (American football), Matt Burke, football coach ** Domenick Lombardozzi, actor * March 26 ** Blaise Alexander, automobile racing driver (d. 2001) ** Amy Smart, actress and fashion model * March 27 ** Michael Adams (Kentucky politician), Michael Adams, politician ** Jeff Bates (technologist), Jeff Bates, businessman and co-founder of ''Slashdot'' ** Matt Bertani, ice hockey coach * March 29 ** Scott Atchison, baseball player ** Benjamin Bellas, artist ** Jennifer Capriati, tennis player * March 30 ** Jessica Cauffiel, actress and singer ** Ty Conklin, ice hockey player * March 31 – Gabe Alberro, artist, writer, songwriter, and filmmaker


April

* April 1 ** Troy Baker, actor and musician ** Jamaal Bowman, politician ** Evan Jones (actor), Evan Jones, actor ** David Oyelowo, English-born actor * April 2 – Evan McMullin, CIA operations officer and political candidate * April 4 – James Roday, actor, director, and screenwriter * April 5 ** Alias (musician), Alias, hip-hop producer and founder of Anticon (d. 2018 in the United States, 2018) ** Matt Blank, baseball player ** Sterling K. Brown, actor * April 6 ** Sean Berens, ice hockey player and coach ** Joseph Brent, musician ** Candace Cameron Bure, actress * April 7 ** Kevin Alejandro, director ** Eric Wareheim, comedian * April 9 ** Algebra (singer), Algebra, R&B singer ** Serena Auñón-Chancellor, astronaut ** Blayne Weaver, actor and filmmaker * April 10 ** Dann Battistone, tennis player ** Robert J. O'Neill, Navy SEAL, news contributor, author, and the individual who killed Osama bin Laden * April 11 – Cory Brandan, singer and frontman for Norma Jean (band), Norma Jean * April 13 ** John D. Anthony, politician ** Jonathan Brandis, actor (d. 2003 in the United States, 2003) ** Glenn Howerton, actor * April 14 ** Mark Born, politician ** Jericho Brown, poet and writer ** Anna DeForge, basketball player * April 15 ** Jason Bonsignore, ice hockey player ** Brock Huard, football player * April 16 ** Phil Baroni, mixed martial artist and wrestler ** Lukas Haas, actor and musician ** Kelli O'Hara, actress and singer * April 17 – Monet Mazur, actress * April 18 ** Adrian Alvarado (actor), Adrian Alvarado, actor and writer ** Octavia Blue, basketball player ** Gavin Creel, actor and singer/songwriter ** Melissa Joan Hart, actress, producer and director ** Kevin Rankin (actor), Kevin Rankin, actor * April 19 ** Lionel Barnes, football player ** Wyatt Cenac, actor, writer, and director * April 20 – Joey Lawrence, actor, musician, and game show host * April 21 ** Cecilia Ballí, journalist and anthropologist ** Darrius Blevins, football player * April 22 – Mark Byington, basketball player and coach * April 23 – Cesar Blanco, politician * April 24 ** John Barnes (outfielder), John Barnes, baseball player ** George P. Bush, attorney and politician ** Mike Garcia (politician), Mike Garcia, politician * April 25 – Tim Duncan, basketball player * April 27 ** Chad Alban, ice hockey player ** Blaze Ya Dead Homie, rapper * April 28 – Michael Carbonaro, actor, magician, and improv artist * April 29 – Max Abramson, politician * April 30 – Scott Savol, singer


