Events from the year 1972 in the United States. == Incumbents == === Federal government === President: Richard Nixon (R-California) Vice President: Spiro Agnew (R-Maryland) Chief Justice: Warren E. Burger (Virginia) Speaker of the House of Representatives: Carl Albert (D-Oklahoma) Senate Majority Leader: Mike Mansfield (D-Montana) Congress: 92nd ==== State governments ==== == Events == === January === January 5 – U.S. President Richard Nixon orders the development of a Space Shuttle pr…