Nov 20,1942 - Present
THE 46TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
1968 Surveyor 7, the final spacecraft in the Surveyor series, lifts off from Cape Canaveral.
1968 Johnny Cash performs live at Folsom State Prison.
1968 The Battle of Khe Sanh, one of the Vietnam War's most publicized and contentious battles, began, shaping the war's narrative.
1968 A B-52 bomber's crash near Thule Air Base resulted in nuclear contamination, leaving one of its bombs unaccounted for after the cleanup.
1968 Apollo 5 marked a significant milestone in space exploration as it carried the first Lunar module into space, paving the way for future lunar missions and advancing humanity's understanding of the cosmos.
1968 Operation Igloo White, a cutting-edge electronic surveillance system, was initiated in South Vietnam to counter communist infiltration, becoming a critical component of the Vietnam War effort.
1968 Tensions escalate as the USS Pueblo (AGER-2) falls victim to an attack and seizure by the Korean People's Navy, marking a significant incident during the Cold War era.
1968 Vietnam War history unfolds as the 1st Australian Task Force launches Operation Coburg against North Vietnamese forces, contributing to the broader conflict.
1968 The launch of the Tet Offensive by forces of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army against South Vietnam, the United States, and their allies in 1968, marked a turning point in the Vietnam War.
1968 In the early morning hours of January 31, 1968, Viet Cong guerrillas launched a daring attack on the United States embassy in Saigon and other targets, marking the onset of the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War.
1968 January 31, 1968, is a momentous date for the Pacific island nation of Nauru, as it gained independence from Australia, marking a significant step toward self-determination.
1968 The Orangeburg massacre unfolds during the American civil rights movement, resulting in multiple fatalities and forever symbolizing the struggle for racial equality.
1968 The inaugural 9-1-1 emergency telephone system goes live in Haleyville, Alabama, revolutionizing emergency response across the nation.
1968 The tragic crash of Civil Air Transport Flight 010 near Zhongshan Airport in Taiwan claims the lives of 21 people on board and one on the ground.
1968 Beijing witnesses the establishment of the China Academy of Space Technology, a pivotal institution responsible for space satellite research and development in China.
1968 Vietnam War: The Tet Offensive is halted; South Vietnamese forces led by Ngo Quang Truong recapture the citadel of Hué.
1968 The closure of Baggeridge Colliery in 1968 marked the end of more than 300 years of coal mining in the Black Country, signaling a significant shift in the region's industrial landscape.
1968 The Vietnam War raged on as the United States and South Vietnamese military launched Operation Truong Cong Dinh to root out Viet Cong forces in the Mekong Delta region, a pivotal military campaign.
1968 The island nation of Mauritius celebrates its independence from the United Kingdom, a significant milestone in its history.
1968 The Vietnam War's dark chapter, the My Lai Massacre, unfolded as American troops tragically claimed the lives of between 347 and 500 Vietnamese villagers.
1968 A shocking incident unfolds in Skull Valley, Utah, as a result of nerve gas testing by the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. Over 6,000 sheep are found dead, sparking outrage and raising questions about military testing.
1968 A significant shift in global monetary policy occurs as the U.S. Congress repeals the requirement for a gold reserve to back U.S. currency, marking the end of the gold standard era and ushering in a new era of financial stability and flexibility.
1968 The Battle of Karameh in Jordan witnessed a fierce conflict between the Israel Defense Forces and the combined forces of the Jordanian Armed Forces and PLO, shaping the Middle East.
1968 The quest for justice led to tragedy as Brazilian high school student Edson Luís de Lima Souto lost his life at a student protest, sparking outrage and further protests.
1968 In a historic televised address, American President Lyndon B. Johnson unveiled his plan to "Limit the War in Vietnam," concluding his speech with the memorable declaration that he would neither seek nor accept another term as President.
1968 Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech; he was assassinated the next day.
1968 A tragic and pivotal moment in civil rights history, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. by James Earl Ray at a Memphis motel sent shockwaves across the nation, leaving an enduring legacy of activism.
1968 NASA's Apollo program achieved another milestone as Apollo 6 was launched into space, marking a step closer to the historic moon landing that would captivate the world's imagination.
1968 Richmond, Indiana, witnesses a devastating double explosion in its downtown district, resulting in the tragic loss of 41 lives and injuries to 150, a somber moment etched in the city's history.
1968 Pierre Elliott Trudeau emerges victorious in the Liberal Party leadership election, paving the way for his ascension as Prime Minister of Canada, a transformative chapter in Canadian politics.
