In the summer of 1970, President Richard Nixon signed the Postal Reorganization Act, changing the Post Office Department into a semi-private, independent agency under the executive branch and renaming it the "United States Postal Service." This change removed the postmaster general from the president's cabinet and established a new structure of postal operation and decision-making oversight.
The stamps of this period commemorate a wide variety of subjects, including the 50th anniversary of Woman Suffrage, anti-pollution efforts, disabled veterans and American service members missing in action or held as prisoners of war. Following the first-class rate change from six cents to eight cents, large format commemorative stamps featured American wildlife and historic preservation efforts. Public service messages also appeared on stamps, examples being the Prevent Drug Abuse issue and the Blood Donor issue.
