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Remon-Eisenhower Treaty
Updated the terms of the Bunau-Varilla Treaty and raised the toll for U.S. to control the canal from $430,000 to over a million dollars. -
1955 US COMPLETES WORLD’S FIRST NUCLEAR SUBMARINE
The Nautilus, the first, nuclear-powered submarine was launched on this date. The machine remained in service till 1980. -
1955 VIETNAM WAR BEGINS
U.S. once again attempts to stop the onslaught of Communism overtaking Vietnam in a long, bloody struggle. -
ELVIS PRESLEY BECOMES #1
“Hound Dog” and “Don’t Be Cruel” become #1 hit songs for 11 weeks. -
CONGRESS ADOPTS THE EISENHOWER DOCTRINE
Permitted the U.S. to help Middle Eastern countries and to render aid to countries under attack by communist forces. -
1957 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
Founded the Southern Christian Leadership Council in Atlanta. -
BILLY GRAHAM LAUNCHES CRUSADE
First crusade in front of 18,000 people in New York City. -
U.S. LAUNCHES ITS FIRST ARTIFICIAL SATELLITE
Explorer I is launched, beginning the Cold War Space Race. -
NEVADA TEST SITE
US begins a toxic trend of above-ground nuclear weapons testing, resulting in a rise of cancer and radiation-related diseases. -
FIDEL CASTRO IS SWORN IN AS PRIME MINISTER OF CUBA
After violent revolution, Castro would set the stage for much additional tension between U.S. and Communist countries. -
FIRST FLIGHT OF THE X-15
Fastest manned aircraft ever flown, reached speeds of 4,520 miles per hour and altitudes of over 50 miles. -
Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan
Furthered the alliance between the two countries and enabled/required them to act on each other’ behalf. -
1961 JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY INAUGURATED
35th U.S. President -
US ELEMENT 103
U.S. scientist Albert Ghiorso and his team of physicists discovered the 103rd element, Lawrencium. -
1961 FIRST AMERICAN IN SPACE
Alan B Shepherd exited the earth in Freedom 7 for a 15 minute flight as the second person in space. -
FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN HALL OF FAMER
Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American baseball player elected to the hall of fame. -
FIRST AMERICAN TO ORBIT THE EARTH
John Glenn orbited the earth 3 times in under 5 hours aboard Friendship 7. -
WINSTON CHURCHILL BECOMES A US CITIZEN
Churchill became the 1st honorary U.S. Citizen. -
1963 JFK IS ASSASSINATED
Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed JFK at a parade in Dallas, Texas. Oswald was killed at point blank by Jack Ruby two days later. -
SHE LOVES YOU, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH
The Beatles performed for the first time on U.S. soil at the Coliseum in Washington, D.C. -
1964 LBJ PASSES THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT
Lyndon Baines Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act which prevents discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
MALCOM X ASSASSINATED
A radical black rights activist was shot and killed by the Nation of Islam gang members of NYC. -
CHER MAKES HER DEBUT
Cher and Sonny make their first television appearance. -
FIRST AIRLIFT OF CUBAN EMIGRES
75 Cubans left for U.S. on a DC-7. -
1966 CUBAN REFUGEE ACT
Admits over 400,000 to U.S., permits immigration of Cubans to United States under certain conditions. -
FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN SENATOR
Edward Brooke became the first popularly elected African American Senator in office. -
TRIAL OF THE MBT-70 PROJECT
U.S.’s first attempt at an international collaboration with Germany to design a Main Battle Tank. Failed because of design flaws and cost. -
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated
The powerful civil rights activist dies to a sniper bullet in a motel in Tennessee. -
C-5 GALAXY INTRODUCED
The largest military transport aircraft ever produced, one of the largest aircraft in history. 65 years after the Wright Flyer. -
RICHARD NIXON BECOMES PRESIDENT
Richard Milhous Nixon became the 37th U.S. President. -
1969 FIRST MAN ON THE MOON
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Sea of Tranquility in the Apollo 11 Lunar Module. -
WOODSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL
Debut of the counterculture movement, popularly referred to as “hippies.” -
RELEASE OF THE NIXON DOCTRINE
U.S. expected its allies to have their own national security, but would act as a nuclear umbrella if requested to do so. -
FIRST FEMALE GENERALS
Elizabeth Hoisington and Anna Mae Mays were the first women to become US generals. -
MORE MOON LANDINGS
Apollo 14 and 15 crews spend over 3 hours in total on the lunar surface. -
DESIGN OF THIRD GENERATION MBT BEGINS
The M1 Abrams development project begins, signaling the beginning of a new era of U.S. dominance in tank design. -
WATERGATE SCANDAL
A burglary in Washington, D.C. leads to investigation that suspected the Nixon Administration, eventually leading to impeachment and resignation of Nixon. -
RICHARD NIXON RESIGNS
After impeachment threats from Congress and serious damage to his reputation via the Watergate Affair, the President hands the office off to Gerald Ford, Jr. -
VIETNAM WAR ENDS
U.S. troops pull out of Vietnam War, signaling U.S.’s first defeat.
