Mountain Home High School, Class of 1964

Some Important Events in the World
1946-1964 Years of the Baby Boom

1946

First Meeting of UN General Assembly (1/10/46)
The first meeting of the UN General Assembly took place in London. Trygve Lie, a Norwegian diplomat, was elected the first Secretary General of the UN.

Iron Curtain Descends on Europe (3/12/46)
Prime Minister Churchill, at an address in Fulton, Missouri, on March 12, stated: "From Stettin in the Baltics, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent." Thus, Churchill put forth the concept that Europe had been divided between East and West.

Chinese Civil War Resumes (4/14/46)
Upon the surrender of Japan, which concluded World War II, war once again broke out between the
Communists and the Nationalists in China. Attempts were made to come to an agreement, but all efforts failed. By the beginning of 1946, full-scale fighting had developed between the two sides. Initially, the war went well for the Nationalists.

Atomic Test At Bikini Atoll (6/30/46)
The United States began a series of tests at Bikini Islands in the Pacific. The tests included the first
underwater test of the atomic bomb. Shortly afterward, the two-piece bathing suit of the same name was marketed.

Spock Publishes Book on Baby Care (6/1/46)
Benjamin Spock published "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care." The book went on to sell 25,000,000 copies and revolutionize childcare.

Verdicts at Nuremberg (10/16/46)
Nine of Nazi Germany's top leaders were hung at the end of their trials. They were accused of crimes "so calculated, so malignant, and so devastating, that civilization cannot tolerate their being ignored, because it cannot survive their being repeated." The crimes included the murder of at least six million European Jews.

First Electronic Computer
In 1946, John Mauchly and J Presper Eckert developed the ENIAC I (Electrical Numerical Integrator And Calculator). The U.S. military sponsored their research. It covered 1800 square feet of floor space, weighed 30 tons, consumed 160 kilowatts of electrical power, and when turned on caused the city of Philadelphia to experience brownouts.

World Series (10/46)
On October 15, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Boston Red Sox 4 games to 3.

1947

Dead Sea Scrolls (1947)
Probably in February of 1947, the first of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in a cave by Bedouin shepherds.

Truman Doctrine (3/12/47)
In 1946, Communist guerrillas had begun a civil war against the government of Greece. The Communist
government of Yugoslavia gave substantial support to the guerrillas, while the British had provided the Greek government with aid. Eventually, the British informed the United States that Britain could no longer help support the regime in Greece.

The Greeks officially requested American aid and, on March 12th, President Truman went before Congress and requested support for Greece as well as for Turkey. A total of $400 million was requested. Truman stated: "I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressure."

The Senate approved his request, 67 to 23, and the House approved it, 287 to 107.

Marshall Plan Unveiled (6/5/47)
On June 5th, Secretary of State George C. Marshall gave a commencement address at Harvard. He stated: "It is logical that the United States should do whatever it is able to do to assist in the return of normal economic health in the world, without which there can be no political stability and no assured peace. Our policy is directed, not against any country or doctrine, but against hunger, poverty, desertion and chaos."

Yaeger Breaks Sound Barrier (10/14/47)
American test pilot Captain Charles Yaeger broke the sound barrier on October 14. He flew a Bell X-1 test plane, that was dropped from a specially modified B-29. Yaeger reached a speed of 670 miles per hour, at an altitude of 42,000 feet.

Unrest In Palestine - Britain Turns Problem Over To UN (11/29/47)
On November 29, 1947, the U.N. General Assembly met to vote on the proposal to partition Palestine. All of Zionist foreign policy was tied to this one moment. Members of the Zionist delegation lobbied continually to ensure that the partition motion was passed. The members of the American Zionist Movement were especially instrumental in influencing many wavering delegations to vote for the partition. The final results were as follows:

Supporting the partition:
Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Byelorussia (part of the Soviet Union), Canada, Costa Rica,
Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, Liberia,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, Union of South Africa, U.S.S.R., U.S.A., Uruguay and Venezuela.

Against partition:
Afghanistan, Cuba, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq,Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey and
Yemen.

Abstaining:
Argentina, Chile, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Honduras, Mexico, United Kingdom.

After the vote, Abba Hillel Silver spoke on behalf of the Jewish Agency, saying, "The Jewish people will be forever grateful to the nations which contributed to the decision; we're especially appreciative of the
leadership provided by the United States and the Soviet Union, and are happy that, in the solution of the Palestine problem, these two great powers worked harmoniously together."