May

* May 1 ** Darius McCrary, actor ** James Murray (comedian), James Murray, actor * May 3 ** D. J. Brigman, golfer ** Guillermo E. Brown, multi-disciplinary performer ** Jeff Halpern, ice hockey player * May 4 ** Michael Aronov, actor ** Jason Michaels, baseball player * May 5 – Sage Stallone, actor, film director, producer, and distributor (d. 2012) * May 6 ** Alicka Ampry-Samuel, politician ** Marshall Burt, railroader and politician * May 7 ** Calvin Booth, basketball player ** Nick Butcher, field hockey player ** Michael P. Murphy, U.S. Navy SEAL, First recipient of the Medal of Honor in the Afghanistan War (d. 2005) * May 8 ** Gonçalo Abecasis, Portuguese-born biomedical researcher ** Luke Burbank, radio host and podcaster ** Martha Wainwright, Canadian-born folk-pop singer * May 9 – Vanessa Alfano, journalist * May 10 – Rhona Bennett, actress, singer, and model * May 14 ** Cortney Lance Bledsoe, writer, poet, and book reviewer ** Hunter Burgan, bassist for AFI (band), AFI * May 15 ** Michael Bishop (gridiron football), Michael Bishop, football player ** Torraye Braggs, basketball player ** Sashi Brown, football executive ** Ryan Leaf, football player ** Tyler Walker (baseball), Tyler Walker, baseball player * May 16 – Pat Bradley (basketball), Pat Bradley, basketball player * May 17 – Kandi Burruss, producer, television personality, singer/songwriter, and actress * May 18 – Lisa Byington, announcer, studio host, producer, and reporter * May 19 ** Carrie Barton, Olympic synchronized swimmer ** Kevin Garnett, basketball player * May 20 – Louis Bullock, basketball player * May 21 ** Rocky Biddle, baseball player ** Ryan Bittle, actor * May 22 – Chris Brazzell, football player * May 24 – Chris Bergson, guitarist and singer/songwriter * May 25 ** J. Michael Tatum, voice actor ** Erinn Hayes, actress ** Ethan Suplee, actor ** Vincent Piazza, actor * May 28 – Liam O'Brien, actor * May 29 ** Maceo Baston, basketball player ** Dawn Buth, tennis player * May 30 – Brad Finstad, politician * May 31 – Spencer Albee, singer/songwriter


June

* June 1 – Angela Perez Baraquio, Miss America 2001 * June 2 ** Syl Apps III, ice hockey player ** Andre Barnett, entrepreneur, politician, and model ** Earl Boykins, basketball player * June 3 – Jamie McMurray, race car driver * June 5 ** Aesop Rock, hip-hop artist ** Torry Holt, football player and sportscaster ** Joe Gatto (comedian), Joe Gatto, comedian * June 6 – Paul Broome, soccer player * June 7 ** Sean Aaberg, comic artist ** Samantha Baggett, soccer player and coach ** Necro (rapper), Necro, rapper * June 8 ** Eion Bailey, actor ** Lindsay Davenport, tennis player * June 9 ** Kendra Horn, politician ** Leslie Rutledge, politician * June 10 – Charles White (chef), Charles White, chef * June 12 – Brian Anderson (skateboarder), Brian Anderson, skateboarder * June 14 ** Carmen Bricillo, football coach ** Ryan Brownlee, baseball player and coach * June 16 – Tom Lenk, actor * June 18 ** Busbee, songwriter, record producer, publisher, record label executive, and multi-instrumentalist (d. 2019) ** Alana De La Garza, actress ** Blake Shelton, country singer * June 19 ** Darnell Autry, football player ** Scott Avett, singer/songwriter, banjo player, guitarist and pianist ** Ryan Hurst, actor * June 20 – Rob Mackowiak, baseball player and coach * June 21 ** Roxanne Avent, producer ** Mark Blasdel, politician ** Antonio Cochran, football player * June 22 – Mike O'Brien (actor), Mike O'Brien, actor, writer, and comedian * June 23 ** Wade Barrett (soccer), Wade Barrett, soccer player ** Joe Becker (musician), Joe Becker, musician ** Aaron Ruell, director, photographer, and actor ** Brandon Stokley, football player * June 24 ** Rasheed Brokenborough, basketball player ** Jay Kristopher Huddy, artist, filmmaker and video game designer * June 25 ** Matthew Axelson, United States Navy SEALs, U.S. Navy SEAL and Navy Cross recipient (d. 2005) ** Neil Walker (swimmer), Neil Walker, Olympic swimmer * June 27 ** Leigh Nash, Christian singer/songwriter and vocalist for Sixpence None the Richer ** Joseph Sikora, actor * June 28 ** Tony Ray Amati, convicted serial killer ** Jason J. Lewis, voice actor ** Seth Wescott, Olympic snowboarder * June 29 – Omar Doom, actor, musician, and artist * June 30 ** Angie Akers, volleyball player ** Jason Bostic, football player


