1960s Timeline

Sept. 27, 1962 - The Justice Department abandoned tonight a fourth attempt to register James H. Meredith, a Negro, at the University of...

Sept. 27, 1962 - Vandals have defaced the white marble Lincoln Memorial, painting “n****r lover” in foot-high pink letters on the rear...

Sept. 27, 1962 - Edwin A. Walker (pictured in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957) said today that he had been on the wrong side when he led...

Sept. 27, 1962 - Alabama Governor John Patterson (pictured) told President Kennedy today that if Federal troops or marshals were sent to...

Sept. 26, 1962 - Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy reiterated tonight that the Federal Government would do “whatever is necessary” to...

Sept. 26, 1962 - Chief U.S. Marshal James P. McShane (third from right) and Mississippi Lieut. Gov. Paul B. Johnson (with fedora)...

Sept. 25, 1962 - Mr. President teamed with “Mr. President” tonight to provide theatergoers with one of the most exciting opening nights...

Sept. 25, 1962 - The Federal Government is prepared to send troops into Mississippi to enforce Federal court orders to admit a Negro,...

Sept. 25, 1962 - Gov. Ross R. Barnett of Mississippi was cited for contempt of court tonight, less than five hours after he barred James...

Sept. 25, 1962 - Gov. Ross R. Barnett, in open defiance of a Federal Court order, prevented James H. Meredith, a 29-year-old Negro, from...

Sept. 25, 1962 - Gov. Ross R. Barnett (right), in open defiance of a Federal Court order, prevented James H. Meredith (left), a...

Sept. 25, 1962 - Jackie Robinson (pictured examining a burned church in Sasser, Ga. earlier this month) criticized Northern Negroes today...

Sept. 24, 1962 - The board of trustees of the University of Mississippi agreed in open court tonight to admit James H. Meredith, a Negro,...

Sept. 24, 1962 - Governor Ross R. Barnett ordered today the imprisonment of any Federal official who sought to arrest or fine Mississippi...

Sept. 22, 1962 - Three white men were sentenced to seven years in prison today for burning a Negro church (pictured) near Dawson,...

Sept. 22, 1962 - Americans gathered today at the foot of the statue of Abraham Lincoln in Washington to mark the centennial of his...

Sept. 20, 1962 - The old man paused a moment to consider the question about his 29-year-old son and then said, with a note of pride: “I...

Sept. 20, 1962 - Here are President Kennedy’s remarks recorded today for a ceremony commemorating the centennial of the Emancipation ...

Sept. 20, 1962 - Governor Ross R. Barnett (top) denied James H. Meredith (bottom), a 29-year-old Negro, admission to the University of...

Sept. 19, 1962 - Dr. Martin Luther King arrived in New York City today to address five church rallies on the fight for civil rights. Dr....