1968 The world of Formula One mourns as the legendary Jim Clark, a two-time British World Champion, meets a tragic end during a Formula Two race in Hockenheim.
1968 The tragic BOAC Flight 712 fire shortly after takeoff in 1968 led to the posthumous award of the George Cross to Barbara Jane Harrison, the only GC recipient in peacetime.
1968 President Lyndon B. Johnson takes a monumental step by signing the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which prohibits discrimination in housing, marking a milestone in the ongoing civil rights movement.
1968 An assassination attempt targets Rudi Dutschke, the charismatic leader of the German student movement, underscoring the tensions of the era.
1968 In 1968, student protesters at Columbia University in New York City captured headlines as they occupied administration buildings, shutting down the institution in protest of the Vietnam War.
1968 The electrifying and controversial musical "Hair," an embodiment of the 1960s counterculture and anti-Vietnam War movement, made its captivating Broadway debut, leaving an indelible mark on American culture.
1968 Tragedy strikes the skies over Dawson, Texas, as Braniff International Airways Flight 352 meets a fateful end, claiming the lives of eighty-five passengers, a somber reminder of the risks of air travel.
1968 The Vietnam War escalated in 1968 as North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launched a fierce attack on Australian troops defending Fire Support Base Coral, intensifying the conflict in Southeast Asia.
1968 The U.S. Navy experienced a tragic loss as the nuclear-powered submarine USS Scorpion sank with 99 crew members aboard, marking a somber moment in naval history.
1968 A symbol of architectural and engineering prowess, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, stands tall and proud as it is dedicated, becoming an iconic monument to American ingenuity and unity.
1968 Iceland undergoes a significant transformation as traffic shifts overnight from driving on the left to driving on the right, a unique event known as "H-dagurinn." This momentous change redefines the nation's roadways and daily life.
1968 Tragedy struck on May 28, 1968, when Garuda Indonesia Flight 892 crashed near Nala Sopara in India, claiming the lives of 30 passengers and crew in a devastating aviation accident.
1968 Charles de Gaulle resurfaces publicly in Baden-Baden, Germany, dissolving the French National Assembly through a radio appeal, a momentous turning point during the May 1968 events in France.
1968 The assassination of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy by Sirhan Sirhan shocked the world and left an enduring legacy in American politics and history.
1968 The arrest of James Earl Ray at London Heathrow Airport marked a critical moment in the investigation into Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination.
1968 The United States mourns as President Lyndon B. Johnson declares a national day of remembrance following the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
1968 The field of medical research takes a significant leap forward as Lloyd J. Old identifies the first cell surface antigens capable of differentiating among different cell types. This pioneering discovery lays the foundation for future breakthroughs in immunology and cancer research.
1968 In 1968, Pope Paul VI issued the Credo of the People of God, a powerful declaration of faith that resonated deeply with the Catholic community worldwide.
1968 The United States Central Intelligence Agency's Phoenix Program was officially established in 1968, becoming a notable aspect of American counterinsurgency efforts during the Vietnam War.
1968 The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was signed by sixty-two countries in 1968 in Washington, D.C., London, and Moscow. This treaty aimed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote disarmament.
1968 In 1968, the United Auto Workers formally separated from the AFL, leading to changes in the landscape of labor unions in the United States. This marked a significant development in the history of American labor organizations.
1968 The year 1968 saw a significant labor dispute erupt in Detroit, Michigan, as the Chrysler wildcat strike began, reflecting the growing demands for improved working conditions and fair wages in the auto industry.
1968 A pivotal moment in Iraqi history unfolds as Abdul Rahman Arif is overthrown, and the Ba'ath Party assumes power, with Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr becoming the new President.
1968 Intel's founding in Mountain View, California, in 1968, signaled the birth of a tech giant that would shape the digital age.
1968 Soldier Field in Chicago witnessed a historic moment on July 20, 1968, as the first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held, featuring about 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities.
1968 Cleveland, Ohio, becomes the battleground for a violent showdown between a Black Militant organization and the Cleveland Police Department, unleashing a five-day riot in the wake of the Glenville shootout.
1968 The annals of aviation record a chilling milestone as a Boeing 707, en route from Rome to Lod, Israel, becomes the target of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, marking the only successful hijacking of an El Al aircraft.
1968 In the midst of the Vietnam War, South Vietnamese opposition leader Trương Đình Dzu is sentenced to five years of hard labor for advocating a coalition government, reflecting the complex and turbulent nature of the conflict.
1968 The coronation ceremony of Hassanal Bolkiah, the 29th Sultan of Brunei, marked a significant moment in the nation's history and the continuity of its royal lineage.