July

* July 1 – Haaz Sleiman, Lebanese-born actor * July 2 ** Erin Burnett, news anchor ** Tommy Pistol, actor and director * July 3 – Andrea Barber, actress * July 4 ** Layne Beaubien, Olympic water polo player ** Jo Chen, Taiwanese-born comic book artist and writer * July 5 ** Bizarre (rapper), Bizarre, rapper ** Jamie Elman, Canadian-born actor ** Rufus Johnson, rapper * July 7 ** Cyndi Buchheit-Courtway, politician ** Hamish Linklater, actor and playwright * July 9 ** Krondon, rapper and actor ** Fred Savage, actor and director * July 10 ** Elijah Blue Allman, singer, guitarist, and frontman for Deadsy ** JoJuan Armour, football player ** Adrian Grenier, actor, musician, and director ** Elissa Slotkin, politician * July 12 ** Kris Bergstrom, taiko player ** Gwenda Bond, author ** Kyrsten Sinema, politician ** Tracie Spencer, R&B singer * July 15 ** Gabriel Iglesias, comedian, actor and producer ** Jim Jones (rapper), Jim Jones, rapper, member of hip hop group The Diplomats * July 16 ** Bobby Lashley, wrestler ** Zak Smith, artist and adult film performer * July 17 – ** Luke Bryan, country singer/songwriter ** Colby Buzzell, author, blogger, and United States Army, U.S. Amry soldier ** Dagmara Domińczyk, Polish-born actress and author ** Eric Winter, actor and fashion model * July 18 – Sebastian Blanck, musician and figurative painter * July 21 – Cori Bush, politician and Black Lives Matter activist * July 22 – Nino Alejandro, Philippine-born singer/songwriter * July 23 ** Charla Baklayan Faddoul, Syrian-born television personality ** Tony Bevilacqua, guitarist for The Distillers ** Matt Birk, football player ** Anthony Blevins, football player ** Stephanie Grisham, White House Press Secretary (2019-2020) * July 24 ** Chris Ahrens (rower), Chris Ahrens, Olympic rower ** Rafer Alston, basketball player ** Nate Bump, baseball player ** Rashida Tlaib, politician * July 26 – Martha Roby, politician * July 27 ** Ryan Michelle Bathe, actress ** Brandon Beane, football executive * July 28 – Jacoby Shaddix, singer, television personality, and frontman for Papa Roach * July 29 ** Abiola Abrams, author, podcaster, motivational speaker, and spiritual life coach ** Peter Alexander (journalist), Peter Alexander, journalist * July 30 – Nigel Burton, football player, coach, and commentator * July 31 ** Marty Booker, football player ** Rod Monroe (American football), Rod Monroe, football player (d. 2017)


August

* August 1 ** Robin Belcher, politician ** Don Hertzfeldt, animator * August 3 – Scott Barry, MLB umpire * August 4 – Paul Goldstein (tennis), Paul Goldstein, tennis player * August 5 – Napoleon Beazley, convicted murderer (d. 2002) * August 6 ** Roderick Blakney, American-born Bulgarian basketball player ** Soleil Moon Frye, actress and producer ** Travis Kalanick, businessman and computer programmer; co-founder of Uber * August 7 ** Nargiz Birk-Petersen, Azerbaijani-born lawyer, presenter, and model ** Regina T. Boyce, politician * August 8 ** JC Chasez, singer and member of 'N Sync ** Drew Lachey, singer and member of 98 Degrees * August 9 – Jessica Capshaw, actress * August 10 – Zach Azzanni, football coach * August 11 ** Jermaine Alfred, football player ** Brendan Bayliss, singer, guitarist, and frontman for Umphrey's McGee ** Will Friedle, actor, voice actor, writer, and comedian * August 12 ** Antoine Walker, basketball player ** Wednesday 13, rock musician * August 14 – Alex Albrecht, television personality * August 17 ** Matt Anderson (baseball), Matt Anderson, baseball player ** Scott Halberstadt, actor * August 18 ** Teri Anulewicz, politician ** Brian Bowles (baseball), Brian Bowles, baseball player ** Jon Busch, soccer player and coach ** Bryan Volpenhein, Olympic rower * August 19 – M. Wartella, Michael M. Wartella, underground cartoonist * August 21 ** Sam Beall, chef and restauranteur (d. 2016) ** Charles Berkeley (bobsleigh), Charles Berkeley, Olympic bobsledder ** Alex Brooks, ice hockey player * August 23 ** Michael Bhatia, researcher on conflict resolution in war-torn countries (d. 2008) ** Scott Caan, actor * August 25 ** Jensen Atwood, actor ** Damon Jones, basketball player and coach * August 26 – Mike Colter, actor * August 27 – Jeremy Bates (American football), Jeremy Bates, football player * August 30 – Lillo Brancato, Jr., actor