Gigantic Spruce Goose Flies (11/2/47)
In May 1942, Howard Hughes began to build the world's largest airplane, or what he called at the time "an unsinkable liberty ship." The aircraft was designed to carry 700 troops. Initially, it was a joint venture between Hughes and Kaiser shipping, but Kaiser pulled out. Ultimately, Hughes spent $7 million of his own money on the project, while the US Government spent $17 million. Many people said that it would never get off the ground. On November 2, they were proved wrong. The giant Spruce Goose, whose wing span was 320 feet, lifted off for a one mile flight across the harbor, the only flight iy ever made..

1948

Communists Take Over Czechoslavakia (2/25/48)
In a bloodless coup, the Communists seized control of Czechoslovakia. Threatening violence, they created a majority Communist government under Klement Gottwald. Czechoslovakian President Benes resigned, and Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk was found dead a week later, as a reported suicide.

Soviets Recall Advisors From Yugoslavia
Significant differences developed between Soviet leader Stalin and Yugoslav leader Tito. When compared to other Eastern European leaders, Tito was largely independent. He was primarily concerned with the interests of Yugoslavia. Tito was able to maintain this independence, since Russian forces had not been the liberators of Yugoslavia. Rather, the Yugoslav partisans, under Tito, had forced the Germans out.

As Tito did not follow the Soviet line, Stalin recalled all Soviet advisors from Yugoslavia and canceled all
economic agreements. Tito responded by reaching economic agreements with the West. It became clear that Communism in Europe was not monolithic.

Berlin Blockaded (4/1/48)
No agreement could be reached with the Soviets on continued control of Germany. When the Allies decided to introduce a new currency into West Germany to counter inflation, the Soviets opposed the move. As a response, and as a means of stopping the reunification of Western Germany, the Soviets imposed a blockade on Berlin, which had been and remained under four-power control.

The American Commander in Germany, General Lucius Clay, stated that if the Soviets managed to push the US out of Berlin; the next step could be the expulsion of the US from Germany, and then from Europe altogether. He suggested that the US break the blockade by force. President Truman decided on an airlift. The airlift was very successful, and the Soviets lifted the blockade eleven months after it was imposed.

Organization of American States (OAS) Created (4/30/48)
The Pan American Conference, held in Bogotá, established the OAS as the United Nations' regional
grouping for North and South America.

State of Israel Declared (5/14/48)
On May 14, as the British Mandate was ending, the Jews of Palestine declared themselves independent. They created the State of Israel, with David Ben-Gurion as the Prime Minister. Immediately, the neighboring Arab nations attacked. Israel succeeded in repulsing the attacks. By the end of the war, the Jewish State was larger than the territory originally assigned to it under the partition plan. In the course of the war, hundreds of thousand of Palestinian Arabs were displaced, some under their own volition and some by force.

US Recognizes Israel (5/14/48)
After being a supporter of the rights of the Jews to create an independent state, President Truman extended American recognition 14 minutes after the State had been declared in Tel Aviv. Immediately after the State's independence was declared, it was attacked by the surrounding Arab States.

Polaroid Camera On Sale
Edwin Land developed the first instant camera that developed photos on the spot. The camera became
known as the Polaroid Land Camera.

1949

NATO Founded (4/4/49)
The Berlin Blockade provided compelling evidence that, in order to deter the Soviets from further aggression, an alliance was necessary between nations of Western Europe and the United States. On April 4, 1949, the foreign ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and the United States formally signed the North Atlantic Treaty. The key paragraph was Article 5. It stated that "an armed attack against one or more of the European signatories or the North American signatories would be considered an attack against all of them."

Ireland Becomes Independent (4/18/49)
The Republic of Ireland proclaimed its complete independence from Britain, and left the Commonwealth of Nations.

Federal Republic of Germany Created (5/21/49)
The zones of Germany occupied by the US, Great Britain and France were transformed into the Federal Republic of Germany. A new constitution was adopted, and elections were held. The Christian Democratic Party and its ally, the Christian Socialist Party, won a plurality in the first election. Konrad Adenauer became the first Chancellor.

Soviets Detonate A-Bomb (9/23/49)
America's monopoly on atomic weapons ended when President Truman announced, on September 23, that the Soviets had successfully detonated an atomic bomb. As a result, the nuclear arms race, that was to last until 1990, was born.

