Scientists, Astronauts, Military People, Doctors, & other Newsmakers of the 1960's By ParkerFranke Jan 1, 1960 Michael DeBakey started to develop the artificial heart Nov 9, 1960 Robert McNamara became president of the Ford Motor Company Jan 5, 1961 Mercury 13 astronauts start phase one of their training Jan 10, 1961 Robert McNamara is appointed Secretary of Defense Aug 17, 1961 Phase one of training ends for Mercury 13 astronauts Oct 1, 1961 Robert McNamara creates the Defense Intelligence Agency Jan 1, 1962 Neil Armstrong entered the space program (NASA) Mar 22, 1962 Jerrie Cobb and Janey Hart from Mercury 13, meet the president Lyndon B. Johnson Aug 3, 1962 Denton Cooley founded the Texas Heart Institue (THI) May 2, 1964 Michael DeBakey was the first person to perform a heart artery bypass May 15, 1964 Michael Debakey was appointed chairman of President's Commission on Heart Disease, Cancer & Stroke Mar 16, 1966 Neil Armstrong has his first flight in space aboard the Gemini 8 Feb 4, 1967 Denton Cooley was awarded the Rene Leriche prize for his work in vascular surgery Nov 29, 1967 Robert McNamara resigns as Secretary of Defense and announces he will become president of the World Bank May 3, 1968 Denton Cooley performed his first human heart transplant Apr 4, 1969 Denton Cooley became the first heart surgeon to implant an artificial heart into a person Jul 16, 1969 Apollo 11 was launched and Neil Armstrong was the commander of the ship Jul 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon With this accomplishment, the U.S. had won the space race against the Soviet Union.