September

* September 1 ** Babydaddy, bassist, vocalist, and guitarist for Scissor Sisters ** Cornelius Bonner, football player ** Larry Brown (tight end, born 1976), Larry Brown, football player * September 3 ** Tony Bryant, football player ** Jevon Kearse, football player * September 4 – Brian Myrow, baseball player * September 5 – Chris Broach, guitarists/vocalists for Braid (band), Braid * September 6 ** Mike Amiri, fashion designer ** Annet Artani, singer/songwriter ** Brendon Ayanbadejo, football player ** Mark Wilkerson, musician * September 7 – Stevie Case, video game celebrity * September 9 – Jack Brasington, tennis player * September 11 ** Masih Alinejad, Iranian-born journalist and women's rights activist ** Leilani Bishop, model * September 12 ** Amanda Adams, author, archaeologist, and fashion model ** Bizzy Bone, rapper ** LaVell Boyd, football player * September 13 – Ro Khanna, politician * September 14 ** Vlatko Andonovski, Yugoslavian-born soccer player and coach ** Austin Basis, actor * September 15 ** Bacari Alexander, basketball player and coach ** Nanette Barragán, politician ** Rob Wiethoff, actor * September 16 ** Erik Aadahl, sound editor ** Greg Buckner, basketball player * September 17 ** Samuel Aroutiounian, producer and entrepreneur ** Nicole Reinhart, cyclist (d. 2000) * September 18 ** Jeremy Barnes (musician), Jeremy Barnes, musician ** Reggie Berg, ice hockey player ** Angie Braziel, basketball player ** Sophina Brown, actress * September 19 ** Raja Bell, basketball player ** Jay Electronica, rapper and producer ** Alison Sweeney, actress and television host * September 20 ** Jaymi Bailey, soccer player ** Jon Bernthal, actor ** Brandon Burlsworth, football player (d. 1999) * September 22 – David Berkeley, singer/songwriter * September 24 ** Phil Bartlett, politician ** Radha Blank, actress, filmmaker, playwright, rapper, and comedian ** Ian Bohen, actor ** Ben Broussard, baseball player ** Erin Houchin, politician ** Stephanie McMahon, Stephanie McMahon-Levesque, wrestling promoter, daughter of Vince McMahon * September 25 ** Charlotte Ayanna, actress and beauty pageant titleholder ** Chauncey Billups, basketball player ** Doug Bohaboy, tennis player * September 28 – Farah Alvin, actress * September 29 – Dave Aranda, football coach * September 30 – Dusty Johnson, politician