Communist Victory in China (10/1/49)
The Nationalist Army essentially disintegrated after the fall of Tientsin and Peking. By July, the Nationalists announced that they would begin to withdraw to Taiwan. On October 1st, the People's Republic of China was officially proclaimed, with Peking as its capital.

Non-Stop Around The World Flight
A US Army Boeing 50-A made a flight around the world. It flew for a total of 94 hours and one minute. It was refueled in the air four times. The plane carried its full crew of 13.

1950

USSR and China Sign a Thirty Year Pact
Mao Tse-Tung signed a 30-year Treaty of Friendship with the Soviet Union. The treaty was one of alliance and mutual assistance. A series of economic agreements followed.

North Korea Invades the South (6/24/50)
The Korean War began with an attack made by North Korean forces across the 38th parallel dividing North and South Korea. The attack took place on June 24, 1950, and was a complete surprise to the American administration. It was feared that this attack heralded the beginning of World War III.

Truman Announces National Emergency
To respond to the strain on economic and military resources caused by the Korean War, President Truman announced a National Emergency. This gave him broad economic powers.

1951

H-Bomb (5/12/51)
On May 12, the United States detonated a hydrogen bomb on an island in the Pacific. The hydrogen bomb is many times more powerful than an atomic bomb. The Russian development of an A–bomb convinced the US to proceed with development of the H–bomb.

First Electronic Computer (6/14/51)
The Remington Rand Corporation unveiled the first commercial digital computer, called the "UNIVAC"
(Universal Automatic Computer). The "UNIVAC" followed the experimental "ENIAC," which had been
developed in 1945. The first "UNIVAC" was sold to the Census Bureau.

King Abdulah assassinated (7/20/51)
King Abdullah of Jordan (formerly Transjordan) was assassinated while praying at the Al Aksa Mosque in Jerusalem. Abdullah had been engaging in secret peace negotiations with Israel and was killed by a Palestinian extremist. Abdullah was succeeded by his son Emir Talal, who was later declared mentally ill. Abdullah's grandson, Crown Prince Ibn Talal Hussein, took over, and ruled Jordan until his death in 1999.

Peace Treaty between Japan and Allies (9/8/51)
A peace treaty was signed between Japan and all the belligerents, with the exception of the USSR,
Czechoslovakia and Poland. Under the terms of the treaty, Japan was forced to give up all its overseas
territory.

1952

King George VI Dies, Elizabeth crowned Queen (2/6/52)
King George of England died on February 6. He had come to the throne following the abdication of his
brother Edward VIII. George was succeeded by his daughter, Elizabeth.

New Immigration Quotas (6/30/1952)
The Congress overrode a Presidential veto of the McCarran Walter Immigration Act and voted to restrict immigration into the United States to 154,657 immigrants per year. This was the most restrictive policy in American history to date. Foreigners with technical training and high education would receive priority under the law.

Eisenhower Defeats Stevenson (11/4/52)
General Dwight D. Eisenhower defeated Senator Adlai M. Stevenson when President Harry Truman declined to run for a second full term. The final electoral vote was 442-89.

1953

Stalin Dies (3/5/53)
Josef Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, died of a stroke at the age of 73. Stalin was succeeded by Nikita Khrushchev. The new government eliminated some of the most repressive activities of the Stalin regime, including the execution of Laurentia Beria, the head of the Secret Police.

Polio Vaccine Announced (3/26/1953)
A vaccine that prevented polio was developed and tested in 1952 by Jonas Salk and announced on March 26, 1953. This was the killed polio vaccine. He announced the live polio vaccine in 1962.

Elizabeth's Coronation (6/2/1953)
Although she had been reigning as Queen of England since 2/6/52, she was formally crowned on this June 2, 1953.

Korean Armistice (7/27/53)
On July 27, after three years, one month, and two days of fighting, the Korean War officially ended. The United States suffered 33,327 deaths and 102,000 wounded. The cost of the war was over $18 billion.

Under the terms of the cease-fire, Korea would be divided at the 38th parallel, as it was the day the
Communists attacked. The first truce talks had begun on July 10, 1951. A cease-fire agreement was quickly reached in almost all areas, with the exception of a prisoner-exchange. The United Nations forces refused to return prisoners who did not want to be repatriated. Two more years of fighting ensued and only a threat by President Eisenhower to use nuclear weapons finally brought about an armistice.

1954

Nautilus Submarine Launched (1/17/54)
Before a crowd of 12,000, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower christened the nation's first atomic-powered
submarine, the "Nautilus." Atomic powered submarines would revolutionize the Navy and warfare.

