March 28, 1979 America's worst commercial nuclear accident occurs inside the Unit Two reactor at the Three Mile Island plant near Middletown, Pennsylvania. Thousands living near the plant leave the area before the 12-day crisis ends, during which time radioactive water and gases are released. It costs more than US$1 billion and more than a decade to remove the damaged nuclear fuel.

March 29, 1971 Army Lt. William L. Calley Jr. is convict