The Year is 1972 ... Republicans Richard M. Nixon (CA) and Spiro T. Agnew (MD) beat Democrats George S. McGovern (SD) and R. Sargent Shriver (MD) for President and Vice President. Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Special Projects Office established in the U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare (DHEW) creates five demonstration projects funded by DHEW with $7.9 million. Illinois is among those projects and a paramedic program is inaugurated in northwest suburbs. Dr. Stanley Zydlo, Captain Jack Benson (AHFD), Jan Schwettman (Inverness resident) and others organize the program locally with determination. Earth's picture is taken on Dec. 7 by Apollo 17 astronauts as they leave earth's orbit toward the Moon. The picture marks the first time the trajectory of an Apollo mission shows a view of the south pole. (Source: NASA) The first of a series of five satellites is launched by the United States, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). LANDSAT was created for general-purpose landuse or landcover images of nearly the entire Earth's surface. The @ sign is chosen as a standard for e-mail over ARPAnet (precursor to the Internet). President Nixon becomes the first president to visit China and Soviet Union. Security improved on airlines in an effort to prevent hijackings and terrorist acts. Presidential candidate and Alabama Governor George Wallace is shot and partially paralyzed by Arthur Bremer in Laurel, Maryland. Burglars arrested for breaking into Democratic National Committee headquarters at Watergate Complex in Washington, D.C. National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger exclaims in a press conference, "We believe that peace is at hand." U.S. troops in Vietnam fall below 70,000. A United Airlines 737 crashes just southeast of Midway airport, destroying three homes. The crash kills 43 passengers and crew onboard and two people on the ground. A North Central DC-9 crashes during takeoff with a Delta Convair 880 on the ground. Crash kills 10 people on the North Central DC-9. Illinois Central Railroad express commuter train crashes into the rear of a local commuter train at the 27th Street station in Chicago killing 45 people and injuring 66 (October 30). Pre-recorded videocassettes are introduced to consumers. Super Bowl VI Dallas Cowboys 24 Miami Dolphins 3 The Godfather wins an Oscar for Best Picture