Four Power Meeting in Berlin (1/25-2/18/54)
A meeting of the foreign ministers of the US, the Soviet Union, France and Great Britain was held in Berlin. The conference lasted for three weeks, but ended in a deadlock. No substantial progress could be made on any subject separating the Eastern and Western powers. 

Gunfire in Capital (3/1/54)
On March 1, three men and a women, all Puerto Rican nationalists, fired gunshots from the gallery of the House of Representatives, wounding five Congressmen.

Dien Bien Puh Falls (3/13/54)
French forces, under the command of General Navarre, decided that holding Dien Bien Phu, a valley post in Western Vietnam, was a major strategic objective. The French fortified the position with over 30,000 soldiers. On March 15, the Viet Minh began their assault. On May 7, Dien Bien Phu fell, and with it so did French hopes of victory in Vietnam.

Segregation Ruled Illegal (5/17/54)
The US Supreme Court, in the case of Brown v. the Board of Education, ruled that segregation was
unconstitutional. The opinion was written by Chief Justice Earl Warren. The decision was a landmark case, and eventually resulted in the desegregation of all public institutions.

Geneva Accords (7/20/54)
The Geneva Accords ended the war in Vietnam, for the time being. Under the terms of the Accords, the
country was divided into a Communist North and Non-Communist South. Elections under international
supervision were to be held in both the North and South two years after the signing of the Accords.

SEATO Formed (9/8/54)
In an additional collective security alliance, modeled on N.A.T.O., eight nations formed the South East Asia Treaty Organization. The nations were: the United States, Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Pakistan and Thailand. Members of S.E.A.T.O. are pledged to their mutual defense.

First Kidney Transplant (12/23/54)
A team from Harvard Medical School performed the first successful kidney transplant operation.

1955

Germany becomes Member of NATO  (5/9/55)
A NATO meeting voted to include West Germany in the pact and terminate the occupation of West Germany while continuing the presence of NATO troops in West Germany.

Vienna Treaty Restores Austrian Independence (5/15/55)
At the end of World War II, Austria was occupied by the four powers. In 1946, the four powers officially
recognized Austria within its 1937 frontiers. The Austrians were granted a large degree of autonomy. On May 15, 1955, a four-power Foreign Ministers' conference in Vienna agreed on a peace treaty with Austria. It called for withdrawal of all foreign troops from Austrian soil. The agreement was designed to insure Austrian neutrality.

Geneva Summit (7/16-23/55)
The fact that a summit meeting was finally taking place after 10 years – the last one had been at Potsdam – seemed to indicate a significant relaxation of East-West tensions. However, very little of real substance occurred at the conference. The major surprise was Eisenhower's proposal for "open skies," which entailed allowing each side to send intelligence-gathering aircraft over the other's territories, virtually unhindered. The summit ended without any major agreements.

Military Coup Ousts Peron (9/16/1955)
President Juan Peron of Argentina was ousted by the military. Since the death of his wife, Eva, Peron had lost much of his support. Economic problems, as well as Peron's excommunication by the Catholic church, further harmed his position.

U-2 Flies
(7/29/55) Preliminary taxi tests at Groom Lake, Nevada, and accidental first flight; (8/4/55) First official flight; (9/11/55) First plane delivered. Lockheed presented the C.I.A. with a proposal for a high altitude spy craft. The C.I.A. accepted the proposal and, in eight months, Lockheed produced the "U-2." In its first flight, the lightly-loaded U-2 refused to land. Test pilot Tony LeVier made five attempts before succeeding. A U-2 was downed over the Soviet Union in 1960, and its pilot, Francis Gary Powers, was captured. The plane was key in discovering Russian missiles in Cuba. A new version of the U-2, known as the "TR-1," is still being flown by the US Airforce.

1956

Suez War
Following the Israeli War of Independence, the British, Americans and French, by mutual agreement, did not supply either the Israelis or the Arabs with significant quantities of armaments. In October 1955, Egypt signed an arms deal with Czechoslovakia, which provided Egypt with very significant quantities of weaponry. The arms deal, combined with continued fedayeen (armed terrorist) raids in southern Israel, convinced Israeli leaders that steps would have to be taken to alleviate the situation and that this would have to be done before Egyptian forces were able to achieve strategic predominance in the area.

On July 26, 1956, Egyptian President Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal. This gave the British and French -- who had already been selling Israel advanced weapons -- a significant motive for cooperating with an Israeli attack on Nasser.