1968 A devastating earthquake struck Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines, resulting in the tragic loss of over 270 lives and leaving 261 individuals wounded.
1968 In 1968, a daring assassination attempt unfolded as Alexandros Panagoulis sought to eliminate Greek dictator Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos in Varkiza, Athens.
1968 A pivotal moment during the Cold War unfolded when Warsaw Pact troops, with limited East German participation, invaded Czechoslovakia, crushing the Prague Spring movement. This event had far-reaching implications for Eastern Europe.
1968 Nicolae Ceaușescu's public condemnation of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia encouraged the Romanian population to prepare for possible Soviet reprisals, marking a pivotal moment in Cold War Eastern Europe.
1968 James Anderson Jr.'s posthumous receipt of the first Medal of Honor awarded to an African American U.S. Marine was a significant recognition of his bravery and contributions to the military.
1968 Pope Paul VI's historic visit to Bogotá, Colombia, marks a pivotal moment in Latin American papal diplomacy and religious history.
1968 The tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention protests witness intense clashes between police and protesters, with the iconic chant, "The whole world is watching," echoing through the streets.
1968 Operation OAU commenced during the Nigerian Civil War, initiating a series of military actions that would shape the nation's history.
1968 Swaziland achieved independence on this historic day, marking a significant milestone in its journey as a sovereign nation.
1968 Air France Flight 1611 crashes off the coast of Nice, France, leading to the tragic loss of 89 passengers and six crew members.
1968 Amid the backdrop of the Cold War, Albania made a significant decision on September 13, 1968, when it left the Warsaw Pact, a pivotal moment in the complex web of international alliances and geopolitics.
1968 The Soviet Zond 5 spaceship made history by becoming the first spacecraft to orbit the Moon and safely re-enter Earth's atmosphere, advancing space exploration.
1968 Boeing unveils the revolutionary Boeing 747, the first jumbo jet, to the public.
1968 Guyana nationalizes the British Guiana Broadcasting Service, a pivotal step toward national media control and shaping the nation's broadcasting landscape, ultimately leading to the National Communications Network.
1968 Mexican President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz orders the suppression of unarmed student demonstrators, triggering unrest ahead of the 1968 Summer Olympics.
1968 A Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association march in Derry turned violent as police brutally suppressed protesters, deepening the region's strife.
1968 NASA's historic launch of Apollo 7, a successful manned mission, is a major milestone in the Apollo program.
1968 Equatorial Guinea steps into the light of independence, breaking free from Spanish colonial rule and marking a new era in the nation's history.
1968 The Apollo program achieves a historic milestone as American astronauts perform the first live television broadcast from orbit, providing a mesmerizing glimpse of space exploration to a captivated global audience.
1968 Meckering, Western Australia, is shaken to its core as a powerful 6.5 Mw earthquake inflicts widespread damage, costing $2.2 million and leaving 20 people grappling with the aftermath of nature's fury.
1968 Jim Hines etches his name in the annals of sports history as the first man to shatter the elusive "ten-second barrier" in the 100-meter sprint, with a lightning-fast time of 9.95 seconds, setting a new standard of human speed.
1968 Tommie Smith and John Carlos were expelled from the US Olympic team in 1968 for their iconic Black Power salute during the Olympics, making a powerful statement for civil rights.
1968 The Rodney riots erupted in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1968, sparked by the exclusion of Walter Rodney from the country, highlighting social and political tensions.
1968 Yasunari Kawabata's Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968 made him the first Japanese laureate, celebrating his contributions to world literature.
1968 Tragedy struck as a Fairchild F-27 crashed into Moose Mountain while approaching Lebanon Municipal Airport in Lebanon, New Hampshire, claiming the lives of 32 souls.
1968 The Soyuz 3 mission achieved a historic milestone in 1968 with the first Soviet space rendezvous, contributing to the Space Race.
1968 A daring attempt to reunify Korea unfolds as a squad of 120 North Korean Army commandos lands along a 25-mile stretch of South Korea's eastern coast, aiming to overthrow the dictatorship of Park Chung-hee.
1968 The Vietnam War takes an unexpected turn as U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson announces a cessation of air, naval, and artillery bombardment of North Vietnam, citing progress in peace talks.
1968 The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) introduced its film rating system, featuring ratings such as G, M, R, and X, revolutionizing how films were classified and viewed.
1968 Richard Nixon's election as the 37th President of the United States marked a pivotal moment in U.S. political history.
