Category Archives: 1960s

Vice President Johnson assures Saigon of aid in army build-up 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 12 1961)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: '1961 Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson Visits Saigon'

(Friday, May 12, 1961, 11:30 a.m. Indochina Time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. Vice President Lyndon Johnson told South Vietnam’s National Assembly today in Saigon the United States was ready immediately to help South Vietnam increase its 150,000-man regular military forces by a substantial number. Continue reading Vice President Johnson assures Saigon of aid in army build-up 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 12 1961) →

Television broadcasters urged to reform ‘vast wasteland’ of programming 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 9 1961)

1960s, Television 1960s


Video: 'An incredible speech by Newton Minow in 1961. "Vast Wasteland".'

(Tuesday, May 9, 1961) — Newton N. Minow, the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, presented a scorching indictment of contemporary television at the National Association of Broadcasters convention today in Washington, describing it as a “vast wasteland” and implied that the FCC might not renew licenses of those entities that failed to upgrade their product.
Continue reading Television broadcasters urged to reform ‘vast wasteland’ of programming 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 9 1961) →

Astronaut Alan Shepard, first American in space, decorated by President Kennedy 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 8 1961)

1960s, space exploration, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Shepard Medal Presentation'

(Monday, May 8, 1961, 10:00-10:25 a.m. EDT) — Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., 37, who became the first American to travel into space just three days ago aboard Freedom 7, was presented the NASA Distinguished Service Medal by President John F. Kennedy today at the White House.
Continue reading Astronaut Alan Shepard, first American in space, decorated by President Kennedy 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 8 1961) →

Astronaut Alan Shepard becomes first American to travel into space 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 5 1961)

1960s, space exploration


Video: 'Alan Shepard " Launch ", LIVE on TV at NBC, (Mercury / Redstone rocket), May 5, 1961'

(Friday, May 5, 1961, 9:34:13 a.m. EDT/14:34:13 UTC) — Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., 37, became the first American in space today as Freedom 7 lifted off from Cape Canaveral.
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First ‘Freedom Riders’ depart for Deep South to challenge segregation in public transit 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 4 1961)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'The Heinous 1961 KKK Attack on the Freedom Riders'

(Thursday, May 4, 1961; part of the Civil Rights Movement) — Thirteen members of the interracial “Freedom Riders” group, including 21-year-old John Lewis, boarded regular interstate Greyhound and Trailways buses today in Washington, D.C., and headed for the Deep South to challenge the non-enforcement of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Boynton v. Virginia (1960), which declared segregation in interstate bus and rail stations unconstitutional. Continue reading First ‘Freedom Riders’ depart for Deep South to challenge segregation in public transit 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 4 1961) →

‘Runaway’ by Del Shannon peaks at #1 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 24 1961)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, Uncategorized

(Monday, April 24, 1961) — “Runaway” by Del Shannon became the #1 song on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart today for four consecutive weeks (Apr. 24, May 1/8/15, 1961). Continue reading ‘Runaway’ by Del Shannon peaks at #1 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 24 1961) →

Eisenhower urges nation to back Kennedy on Cuba after Camp David meeting 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 22 1961)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'April 22, 1961 - President John F. Kennedy meets former President Dwight Eisenhower at Camp David'

(Saturday, April 22, 1961, 12:46-2:30 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — President John F. Kennedy and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower shaped a policy of national unity today following the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, conferring for 90 minutes at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland.
Continue reading Eisenhower urges nation to back Kennedy on Cuba after Camp David meeting 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 22 1961) →

‘Victory has a hundred fathers…’: JFK dodges Cuba questions at news conference 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 21 1961)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'JFK'S 10th PRESS CONFERENCE (APRIL 21, 1961) (VIDEO VERSION)'

(Friday, April 21, 1961, 10:00 a.m. EST; during the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy declined to discuss the recent Bay of Pigs Invasion in Cuba despite repeated questioning by reporters at a news conference today in Washington, except to declare, “There’s an old saying that victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan… What matters is only one fact, I am the responsible officer of the government.”
Continue reading ‘Victory has a hundred fathers…’: JFK dodges Cuba questions at news conference 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 21 1961) →

Cuban exile forces land at Bay Of Pigs in ill-fated attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1961)

1960s, Cold War


Video: 'Bay Of Pigs Invasion (1961)'

(Monday, April 17, 1961, at about 1:00 a.m. EST; during the Bay of Pigs Invasion, part of the Cold War) — About 1,500 CIA-trained Cuban exiles, covertly financed and directed by the U.S. government, launched the ill-fated Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba early today in an attempt to overthrow the increasingly-communist government headed by Fidel Castro.
Continue reading Cuban exile forces land at Bay Of Pigs in ill-fated attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1961) →

Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes first human blasted into outer space 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1961)

1960s, Cold War, space exploration


Video: 'Yuri Gagarin: First Man In Space | Chasing the Moon | American Experience | PBS'

(Wednesday, April 12, 1961, at 12:07 p.m. Alma-Ata Time; during the Space Race and the Cold War) — Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, 27, became the first human to go into outer space today, launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site No.1, a spaceport in an area of southern Kazakhstan leased to Russia, aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft.
Continue reading Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes first human blasted into outer space 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1961) →