On October 29, 1956, the Israeli Defense Forces attacked Egyptian forces in the Sinai. Israel rapidly
defeated the Egyptians, with a loss of just 180 men. The Egyptians suffered over 1,000 fatalities, and more than 6,000 Egyptians were captured as prisoners of war. The Israeli forces halted 10 miles short of the canal, allowing the British and French troops to intervene to protect the canal. The British and French forces then attacked and occupied the canal zone.

Sustained American pressure, backed up by Russian threats, forced the British and French to withdraw. The Israelis were similarly pressured. Ultimately, Israel was forced to withdraw from the Sinai and Gaza Strip. In return, the Straits of Tiran were opened for Israeli shipping, and a U.N. force was placed in the Sinai and Gaza Strip as a buffer.

First Trans-Atlantic Telephone Cable (9/25/56)
The first transatlantic telephone cable between Newfoundland and Scotland was completed in 1956. The cable ran 2,250 miles.

US Condemns Britain, France, and Israel (10/31/1956)
The United States condemned Great Britain, France and Israel for their collective attack on Egypt. Israel, responding to terrorist attacks, seized the Sinai, while Britain and France colluded to seize the Suez Canal, which had earlier been seized by the Egyptians. All sides were forced to withdraw due to US pressure.

Soviet troops march into Hungary (11/4/56)
Rioting against the Russians erupted throughout Hungary. Imry Nagy became Premier and demanded the withdrawal of Soviet troops. The Soviets initially complied, but changed course and returned to Budapest to put down the revolt. Thirty thousand revolutionaries were killed. Two years later, Imry Nagy was executed for his part in the uprising.

 

1957

Rome Treaty Establishes Common Market (3/25/57)
On March 25, the Rome Treaty was signed by France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The treaty established the European Economic Community, otherwise known as the Common Market.

USSR Launches First ICBM (8/3/57)
The USSR successfully launched the first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. The US followed in 1958 with the Atlas B.

Federal Troops Integrated Schools in Little Rock (9/27/57)
After local authorities refused to implement court-ordered desegregation, President Eisenhower ordered federal troops to do the job. He stated: "The Federal Constitution will be upheld by me, by every means at my command."

Sputnick Launched by Russians (10/4/57)
On October 4, the Soviet Union launched the first satellite into space. The satellite, with a diameter of 22 inches, marked the beginning of the Space Age.

1958

Explorer I Launched (1/31/58)
On January 31, the US put its first satellite, "Explorer I," into orbit around the earth. The launch came after the Soviets had successfully launched a satellite called "Sputnik" one year earlier. For a brief period, it seemed that the Soviets had a major lead in space. This was soon translated into what became known as "the missile gap."

Imry Nagy Executed in Hungary (06/17/58)
The Hungarian Communist regime announced that it had executed Imry Nagy, the leader of the Hungarian revolution of 1956.

US Troops Land in Lebanon (7/15/58)
President Eisenhower ordered 5,000 Marines to Lebanon to help maintain order after a revolt in Iraq resulted in the ouster of the pro-Western Lebanese government. This followed the imposition of a pro-Soviet regime in Iraq.

Quemoy and Matsu (Aug-Oct 1958)
Quemoy and Matsu are two islands located off the Chinese coast. They were held by the Nationalist Chinese of Taiwan, and claimed by the Communist Chinese on the Mainland. The Communists began bombarding Quemoy and Matsu with long range guns, attempting to cut off supply lines to the islands. President Eisenhower announced that the United States considered defense of the islands essential to the defense of Taiwan. The US escorted a convoy of Nationalist ships aimed at re-supplying Quemoy. The Communists briefly held their fire but later continued to fire intermittently at the islands.

Egypt and Syria Join United Arab Republic
Nasser was the leading Arab proponent of Pan-Arab Nationalism. He proposed the merging of individual Arab states into one Arab entity. He successfully negotiated the merger of Egypt and Syria into the United Arab Republic. The merger lasted until 1961, when Syrian troops revolted, creating a Syrian Revolutionary Command that declared independence from Egypt.

1959

Castro Seizes Power in Cuba (1/1/59)
On January 1st, Fidel Castro marched into Havana after Cuban dictator Batista had fled. Castro, who had led the successful revolution against Batista, was widely welcomed -- even by the U.S. Castro soon signed a friendship treaty with the Soviet Union. He also confiscated large agrarian holdings. As far as the United States was concerned, these two actions transformed Castro from a freedom fighter into a Communist.

