Category Archives: 1960s

JFK sworn in as 35th President of the United States, LBJ as 37th VP 60 years ago this hour (Jan 20 1961)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'NBC NEWS INAUGURATION 1961 (1-20-1961)'

(Friday, January 20, 1961, 12:51 p.m. EST) — Calling for “a grand and global alliance” to combat tyranny, poverty, disease and war, former Massachusetts U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy, 43, was inaugurated today as the 35th President of the United States on the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., with Chief Justice Earl Warren administering the oath of office.
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President Eisenhower warns nation of corrupting ‘military-industrial complex’ influence in farewell address 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 17 1961)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Eisenhower Farewell Address (Best Quality) - 'Military Industrial Complex' WARNING'

(Tuesday, January 27, 1961, 8:30 p.m. EST) — U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower cautioned the nation in a farewell address from the White House tonight to be vigilant against dangers to its liberties implicit in a vast military establishment and a permanent armaments industry unparalleled in peacetime.
Continue reading President Eisenhower warns nation of corrupting ‘military-industrial complex’ influence in farewell address 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 17 1961) →

President-elect Kennedy pledges rule of integrity in ‘City Upon a Hill’ speech 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 9 1961)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'January 9, 1961 - President-Elect John F. Kennedy addresses the Massachusetts State Legislature'

(Monday, January 9, 1961; nearly nine weeks after the 1960 United States presidential election) — 11 days before his inauguration, President-elect John F. Kennedy delivered his “City Upon a Hill” speech, telling Massachusetts legislators today in Boston that he hoped his administration would be judged finally on its qualities of courage, judgment, integrity and dedication. Continue reading President-elect Kennedy pledges rule of integrity in ‘City Upon a Hill’ speech 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 9 1961) →

‘Wonderland by Night’ by Bert Kaempfert peaks at #1 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 9 1961)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Monday, January 9, 1961) — “Wonderland by Night” by Bert Kaempfert peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three consecutive weeks (Jan. 9/16/23, 1961).
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‘Mister Ed’ TV sitcom debuts in syndication 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 5 1961)

1960s, Television 1960s

Video: 'Mister Ed S1e1 The First Meeting'

(Thursday, January 5, 1961, first episode scheduled to air at 7:00 p.m. EST on WRCA-TV in New York) — Mister Ed, a situation comedy TV series starring Alan Young as an eccentric and enormously klutzy yet friendly architect named Wilbur Post whose horse Mister Ed (“played” by gelding Bamboo Harvester and voiced by Allan Lane) could talk, debuted tonight in syndication.
Continue reading ‘Mister Ed’ TV sitcom debuts in syndication 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 5 1961) →

U.S. breaks diplomatic relations with Fidel Castro’s Cuba 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 3 1961)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'U.S. breaks Relations with Cuba, 1961'

(Tuesday, January 3, 1961, 8:30 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — The United States formally terminated diplomatic and consular relations with the government of Cuba tonight.
Continue reading U.S. breaks diplomatic relations with Fidel Castro’s Cuba 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 3 1961) →

‘You’re Sixteen’ by Johnny Burnette peaks at #8 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 26 1960)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Monday, December 26, 1960) — “You’re Sixteen” by Johnny Burnette peaked at #8 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks.
Continue reading ‘You’re Sixteen’ by Johnny Burnette peaks at #8 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 26 1960) →

‘Viet Cong’ formed to oppose South Vietnamese government of President Ngo Dinh Diem 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 20 1960)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - America's Mandarin [2/11]' (NLF formed at 20:18)

(Tuesday, December 20, 1960; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The National Liberation Front (NLF) was created today as an armed communist political revolutionary organization in South Vietnam and Cambodia to oppose the government of President Ngo Dinh Diem, who gave the group the nickname “Viet Cong.”
Continue reading ‘Viet Cong’ formed to oppose South Vietnamese government of President Ngo Dinh Diem 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 20 1960) →

50 people killed when fire breaks out aboard USS Constellation at Brooklyn Navy Yard 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1960)

1960s, Cold War


Video: 'Carrier Ablaze (1960)'

(Monday, December 19, 1960, 10:30 a.m. EST; during the Cold War) — Fifty shipyard workers were killed and more than 300 were injured today when fire broke out on the hangar deck of the nearly completed aircraft carrier USS Constellation at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City.
Continue reading 50 people killed when fire breaks out aboard USS Constellation at Brooklyn Navy Yard 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1960) →

134 die as two airliners collide over foggy New York Harbor 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 16 1960)

1960s


Video: 'New York Mid-Air Collision'

(Friday, December 16, 1960, 10:37 a.m. EST; during the 1960 New York mid-air collision) — A United Airlines Douglas DC-8, bound for Idlewild Airport (now John F. Kennedy International Airport) in New York City collided in midair with a TWA Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation descending into the city’s LaGuardia Airport today in fog and sleet, killing all 128 people on the two aircraft and six people on the ground. Continue reading 134 die as two airliners collide over foggy New York Harbor 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 16 1960) →