1960s Timeline

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Feb 21, 2022

President Kennedy Outlines Difficulties in Vietnam and Laos

Feb. 21, 1962 - President Kennedy indicated today that the U.S. intended to try to bring about general stability in South Vietnam and...

Feb 21, 2022

Khrushchev Congratulates President Kennedy and Colonel Glenn

Feb. 21, 1962 - Soviet Premier Khrushchev called on the U.S. today to join its efforts with those of the Soviet Union in the conquest of...

Feb 21, 2022

Colonel Glenn in "Excellent" Physical Condition Following Orbit

Feb. 21, 1962 - Lieut. Col. John H. Glenn Jr. was pronounced today by the Project Mercury physician, Lieut. Col. William Douglas, to be...

Feb 21, 2022

Glenn Family Reunion on Tap in Florida

Feb. 21, 1962 - President Kennedy will turn his meeting with Lieut. Col. John H. Glenn Jr. at Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Friday into a...

Feb 21, 2022

Kennedy Cautious on Soviet Proposal to Combine Space Efforts

Feb. 21, 1962 - President Kennedy wrote Soviet Premier Khrushchev today that he hoped representatives of their two Governments could meet...

Feb 20, 2022

MLB: Mets Fascinated by Glenn Spaceflight

Feb. 20, 1962 - At 9:30 a.m., when the New York Mets’ second day of spring training was set to begin in St. Petersburg, Fla., most of the...

Feb 20, 2022

Grace Bumbry, Negro Mezzo-Soprano, Performs at White House

Feb. 20, 1962 — Grace Bumbry, mezzo-soprano, sang at the White House tonight after a state dinner at which she scarcely ate a bite. The...

Feb 20, 2022

Pilot Who Circled Globe in 1924 Calls Glenn Spaceflight "A Remarkable Thing"

Feb. 20, 1962 - Leigh Wade (pictured third from left in 1924) got out of bed at 6:30 a.m. today to watch on television as Lieut. Col....

Feb 20, 2022

The TV Voice of the Spaceflight: Lieutenant Colonel John "Shorty" Powers

Feb. 20, 1962 - One of the voices most frequently heard around the world today was that of a 5-foot-6, 39-year-old former bomber pilot...

Feb 20, 2022

President Kennedy's Statement on Glenn Spaceflight

Feb. 20, 1962 - Following is the text of President Kennedy’s statement on Colonel Glenn’s flight: “I know that I express the great...

Feb 20, 2022

The World Follows Glenn Spaceflight

Feb. 20, 1962 - The orbital flight of Colonel Glenn proved today to be a sort of super goodwill tour. Expressions of sympathy, pride and...

Feb 20, 2022

Parents of Colonel Glenn Say Prayers Have Been Answered

Feb. 20, 1962 - The parents of Lieut. Col. John Glenn Jr. (pictured in 1945), radiant and relieved that their long wait was over, said...

Feb 20, 2022

Transcript of President Kennedy's Phone Call to Colonel Glenn

Feb. 20, 1962 - Following is the transcription of a telephone conversation between President Kennedy and Colonel Glenn this afternoon:...

Feb 20, 2022

Massive Radio and TV Audience for Glenn Spaceflight

Feb. 20, 1962 - The radio-TV audience for Colonel Glenn’s orbital flight today was enormous. Frank McGee of NBC reported that more than...

Feb 20, 2022

Man is One Step Closer to the Moon

Feb. 20, 1962 - The three-orbit flight around the world by Lieut. Col. John Glenn Jr. today puts man closer to the moon. The next step...

Feb 20, 2022

Marine Corps Proud of Colonel Glenn

Feb. 20, 1962 - The United States Marine Corps threw out its chest with pride and admiration today over the successful orbiting of Marine...

Feb 20, 2022

Colonel Glenn Has Snack in Space

Feb. 20, 1962 - About 20 minutes after he had soared aloft, Lieut. Col. John H. Glenn Jr. had his first snack in space. The Mercury...

Feb 20, 2022

🚨 Colonel John Glenn is First American to Orbit the Earth

Feb. 20, 1962 - John H. Glenn Jr. orbited three times around the earth today and landed safely to become the first American to make such...

Feb 20, 2022

(VIDEO) President Kennedy's statement after John Glenn's orbital flight

Feb. 20, 1962 - President Kennedy made a brief statement to reporters following Lieut. Col. John Glenn's successful orbital flight. The...

Feb 20, 2022

Robert F. Kennedy Arrives in Rome

Feb. 20, 1962 - Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and his party received a warm welcome today from a small crowd at the Rome airport...