October

* October 1 – Danielle Bisutti, actress and singer * October 2 ** Eric Burlison, politician ** Mandisa, gospel singer and American Idol contestant * October 3 ** Candy Apples, pornographic actress ** Seann William Scott, actor and producer * October 4 – Alicia Silverstone, actress * October 5 – Matt Hamill, mixed martial artist * October 7 – Taylor Hicks, singer and American Idol (season 5), American Idol winner * October 8 ** Kelly Armstrong, politician ** Blockhead (music producer), Blockhead, hip-hop record producer and DJ ** Peter Stickles, actor * October 9 ** William Alexander (author), William Alexander, writer and academic ** Sam Riegel, voice actor and director ** Nick Swardson, actor, stand-up comedian, and screenwriter * October 10 ** Bob Burnquist, Brazilian-born skateboarder ** Pat Burrell, baseball player * October 11 ** Emily Deschanel, actress ** Dave Briggs (journalist), Dave Briggs, journalist * October 12 ** Ian Bell (CEO), Ian Bell, media executive and CEO of Digital Trends ** Tom Burke (American football), Tom Burke, football player * October 14 – Scott Bradley (racing driver), Scott Bradley, racing driver * October 15 ** Jacob Bannon, singer and frontman for Converge (band), Converge ** Michelle Beisner-Buck, NFL cheerleader and reporter * October 19 ** Jeff Austin (baseball), Jeff Austin, baseball player ** Diego Bernal, politician ** Omar Gooding, actor ** Desmond Harrington, actor ** Pete Loeffler, singer, guitarist, and frontman for Chevelle (band), Chevelle ** Michael Young (baseball), Michael Young, baseball player * October 20 ** Reidel Anthony, football player ** Scott Blake, artist ** Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden, filmmaker ** Dan Fogler, actor, comedian, and writer * October 21 ** Jaime Andrews, actress, producer, business director, and playwright ** Albrey Battle, football player ** Jeremy Miller, actor * October 22 ** Michael Barrett (baseball), Michael Barrett, baseball player ** Brent Bartholomew, football player ** Jon Foreman, singer/songwriter, guitarist, and frontman for Switchfoot * October 23 – Trevor Engelson, producer * October 24 – Amy Allen, actress * October 25 ** Michelle Biloon, comedian ** Kristin Rossum, toxicologist and convicted murderer * October 26 – Thurop Van Orman, animator and voice actor * October 29 ** Marcus Amaker, poet ** Glenn Berggoetz, director, writer, and actor * October 31 ** Seth Abramson, professor, attorney, author, political columnist, and poet ** Piper Perabo, actress


November

* November 1 ** Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, football player and coach ** Adah Almutairi, scientist and professor ** John Bevan (figure skater), John Bevan, figure skater ** Chad Lindberg, actor ** Sam Presti, basketball executive, general manager of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder since 2007 * November 5 ** Sebastian Arcelus, actor ** Jeff Klein, singer-songwriter and guitarist ** Samuel Page, actor ** Ben Quayle, lawyer and politician * November 6 ** Laurie Baker (ice hockey), Laurie Baker, ice hockey player ** Chris Bell (American football), Chris Bell, football player ** Jeremy Borseth, football player ** Jace Bugg, golfer (d. 2003) ** Rob Buyea, author ** Troy Hambrick, football player ** Mike Herrera, singer/songwriter, bassist, and frontman for MxPx and Tumbledown (band), Tumbledown ** Pat Tillman, football player, victim of friendly fire (d. 2004) ** Sal Vulcano, actor ** Wiley Wiggins, actor * November 7 ** Paul Boyd (journalist), Paul Boyd, Canadian-born journalist ** Rob Caggiano, guitarist for Volbeat * November 9 ** Jamal Brooks, football player ** Josh Kaufman, singer/songwriter, winner of The Voice (U.S. TV series), The Voice (Season 6) * November 11 ** Allister Adel, attorney and politician (d. 2022) ** Corey Atkins, football player * November 12 ** Matt Bowen (American football), Matt Bowen, football player ** Tevin Campbell, singer and actor * November 14 ** Tyson Ballou, model ** Tiffiny Blacknell, lawyer * November 15 ** Malar Balasubramanian, pediatrician convicted of involuntary manslaughter (d. 2017) ** Brian Banks (politician), Brian Banks, politician * November 16 – Trevor Brazile, rodeo competitor * November 17 – Diane Neal, actress * November 18 ** Jessi Alexander, country singer/songwriter ** Dominic Armato, voice actor, journalist, and food critic * November 19 ** Happy Anderson, actor ** Eric Bostrom, motorcycle racer ** Jesse Brinkley, boxer ** Jack Dorsey, computer programmer and Internet entrepreneur, co-founder of Twitter * November 20 – Dominique Dawes, Olympic gymnast * November 21 – Yoon Ahn, fashion designer * November 22 ** Oliver Ackermann, rock musician and founder of Death by Audio ** Kate Barber, field hockey player * November 24 ** Matt Brown (parathlete), Matt Brown, parathlete ** Jorge Elorza, politician, mayor of Providence, Rhode Island * November 25 ** Aziza Baccouche, physicist and science filmmaker (d. 2021) ** Donovan McNabb, football player * November 26 ** Keith Beach, soccer player ** Maia Campbell, actress and singer * November 27 – Jaleel White, actor * November 28 – Adam Bernero, baseball player * November 29 ** Chris Akins, football player ** Ricardo Almeida, mixed martial artist ** Lindsay Benko, Olympic swimmer ** Chadwick Boseman, actor and playwright (d. 2020) ** Anna Faris, actress ** Ehren McGhehey, stunt performer and actor * November 30 – Shawn Bryson, football player