Alaska Admitted to the Union (1/3/59)
On January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state admitted to the Union.

EFTA Founded
Great Britain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria and Portugal established the "European Free Trade Association" as a counterpart to the Common Market.

Singapore Independent (6/3/59)
Singapore became an independent state on June 3, 1959.

Uprising in Tibet
Fighting broke out between Communist Chinese troops and the local population, who were rebelling against Communist rule. The Communists put down the rebellion, dissolved the Tibetan local government and forced the Dalai Lama into exile.

St. Lawrence Seaway (6/26/59)
The St. Lawrence Seaway was opened on June 26. The Seaway, which was a joint Canadian-American project, allowed ships to travel to the Great Lakes, thereby opening American and Canadian lake ports to sea transportation.

Kitchen Debate (7/24/59)
During a visit to the Soviet Union by US Vice President Nixon, he and Soviet Premier Khrushchev engaged in a so called "kitchen debate" on the merits of Communism and Capitalism. The
debate took place at the opening of the American National Exposition in Moscow.

Hawaii Admitted to the Union (8/21/59)
On August 21, Hawaii, the "Aloha State," joined the Union. 

1960

Polaris Missile Fired (1/7/60)
The United States Navy test-fired a Polaris Missile from a submarine. The successful firing of the Polaris allowed the United States to base a substantial portion of its nuclear deterrent forces on submarines, where they were safe from a successful first strike by Soviet forces.

Sino Soviet Split
An ideological split developed between the communist Chinese and the communist government of the Soviet Union. The ideological roots of the dispute lay in the more pragramatic approach to world affairs that Premier Khrushchev was taking. In addition, the long-simmering border disputes between the parties began to effect their relations.

Syngman Rhee Resigns (4/27/60)
Syngman Rhee was re-elected for a fourth term as President of South Korea in March 1960. Demonstrations broke out protesting that the elections had been rigged. On April 19, police fired on demonstrators, killing 127 people. On April 27, Rhee resigned.

U-2 Downed (5/1/1960)
A U-2 spy plane, piloted by Francis Gary Powers, was shot down by the Soviet Union. The downing resulted in the complete failure of the four-part summit meeting held in Paris on May 17, when President Eisenhower refused Khruschev's demand for an apology for past aggression against the USSR.

Failed Summit in Paris (5/17/60)
The summit at Paris took place in the shadow of the Russian downing of an American U-2 fighter over the Soviet Union. The Soviets, led by Khrushchev, used the summit as a means of scoring a propoganda victory over the US. The summit, thus, accomplished nothing but to raise the level of rhetoric on both sides.

USS Enterprise Launched (9/24/1960)
The USS Enterprise was the first aircraft carrier to be powered by nuclear reactors. The nuclear reactors freed the Enterprise from the need for refueling.

Planes Collide (12/16/60)
On December 16, two airliners collided over the skies of Brooklyn, NY. The two planes involved were a United DC-8 and a TWA Super Constellation. There was only one survivor. The DC-8 was scheduled to land at Idlewild, while the Super Constellation was going to land at La Guardia. This crash, and a previous crash over the Grand Canyon, spurred the government to overhaul the national air traffic control system.

1961

John F. Kennedy Inaugurated (1/20/61)
The morning of the inauguration was cold, but beautiful. Snow had fallen on Washington, and President-Elect Kennedy prepared for the exciting experience. He began the day in church. Then he went to have coffee with the Eisenhowers at the White House and accompany them to the inauguration. After being sworn in, President Kennedy gave a brief but stirring speech that signified the birth of a new era.

Peace Corps Founded (3/1/61)
One of President Kennedy's first proposals was the creation of a Peace Corps to aid developing nations. The Peace Corps encouraged young people just out of college to give a year or two of their time to work as teachers, health care workers or other advisors in poor nations in Africa, Asia and South America. The first head of the Peace Corps was the President's brother-in-law, Sargent Shriver.

US Commitment To Vietnam Grows
The US government agreed to increase aid to South Vietnam in the fight against Viet Cong rebels. The agreement included paying for a larger Vietnamese army, as well as for more advisors in the field.

Bay of Pigs Invasion (4/17/61)
The US-supported invasion of Cuba's Bay of Pigs was a total failure. The invasion, which began on April 17, was supported by the C.I.A., but rebels were wiped out almost immediately by Fidel Castro's troops.

