By the time the summer of 1974 rolled around , America was ready for a break . The Vietnam War had ended for the United States the year prior , but the emotional and psychological toll at home had just begun . The lifting of the 1973 oil embargo in March 1974 eased economic tensions and allowed Americans to hit the open roads once again . And , let 's not forget the Watergate scandal . By the summer of 1974 , the fate of most of the president 's men had been decided , and the Supreme Court had rejected President Richard Nixon 's claims of executive privilege , paving the way for his resignation August 9 . It was a time of weariness and confusion , which was reflected in the music and films of 1974 . But it also was a period of transition for America as the progressive values that emerged in the 1960s around political awareness and women 's rights continued to flourish . A shift in pop culture also was under way , from Beatlemania and Flower Power to disco and what Tom Wolfe dubbed the `` Me '' decade . Browse through the gallery above for a look back at the summer of 1974 . Do you remember life in the 1970s ? Share your memories in the comments !
Historians view the 1970s as a transitional era in the United States . In 1974 , Americans were weary from the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal . Ahead of them was disco and the `` Me '' decade .