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Russians send the first man into space
Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin (9 March 1934 – 27 March 1968) was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space. Travelling in the Vostok 1 capsule -
New York World’s Fair begins
a very cloudy Sunday, the fair had its grand opening, with 206,000 people in attendance. The April 30 date coincided with the 150th -
first televised presidential debate
Which presidential campaign produced the first nationally televised debate? The typical answer to that question is 1960, Kennedy v. Nixon. -
First airing of “The Flintstones”
was already prehistoric by design when it premiered Sept. 30, 1960. Sixty years after its launch, primetime TV's first animated series seems even older in some ways -
sncc formed
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was founded in April 1960 by young people dedicated to nonviolent, direct action tactics. -
President Kennedy is elected
It was held on Tuesday, November 8, 1960. In a closely contested election, Democratic Senator John F. Kennedy defeated the incumbent vice president Richard Nixon -
Berlin Wall is constructed
The Berlin Wall became the symbol of the Cold War and a tangible manifestation of the world's separation into two distinct ideological blocs. -
Roger Maris of the Yankees breaks Babe Ruth’s single season home run record
On This Day 61 Years Ago, Roger Maris Tied Babe Ruth with 60 Home Runs. On September 26, 1961, New York Yankees outfielder Roger Maris hit his 60th home run of the Major League Baseball season, tying Babe Ruth's single-season home run record -
SDS releases its Port Huron statement
The 25,700-word statement issued a non-ideological call for participatory democracy, based on non-violent civil disobedience and the idea that individual citizens could help make the social decisions which determined their quality of life. -
Marilyn Monroe dies
caused by a self-administered overdose of sedative drugs -
James Meredith registers at Ole Miss
James Meredith officially became the first African American student at the University of Mississippi on October 2, 1962. He was guarded twenty-four hours a day by reserve U.S. deputy marshals and army troops -
Cuban Missile Crisis
a direct and dangerous confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War -
“Dr. No” the first James Bond movie premiers
On this day in history, the World Premiere of James Bond's Dr. No was held on 5th October 1962 at the London Pavilion, -
Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” Speech
have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain -
John F Kennedy is assassinated
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas. -
The Beatles arrive in the United States
the Beatles arrived at John F Kennedy airport in New York, greeted by thousands of screaming fans. -
The Beatles appear on Ed Sullivan
At 8 o'clock on February 9th 1964, America tuned in to CBS and The Ed Sullivan Show. But this night was different. 73 million people gathered in front their TV sets to see The Beatles' first live performance on U.S. soil. -
Lyndon B Johnson defeats Barry Goldwater
With over 60 percent of the popular vote, Johnson turned back the conservative senator from Arizona to secure his first full term in office -
Malcolm X assassinated
Malcolm X, a religious and civil rights leader, was assassinated during a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan. -
Watts race riots
Watts Riots of 1965 | American history | Britannica
The riots resulted in the deaths of 34 people, while more than 1,000 were injured and more than $40 million worth of property was destroyed. -
LSD declared illegal by the U.S. government
The governors of Nevada and California each signed bills into law on May 30, 1966, that make them the first two American states to outlaw the manufacture, sale, and possession of the drug -
“Star Trek” TV show airs
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry that follows the adventures of the starship USS Enterprise -
San Francisco “Summer of Love” begins
Leary made his first San Francisco appearance in 1967 at the Human Be-In, a counterculture event that unofficially launched San Francisco's Summer of Love. -
First NFL Football Super Bowl
NFL World Championship Game was an American football game played on January 15, 1967, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles -
Boxer Muhammed Ali refuses military service
When Ali arrived to be inducted in the United States Armed Forces, however, he refused, citing his religion forbade him from serving -
Beatles release Sgt. Pepper’s album
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, the band's eighth album became the soundtrack to the "summer of love" -
Thurgood Marshall nominated to the Supreme Court
Marshall was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 69–11 vote on August 30, 1967, becoming the first African American member of the Court, and the court's first non-white justice.
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Tet Offensive
North Vietnamese and communist Viet Cong forces launched a coordinated attack against a number of targets in South Vietnam. -
Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated
African-American clergyman and civil rights leader, was fatally shot at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee -
Robert Kennedy is assassinated
Robert F. Kennedy was shot by Sirhan Sirhan at the Ambassador Hotel, and he was pronounced dead the following day. -
Protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention
Police milled in the crowd giving considerable leeway to the proceedings which led to a peaceable day. The Yippies took a radical approach to the Democratic National Convention -
Richard Nixon is elected
Nixon emphasized the strong economy and his success in foreign affairs -
Stonewall riots
The Stonewall Riots, also called the Stonewall Uprising, took place on June 28, 1969, in New York City, after police raided the Stonewall -
American astronauts land on the moon
On July 20, 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin (1930-) became the first humans ever to land on the moon. -
Woodstock concert
Woodstock Music and Art Fair, commonly referred to as Woodstock, was a music festival -
The Rolling Stones host the Altamont music festival
about 300,000 gathered at the Altamont Speedway in Tracy, California to see the Rolling Stones perform a free concert that was seen as a 'Woodstock West.