The 1960s

1961 65 years ago

The South African Constitution of 1961 becomes effective, thus creating the Republic of South Africa, which remains outs

The Constitution of 1961 was the fundamental law of South Africa for two decades. Under the terms of the constitution South Africa ceased to be a Commonwealth realm and became a re…

The South African Constitution of 1961 becomes effective, thus creating the Republic of South Africa, which remains outs

1961 65 years ago

The Canadian Bank of Commerce and Imperial Bank of Canada merge to form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, the larg

The Canadian Bank of Commerce was a Canadian bank that operated from 1867 to 1961. It merged in 1961 with the Imperial Bank of Canada to form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce…

The Canadian Bank of Commerce and Imperial Bank of Canada merge to form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, the larg

1961 65 years ago

The United States Defense Intelligence Agency is formed, becoming the country's first centralized military…

The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is an intelligence agency and combat support agency of the United States Department of Defense (DoD) specializing in military intelligence.

The United States Defense Intelligence Agency is formed, becoming the country's first centralized military…

1961 65 years ago

NASA tests the first Saturn I rocket in Mission Saturn-Apollo 1.

Saturn-Apollo 1 (SA-1) was the first flight of the Saturn I space launch vehicle, the first in the Saturn family, and first mission of the American Apollo program. The rocket was l…

NASA tests the first Saturn I rocket in Mission Saturn-Apollo 1.

1961 65 years ago

Jarbom Gamlin, Indian lawyer and politician, seventh Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh (died 2014)

Jarbom Gamlin was an Indian politician and a leader of the Indian National Congress political party in Arunachal Pradesh and briefly served as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Prade…

Jarbom Gamlin, Indian lawyer and politician, seventh Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh (died 2014)

1961 65 years ago

Norman Cowans, Jamaican-English cricketer

Norman George Cowans is a former cricketer who mainly played as a right-arm fast bowler. He was the 500th cricketer to play Test cricket for England, featuring between 1982 and 198…

Norman Cowans, Jamaican-English cricketer

1961 65 years ago

Cold War: In the Vienna summit, the Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev sparks the Berlin Crisis by threatening to sign a s

The Cold War was a period of international geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc …

Cold War: In the Vienna summit, the Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev sparks the Berlin Crisis by threatening to sign a s

1961 65 years ago

Marriage of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent to Katharine Worsley at York Minster

The wedding of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and Katharine Worsley took place on Thursday, 8 June 1961, at York Minster in York, England. The Duke of Kent is the eldest son of Princ…

Marriage of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent to Katharine Worsley at York Minster

1961 65 years ago

Kuwait declares independence from the United Kingdom

Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in West Asia. With a coastline of approximately 500 km (311 mi), it is situated at the head of the Persian Gulf in the northeas…

Kuwait declares independence from the United Kingdom

1961 65 years ago

The Antarctic Treaty System, which sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve and limits military activity on the co

The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively known as the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earth's only cont…

The Antarctic Treaty System, which sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve and limits military activity on the co

1961 65 years ago

On its maiden voyage, the Soviet nuclear-powered submarine K-19 suffers a complete loss of coolant to its reactor. The…

K-19 was the first submarine of the Project 658 class, the first generation of Soviet nuclear submarines equipped with nuclear ballistic missiles, specifically the R-13 SLBM. The b…

On its maiden voyage, the Soviet nuclear-powered submarine K-19 suffers a complete loss of coolant to its reactor. The…

1961 65 years ago

Boomer Esiason, American football player and sportscaster

Norman Julius "Boomer" Esiason is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, primarily with the Cin…

Boomer Esiason, American football player and sportscaster

1961 65 years ago

Bella Freud, English fashion designer

Isobel Lucia Freud, is a London-based fashion designer. Her work is known for its playful and often humorous use of language. She is the daughter of the painter Lucian Freud and gr…

Bella Freud, English fashion designer

1961 65 years ago

Jane Leeves, English actress and dancer

Jane Elizabeth Leeves is an English actress, best known for her role as Daphne Moon on the NBC sitcom Frasier (1993–2004), for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstan…

Jane Leeves, English actress and dancer

1961 65 years ago

Greece becomes the first member state to join the European Economic Community by signing the Athens Agreement, which…

Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country of 10 million people on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. With nine regions and thousands of isla…

Greece becomes the first member state to join the European Economic Community by signing the Athens Agreement, which…

1961 65 years ago

Indian city Pune floods due to failure of the Khadakwasla and Panshet dams, killing at least two thousand people.

India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the most populous country in the world and, since its independence i…

Indian city Pune floods due to failure of the Khadakwasla and Panshet dams, killing at least two thousand people.

1961 65 years ago

Tunisia imposes a blockade on the French naval base at Bizerte; the French would capture the entire town four days…

The Bizerte crisis occurred in July 1961 when Tunisia imposed a blockade on the French naval base at Bizerte, Tunisia, hoping to force its evacuation. The crisis culminated in a th…

Tunisia imposes a blockade on the French naval base at Bizerte; the French would capture the entire town four days…

1961 65 years ago

French military forces break the Tunisian siege of Bizerte.

Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and th…

French military forces break the Tunisian siege of Bizerte.

1961 65 years ago

Mercury program: Mercury-Redstone 4 Mission: Gus Grissom piloting Liberty Bell 7 becomes the second American to go…

Project Mercury was the first human spaceflight program of the United States, running from 1958 through 1963. An early highlight of the Space Race, its goal was to put a man into E…

Mercury program: Mercury-Redstone 4 Mission: Gus Grissom piloting Liberty Bell 7 becomes the second American to go…

1961 65 years ago

John Podhoretz, American journalist and author

John Mordecai Podhoretz is an American journalist and conservative political commentator. The son of writers Norman Podhoretz and Midge Decter, he has been the editor of the magazi…

John Podhoretz, American journalist and author

1961 65 years ago

Konstantin Lavronenko, Russian actor

Konstantin Nikolaevich Lavronenko is a Soviet and Russian actor known for his role as the mysterious father of two boys in 2003 film Vozvrashcheniye. Lavronenko won the Best Actor …

Konstantin Lavronenko, Russian actor

1961 65 years ago

David Servan-Schreiber, French physician, neuroscientist, and author (died 2011)

David Servan-Schreiber was a French physician, neuroscientist and author. He was a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He was also …

David Servan-Schreiber, French physician, neuroscientist, and author (died 2011)

1961 65 years ago

Cold War: In a speech John F. Kennedy emphasizes that any attack on Berlin is an attack on NATO.

The Cold War was a period of international geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc …

Cold War: In a speech John F. Kennedy emphasizes that any attack on Berlin is an attack on NATO.

1961 65 years ago

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara orders the creation of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the nation's…

Robert Strange McNamara, also known by his initials RSM, was an American businessman and government official who served as the eighth United States secretary of defense from 1961 t…

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara orders the creation of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the nation's…