1960s Timeline

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Jul 28, 2021

Khrushchev's Communist Party Program to be Published Sunday

July 28, 1961 - Premier Khrushchev's ambitious new Communist party program will be published Sunday. It will be the first document of its...

Jul 28, 2021

Over 1,000 Refugees Pour into West Berlin

July 28, 1961 - One thousand thirty refugees made their way to West Berlin in the 24 hours ending at 4 p.m. today, indicating that East...

Jul 28, 2021

Senate Approves Kennedy's Request for More Weapons and Troops for Berlin

July 28, 1961 - The Senate approved overwhelmingly today President Kennedy's request for more weapons and troops to cope with Soviet...

Jul 27, 2021

Nixon Urges Americans to Support President Kennedy on Berlin Crisis

July 27, 1961 - Former Vice President Richard M. Nixon asked all Americans today to support President Kennedy's program for dealing with...

Jul 27, 2021

Communist Viet Cong Terrorize South Vietnam

July 27, 1961 - Communist guerrillas have increased their activity in South Vietnam. Numerous acts of terrorism have occurred throughout...

Jul 27, 2021

President Kennedy's Civil Defense Goals Announced

July 27, 1961 - President Kennedy's immediate Civil Defense goal is to provide fallout shelters in existing buildings for 25 percent of...

Jul 26, 2021

After Kennedy Speech, Draft-Age Americans Make Inquiries

July 26, 1961 - President Kennedy's call for an increase in military manpower touched off a sharp increase in inquiries from the nation's...

Jul 26, 2021

Financier Bernard Baruch Says U.S. Will Manage Berlin Crisis, Praises Kennedy

July 26, 1961 - Bernard M. Baruch, financier and friend of Presidents, said today that the U.S. had "all the resources to do all the...

Jul 26, 2021

Kennedy Administration Wants Home Alarms for National Emergencies

July 26, 1961 - The Kennedy Administration asked Congress today for $10 million to put into operation a home buzzer system that would...

Jul 26, 2021

President Kennedy Asks for Nation's Prayers in Meeting Soviet "World-Wide Threat"

July 26, 1961 - President Kennedy asked last night for an overall increase in the nation's military preparedness to meet a Soviet threat...

Jul 25, 2021

President Kennedy's Televised Speech on Berlin Crisis (Video)

July 25, 1961 - Watch President Kennedy's televised speech on the Berlin crisis: #JFK #americanhistory #politics #communism #communist...

Jul 25, 2021

TV Networks Clarify Policy on Taped Segments after NASA Telecast Controversy

July 25, 1961 - NBC-TV made known today its plans to avoid the confusion that led to criticism of the telecast of the astronaut launching...

Jul 25, 2021

Castro Appears with Soviet Astronaut Gagarin at Revolutionary Rally

July 25, 1961 - Six Soviet-built MIG's flew over Havana today in the first public display of Cuba's new jet strength. The six jets...

Jul 23, 2021

Asks Khrushchev to Release WWII POW's

July 23, 1961 - West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (pictured) appealed to Premier Khrushchev today to release Germans still held by...

Jul 22, 2021

Cuba to Erect Monument to Hemingway

July 22, 1961 - Cuba is going to erect a monument to Ernest Hemingway (pictured meeting Fidel Castro at a Havana fishing tournament in...

Jul 22, 2021

Grissom: Everyone Should Take Space Trip, View "Fascinating"

July 22, 1961 - Capt. Virgil I. Grissom (center) disclosed today he had been "scared" during much of his flight into space yesterday. But...

Jul 21, 2021

Goldwater Proud of Astronaut Grissom

July 21, 1961 - The nation's capital, from President Kennedy to the man in the street, joined today in praise for Capt. Virgil I. Grissom...

Jul 21, 2021

President Kennedy Watches Grissom Flight, Calls to Congratulate Astronaut

July 21, 1961 - President Kennedy watched the space flight of Capt. Virgil I. Grissom (pictured center) on television this morning. Then...

Jul 21, 2021

Grissom Spaceflight a Success

🚨July 21, 1961 - Virgil I. Grissom became the nation's second space explorer today. The Air Force captain rocketed aboard a Mercury...

Jul 20, 2021

President Kennedy Emphasizes Civil Defense, Will Address Nation Tuesday

July 20, 1961 - President Kennedy today put the Pentagon in charge of a greatly increased program to protect American civilians against...