December

* December 1 ** Matthew Shepard, murder victim (d. 1998) ** Laura Ling, journalist, 2009 imprisonment of American journalists by North Korea, imprisoned by North Korea in 2009 * December 2 – Jamie Barnette, football player * December 3 – Cornelius Griffin, football player * December 4 ** Amie Comeaux, country music singer (d. 1997) ** Greg Landsman, politician * December 5 ** Amy Acker, actress ** Amanda Adkins (swimmer), Amanda Adkins, Olympic swimmer ** C-Note (rapper), C-Note, rapper * December 6 – Séverine Autesserre, French-born author and researcher * December 7 – Mark Duplass, actor, screenwriter, and director * December 8 – Ryan Blackwell, basketball player and coach * December 9 ** Phil Armour, football player ** Chris Booker (baseball), Chris Booker, baseball player ** Jimmy Brumbaugh, football player * December 10 – Tim Ashe, politician * December 11 – Shareef Abdur-Rahim, basketball player and president of the NBA G League since 2019 * December 12 – Eric M. Bromwell, politician * December 14 ** Tammy Blanchard, actress ** Leland Chapman, bail bondsman * December 16 – Ryan Aument, politician * December 17 ** The Hageman Brothers, Dan Hageman, screenwriter and television producer ** Tracey Mann, politician ** Takeo Spikes, football player * December 19 – Beau Archibald, basketball player and coach * December 20 ** Michael Binger, poker player ** David Bronson (musician), David Bronson, singer/songwriter ** Aubrey Huff, baseball player and radio host * December 21 ** Christie Ambrosi, softball player ** Lamont Bagby, politician ** Andy Gipson, politician * December 23 ** Raheem Beyah, computer engineer, researcher, and educator ** Kris Brown, football player ** Jamie Noble, wrestler * December 24 ** Shalanda Baker, Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity at the US Department of Energy (2022-present) ** Chris Bober, football player * December 27 – Tim Arson, wrestler (d. 2015) * December 28 – Joe Manganiello, actor * December 29 ** Thomas Blake (tennis), Thomas Blake, tennis player ** Danny McBride, actor, comedian, and writer * December 31 ** Christopher B. Anderson, ecologist ** Vanessa Kerry, physician and health care administrator ** Chris Terrio, film director/screenwriter


