Births on December 18

Claudia Gesell, German runner

Claudia Andrea Barbara Gesell (born 18 December 1977 in Tirschenreuth) is a former German middle distance runner who specialised in the 800 metres.

23 Mar

Watergate scandal
The first of The Nixon Interviews (12 will be recorded over four weeks) are videotaped with British journalist David Frost interviewing former United States President Richard Nixon about the Watergate scandal and the Nixon tapes.
5 Jul

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Military coup in Pakistan: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, is overthrown.
4 Aug

Jimmy Carter
U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs legislation creating the United States Department of Energy.
15 Aug

Search for extraterrestrial intelligence
The Big Ear, a radio telescope operated by Ohio State University as part of the SETI project, receives a radio signal from deep space; the event is named the "Wow! signal" from the notation made by a volunteer on the project.
21 Nov

God Save the Queen
Minister of Internal Affairs Allan Highet announces that the national anthems of New Zealand shall be the traditional anthem "God Save the Queen" and "God Defend New Zealand".