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First televised Presidential debate
Nixon and Democratic Senator John F. Kennedy. The first-ever televised debate between presidential candidates -
Period: to
60s timeline
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SNCC formed
the Committee sought to coordinate and assist direct-action challenges to the civic segregation and political exclusion of African Americans. -
First airing of “The Flintstones”
It was the first animated series with a prime-time slot on television. The show follows the lives of Fred and Wilma Flintstone and their pet dinosaur, Dino, and they later on have a baby girl named Pebbles. -
President Kennedy is elected
His campaign gained momentum after the first televised presidential debates in American history, and he was elected president, narrowly defeating Republican opponent Richard Nixon. -
Russians send the first man into space
The Soviet Union achieve a clear triumph in the space race. Aboard the Vostok 1, Yuri Gagarin makes a single orbit around the Earth and becomes the first man to reach space. -
SDS releases its Port Huron statement
proposed a new form of “participatory democracy” to rescue modern society from -
Berlin Wall is Constructed
The Berlin Wall became the symbol of the Cold War and a tangible manifestation of the world's separation into two distinct ideological blocs. Map from the era, illustrating Berlin's division between the Allied forces. -
Roger Maris of the Yankees breaks Babe Ruth’s single season home run record
Maris hit 61 home runs during the 1961 season breaking Babe Ruth's MLB single season home run record of 60 home runs at the time. -
“Dr. No” the first James Bond movie premiers
DR. NO, the first of the "James Bond" film series, was a dazzling adventure that would change the 'look' of action films, forever -
Marilyn Monroe dies
Her death was officially ruled a probable suicide by the Los Angeles County coroner's office, based on information about her overdosing and being prone to mood swings and suicidal ideation. -
Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” Speech
a public speech that was delivered by American civil rights activist and Baptist minister Martin Luther King Jr. during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom -
James Meredith registers at Ole Miss
James Meredith officially became the first African American student at the University of Mississippi -
Cuban Missile Crisis
a 13-day confrontation between the governments of the United States and the Soviet Union, when American deployments of nuclear missiles in Italy and Turkey were matched by Soviet deployments of nuclear missiles in Cuba -
John F Kennedy is assassinated
was shot as he rode in a motorcade through the streets of Dallas, Texas; he died shortly thereafter. -
The Beatles arrive in the United States
The Beatles arrived at Kennedy Airport in New York for the very first time to thousands of screaming fans -
The Beatles appear on Ed Sullivan
four lads from Liverpool took to the stage for their first televised performance in America, forever altering the course of music history. -
New York World’s Fair begins
The theme was “Peace through Understanding,” and hosted 80 countries, the United States government, 24 states, and the City of New York. Robert Moses served as president of the World's Fair Corporation -
Lyndon B Johnson defeats Barry Goldwater
Johnson beat Goldwater in the general election, winning over 61% of the popular vote. Johnson became the only Democrat between 1944 and 1976 to win a majority of the popular vote. -
Malcolm X assassinated
Malcolm X was ambushed and fatally shot while delivering a speech. His wife and daughters were in the audience -
Watts race riots
series of violent confrontations between Los Angeles police and residents of Watts and other predominantly African American neighborhoods of South-Central Los Angeles -
“Star Trek” TV show airs
The iconic series "Star Trek" follows the crew of the starship USS Enterprise as it completes its missions in space in the 23rd century. -
San Francisco “Summer of Love” begins
the Summer of Love encompassed hippie culture, spiritual awakening, hallucinogenic drugs, anti-war sentiment, and free love throughout the West Coast of the United States, and as far away as New York City. -
First NFL Football Super Bowl
The Green Bay Packers defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in the first-ever Super Bowl. -
Beatles release Sgt. Pepper’s album
Sgt. Pepper is regarded by musicologists as an early concept album that advanced the roles of sound composition, extended form, psychedelic imagery, record sleeves, and the producer in popular music. -
Thurgood Marshall nominated to the Supreme Court
President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated distinguished civil rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall to be the first African American justice to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States -
Boxer Muhammed Ali refuses military service
Ali refused to be drafted into the military, owing to his religious beliefs and ethical opposition to the Vietnam War, and was found guilty of draft evasion and stripped of his boxing titles. -
LSD declared illegal by the U.S. government
LSD being viewed as a cultural threat to American values and the Vietnam war effort, and it was designated as a Schedule I (illegal for medical as well as recreational use) -
Tet Offensive
North Vietnamese and communist Viet Cong forces launched a coordinated attack against a number of targets in South Vietnam. The U.S. and South Vietnamese militaries sustained heavy losses before finally repelling the communist assault. -
Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated
clergyman and civil rights movement leader, was fatally shot at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. -
Robert Kennedy is assassinated
On June 5, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy was shot by Sirhan Sirhan at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California and pronounced dead the following day. -
Stonewall riots
The Stonewall Riots served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world. -
Protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention
Anti-war Democrats had no candidate, so they protested at the convention. -
Richard Nixon is elected
A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and as the 36th vice president from 1953 to 1961 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. -
American Astronauts Land on the Moon
This was during an Apolllo 11 mission when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first humans to land on the moon. -
Woodstock concert
It was also the era of the civil rights movement, a period of great unrest and protest. Woodstock was an opportunity for people to escape into music and spread a message of unity and peace. -
The Rolling Stones host the Altamont music festival
about 300,000 gathered at the Altamont Speedway in Tracy, California to see the Rolling Stones perform a free concert that was seen as a 'Woodstock West