Kuwait gains Independence (6/19/61)
In June, Kuwait gained its independence from Great Britain. Britain signed a treaty of friendship and protection with Kuwait. In July, British troops were dispatched at Kuwait's request to defend it against Iraqi threats. Those troops were replaced in the fall by troops of the Arab League.

Vienna Summit (6/4/61)
President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Khrushchev met at a summit conference in Vienna on June 4. The meetings covered a whole range of items, including Laos, disarmament and general issues of ideology. More than anything else, however, the main issue on the agenda was Berlin. Khrushchev was threatening to sign a peace agreement with East Germany that might impinge on the rights of the West. Progress was made on Laos, but on other matters, the two leaders clashed.

At a final meeting with Kennedy, Khrushchev stated: "Force will be met by force. If the US wants war, that's its problem. Its up to the US to decide whether there will be war or peace. The decision to sign a peace treaty is firm and irrevocable, and the Soviet Union will sign it in December if the US refuses an interim agreement."

Kennedy responded: "Then, Mr. Chairman, there will be a war. It will be a cold winter."

First American in Space (7/21/61)
On July 21, Alan Shepard became the first American in space. Shepard's flight lasted only 15 minutes. Earlier in the year, President Kennedy had announced the goal of landing a man on the moon by the end of the decade, and on February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first American to go into orbit.

Berlin Crisis (8/13/61)
Buildng of the Wall. From the time of the Vienna summit, East German exodus to West Germany began to skyrocket. The Soviets began to talk about war and, in July, the Soviets detonated the
largest atomic bomb ever exploded, weighing in at 60 megatons. On August 13, the Berlin Wall went up, dividing East and West Berlin and ending the flow of refugees out of East Germany.

Rafael Trujillo Assassinated (5/30/61)
Rafael Trujillo, dictator of the Dominican Republic, was assassinated by members of the Dominican armed forces. While the U.S. was not directly involved in the plot, it was known that the United States did have prior knowledge of the plan. Also, the Americans gave those carrying out the plot tacit support.

1962

Border War between China and India (10/20/62)
China and India disputed their mutual border. The terrain was mountainous and often difficult to defend. In 1962, battles broke out between the two countries. On October 20, China launched a full scale attack on Indian positions. The Chinese routed the Indians, and India asked for US support. Two days later, the Chinese announced that they were implementing a cease-fire and withdrawing. 

Israel Executes Adolf Eichman (6/1/62)
Adolf Eichmann was in charge of the Jewish Department of the Nazi SS (Gestapo). As such, he was directly responsible for carrying out the Nazi's "final solution" - the extermination of European Jewry.
After World War II, Eichmann fled to South America. In May 1960, Eichmann was captured by Israel's
Intelligence Agency (the Mossad), smuggled out of Argentina and brought to Israel to stand trial. Eichmann's trial began on April 11, 1961, at Binyanei Ha Uma, in Jerusalem. A special bullet-proof cage was built for Eichmann's protection. The trial lasted 14 weeks and Eichman was declared guilty on December 11, 1961, by a panel of judges after a four month recess and sentenced to die for crimes against humanity. After his appeal was denied, Eichmann was executed on June 1, 1962, making him the only person ever officially executed by the State of Israel.

US Commitment to Vietnam Deepens
The US commitment to Vietnam grew in early 1962 as troop strength was increased to 8,000 men. President Kennedy gave the order to US troops to fire on the Viet Cong if they encountered hostile fire themselves.

Prayer Unconstitutional in School (6/25/62)
In the decision of Engel v. Vitale, the US Supreme Court ruled that state-sponsored prayer in schools was unconstitutional. The Court did not outlaw prayer in school entirely, only school-sponsored prayer. The Supreme Court decision launched a controversy that has continued unabated until today.

Telstar Broadcast Live Satellite (7/10/62)
The first international satellite broadcast of television took place. Satellite TV communication slowly tranformed the way the world received news information.

Environment Movement Launched
Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring, was published in September 1962. By describing the effects of the use of pesticides and other chemicals on the enviroment, Carson launched the enviromental movement.

Cuban Missile Crisis
In late August, 1962, American spy planes detected the building of missile sights in Cuba. Initially the government believed that these sites were defensive in nature. In fact, the Soviets, under Khrushchev, had decided to redress the strategic gap between the two world powers in one quick swoop by
placing missiles in Cuba, thus providing the US with a very limited warning if attacked.