1968 The signing of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic aimed to facilitate international road traffic and enhance road safety by standardizing uniform traffic rules among signatory countries.
1968 The initiation of Operation Commando Hunt during the Vietnam War, aimed at interdicting men and supplies on the Ho Chi Minh trail.
1968 The Cleveland Transit System achieved a significant transportation milestone by providing direct rapid transit service from downtown to the city's major airport, enhancing urban connectivity.
1968 British European Airways introduces the BAC One-Eleven into commercial service, marking a milestone in aviation history and passenger travel.
1968 An intriguing event unfolds as viewers across the nation are captivated by the Raiders, an enigmatic spectacle that leaves a lasting impression.
1968 A coal mine explosion claims 78 lives in Farmington, West Virginia, a haunting reminder of the perils faced by miners deep underground.
1968 The Old Student House in Helsinki, Finland becomes the focal point of student activism as a large group of University of Helsinki students occupy the historic building.
1968 In a heroic act during the Vietnam War, USAF pilot James P. Fleming rescues an Army Special Forces unit pinned down by Viet Cong fire, earning the Medal of Honor.
1968 Penny Ann Early makes history by becoming the first woman to play major professional basketball for the Kentucky Colonels in an ABA game, breaking gender barriers in sports.
1968 Douglas Engelbart's groundbreaking demonstration, known as "The Mother of All Demos," unveiled the computer mouse, hypertext, and the bit-mapped graphical user interface using the oN-Line System (NLS), paving the way for modern computing.
1968 In 1968, Japan witnessed its biggest heist, known as the "300 million yen robbery," which remains unsolved to this day, leaving a mysterious legacy in the world of crime.
1968 Brazilian President Artur da Costa e Silva issued AI-5 (Institutional Act No. 5) on this day in 1968. This act enabled government by decree and suspended habeas corpus, ushering in a period of authoritarian rule in Brazil.
1968 A significant moment in history unfolded on December 16, 1968, as the Second Vatican Council officially revoked the Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain, a pivotal step towards religious tolerance and reconciliation.
1968 Humanity reaches new heights as Apollo 8 launches from the Kennedy Space Center, embarking on a historic lunar trajectory, a first for humankind.
1968 During China's Cultural Revolution, Mao Zedong's directive for "intellectual youth to go to the countryside" shapes a generation's destiny, forever impacting China's social fabric.
1968 After enduring eleven months of internment in North Korea, the 82 sailors from the USS Pueblo finally regain their freedom, marking a triumphant end to a harrowing ordeal.
1968 The crew of Apollo 8 enters lunar orbit, marking a historic milestone in the Apollo program and humanity's exploration of space.
1968 Apollo 8 successfully executes the first Trans-Earth injection (TEI) maneuver, setting the stage for its return to Earth from lunar orbit.
1968 The Kilvenmani massacre sees the tragic burning of forty-four Dalits in Kizhavenmani village, Tamil Nadu, in retaliation for their campaign for higher wages.
1968 The establishment of the Communist Party of the Philippines by Jose Maria Sison signaled a significant split from the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930, shaping the country's political landscape.
1968 Apollo 8 makes a historic splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, concluding humanity's first orbital crewed mission to the Moon, a momentous achievement in space exploration.
1968 The world witnessed a remarkable milestone with the first flight of the Tupolev Tu-144, the pioneering civilian supersonic transport, setting a new standard in aviation technology.
1968 Tragedy struck as MacRobertson Miller Airlines Flight 1750 crashed near Port Hedland, Western Australia, claiming the lives of all 26 people on board, leaving an indelible mark on history.
1968 In a significant move, Canada unified its three military services—the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force—into the Canadian Forces in 1968.
1968 The merger of the New York Central Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1968 formed Penn Central Transportation, reshaping the American railroad industry.
1968 The tragic pages of history are stained as the Phong Nhị and Phong Nhất massacre unfolds. Amidst the tempestuous backdrop of the Vietnam War, a profound tragedy casts a long shadow over the course of human conflict.
1968 Rhodesia's execution of three rebels sparks international condemnation, marking a grim chapter in the country's history during the period of Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI).
1968 The TEV Wahine succumbs to a fierce storm, sinking in Wellington harbor, New Zealand, a maritime disaster that leaves an indelible mark.
1968 English politician Enoch Powell delivered his controversial "Rivers of Blood" speech, sparking heated debate and shaping discussions on immigration and race in the UK.
1968 South African Airways Flight 228's tragic crash near Hosea Kutako International Airport in South West Africa (now Namibia) claimed the lives of 123 individuals, leaving a somber legacy.