Full Date Unknown

* Kulsoom Abdullah, American-born Pakistani weightlifter * Hassan Abujihaad, U.S. Navy sailor convicted of terrorism * John Joseph Adams, science fiction and fantasy editor, critic, and publisher * Adunni Ade, American-born Nigerian actress and model * Golnar Adili, artist * Farooque Ahmed, convicted terrorist * Marc Alessi, politician * Kimberly Amato, actress and author * Ana Lily Amirpour, British-born director, screenwriter, producer, and actress * Ampichino, rapper and producer * Ning An, Chinese-born pianist * Angelina (American singer), Angelina, singer * Sarah Aroeste, singer and composer * Huwaida Arraf, activist and lawyer * Elena Bajo, Spanish-born visual artist * Mishell Baker, writer * Benjamin Balint, author, journalist, educator, and translator * Simon Ball, ballet dancer * Ali Banisadr, Iranian-born artist * Mahmoud Reza Banki, Iranian-born scientist * Michael Baskette, music producer * Orca Bates, model * Matt Bauder, jazz musician * Naomi Beckwith, art curator * T. James Belich, playwright and actor * Frank Benson (artist, born 1976), Frank Benson, artist * Ashley Berggren, basketball player * Mickey Bergman, Vice President and executive director of the Richardson Center for Global Engagement * Josh Berk, author * Leah Berman, mathematician * Walead Beshty, British-born artist and writer * Jamila Bey, journalist * Jay Black (comedian), Jay Black, comedian * Libby Black, artist * Brad Boatright, musician, record producer, and mastering engineer * Anthony Boone (basketball), Anthony Boone, basketball player * Jeff Bourne (politician), Jeff Bourne, politician * James Brand (musician), James Brand, musician (d. 2010) * Jennie E. Brand, sociologist and social statistician * Jesse Brand, songwriter, musician, and actor * Ivan Brandon, comic book writer * Ryan Brasseaux, folklorist * Joey Brinson, wheelchair fencer * Sara Bronfman, daughter of Edgar Bronfman Sr., and member of NXIVM * Amanda Browder, installation artist * Josh Brown (musician), Josh Brown, singer and frontman for Day of Fire * John Bunn (exonerated prisoner), John Bunn, wrongfully convicted man * Victoria Burge, artist * Dillon Burroughs, author * Shaun Butler, BMX rider * Kent Bye, podcaster and journalist * Vasili Byros, musicologist


Deaths

* January 15 – Jim Graner, sports anchor (born 1919 in the United States, 1919) * January 21 – John Gould Moyer, naval officer, 31st Governor of American Samoa (born 1893 in the United States, 1893) * January 23 – Paul Robeson, bass baritone (born 1898 in the United States, 1898) * January 31 – Ernesto Miranda, defendant in ''Miranda v. Arizona'' (born 1941 in the United States, 1941) * February 1 ** Leland H. Jenks, economic historian (born 1892 in the United States, 1892) ** George Whipple, scientist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (born 1878 in the United States, 1878) * February 12 –
Sal Mineo Salvatore Mineo Jr. (January 10, 1939 – February 12, 1976) was an American actor, singer, and director. He is best known for his role as John "Plato" Crawford in the drama film '' Rebel Without a Cause'' (1955), which earned him a nomination ...
, film actor (born 1939) * February 22 – Florence Ballard, singer (The Supremes) (born 1943 in the United States, 1943) * February 26 – Joseph Weil, con man (born 1875 in the United States, 1875) * March 15 – Jo Mielziner, set and lighting designer (born 1901 in France) * March 17 – Andrew Tombes, comedian and character actor (born 1885 in the United States, 1885) * March 25 – Josef Albers, Modernist painter (born 1888 in Germany) * April 4 – Harry Nyquist, information theory pioneer (born 1889 in Sweden) * April 5 – Howard Hughes, aviation pioneer, film director and millionaire recluse (born 1905 in the United States, 1905) * April 9 – Phil Ochs, protest singer-songwriter (born 1940 in the United States, 1940) * April 14 – William H. Hastie, judge and politician (born 1904 in the United States, 1904) * June 6 – J. Paul Getty, industrialist (born 1892 in the United States, 1892) * June 20 – Lou Klein, baseball player and coach (born 1918 in the United States, 1918) * August 26 – Lotte Lehmann, soprano (born 1888 in Germany) * August 28 – Anissa Jones, TV actress (born 1958 in the United States, 1958) * September 10 – Dalton Trumbo, screenwriter and novelist (born 1905 in the United States, 1905) * October 9 – Bob Moose, baseball player (born 1947 in the United States, 1947) * October 15 – Carlo Gambino, mafioso (born 1902 in Italy) * November 11 – Alexander Calder, sculptor (born 1898) * November 28 – Rosalind Russell, film actress (born 1907 in the United States, 1907) * December 2 – Danny Murtaugh, baseball player and manager (born 1917 in the United States, 1917) * December 12 – Jack Cassidy, actor and singer (born 1927 in the United States, 1927) * December 20 – Richard J. Daley, Mayor of Chicago (born 1902 in the United States, 1902)


See also

* 1976 in American television * List of American films of 1976 * Timeline of United States history (1970–1989)


References


External links

* * {{Year in North America, 1976 1976 in the United States, 1970s in the United States 1976 by country, United States 1976 in North America, United States Years of the 20th century in the United States