On October 15th, US intelligence brought the President conclusive proof that the Soviets were installing
medium-range ballistic missiles in Cuba. After much discussion with his advisors, Kennedy ruled out an early air-strike as too risky, and instead decided on a blockade of Cuba.

On the evening of October 22nd President Kennedy addressed the nation, announcing the discovery of
missiles in Cuba and the imposition of a blockade on all Soviet ships attempting to deliver weapons to Cuba. The US made it clear that it would fire on Soviet ships which did not observe the "quarantine."

Many felt that nuclear war was imminent. Suddenly, those Soviet ships en route to Cuba reversed course.

The affair was officially resolved when the United States agreed not to invade Cuba, and the Soviets agreed to withdraw their forces and missiles from Cuba. The event was a serious setback for the Soviets. Their strategic weakness forced them to withdraw from what had been a very risky venture.

First Black at University of Mississippi (10/1/62)
Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black ordered the admittance of James Meredith to the University of Mississippi. Mississippi's governor, Ross Barnett, attempted to bar Meredith's entry. President Kennedy, however, federalized the National Guard, which then forced his admittance, and he enrolled on October 1, 1962.

1963

French veto Britain's Joining Common Market (1/30/63)
The French vetoed, for the first time, the British bid to join the Common Market. The reason given by French President DeGaulle was Britain's lower food prices and cash subsidies to farmers. He vetoed the British membership again in 1967.

USS Thresher Sinks (4/10/63)
In the worst post-war US submarine disaster, the USS Thresher sunk in the Atlantic with all men aboard. None of the men were recovered.

Medgar Evers Slain (6/12/63)
On June 12, Medgar Evers, the NAACP field secretary for Mississippi, was assassinated by Byron De La Beckwith. It took almost 33 years to bring the assassin to justice.

Kennedy visits Berlin (June 26, 1963)
President Kennedy made a triumphant visit to Europe. He visited West Germany and West Berlin, where he was met by a degree of enthusiasm usually reserved for a movie star. He also visited his ancestral home, Ireland. While in Rome, John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, was greeted by the
Pope as President Kennedy, Head of State

March on Washington (8/28/1963)
Two hundred thousand people participated in the largest non-violent demonstration ever held to support the passage of civil rights legislation. At the rally, Dr. Martin Luther King stated: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: we hold these truths to be self evident; that all men are created equal." 

Feminine Mystique Published (9/63)
Betty Friedan wrote The Feminine Mystique in 1963. The book issued a call to modern women to throw off their traditional roles, which were dependent on men, and establish independent identities. 

Nuclear Test Ban Planned (10/10/63)
The first test ban agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union was ratified by the Senate on October 10. The agreement banned the above-ground testing of nuclear weapons.

1963 Diem Government overthrown in Vietnam (11/1/63)
The Vietnamese military, with the backing of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), overthrew the regime of Ngo Dinh Diem. The US backed the action, since the Administration felt Diem was both corrupt and not pursuing the war against the Communists with enough vigor. US support for the action effectively deepened the US commitment to South Vietnam..

President Kennedy Assassinated (11/22/63)
On November 22, while visiting Dallas, Texas, President Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald.

Vaccine Against Measles
Approval was given for a vaccine against measles developed by John Enders.

1964

Surgeon General Reports on Smoking (1/11/64)
The United States Surgeon General issued a report in which it was reported that cigarette smoking posed a clear health danger to smokers. Thus began a concerted effort to reduce smoking in the United States.

The Beatles First Trip To America (2/7/1964)
On February 9, 1964, the British rock group the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, introducing their unique sound and stylish appearance to millions of American teenagers. By the week of April 4, the Beatles held the top five slots on the American pop charts.

Civil Right Act of 1964 (7/2/64)
After a long fight, the Civil Rights legislation of 1964 was passed. It gave the federal government broad
powers to fight discrimination of all kinds.

Tonkin Gulf Resolution (8/7/64)
The US Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which gave the President the authorization to "take all necessary steps and measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression." Following the resolution, American involvement in the war grew rapidly.

Warren Commission Report (9/27/64)
The Warren Commission delivered its final report on September 27, 1964. The Commission concluded that President Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, had acted alone. The commission reports were critized by many and are not fully accepted to this day.

China Explodes A Bomb (10/16/64)
On October 16, the Chinese exploded their first atomic weapon. The Chinese thereby became the fifth nation to produce the bomb. The US, U.S.S.R., Great Britain and France were the other nuclear powers. China pledged that it would not be the first to use nuclear weapons.

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