1960 Events January-February January 1 - Independence of Cameroon January 9 - Aswan High Dam construction begins in Egypt January 11 - Chad declares its independence. January 14 - Ralph Chubb, the gay poet and printer, dies at Fair Oak Cottage in Hampshire. January 23 - Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh in the bathyscaphe USS Trieste break a depth record when they descend to the bottom of Challenger Deep 35,820 feet (10,750 meters) below sea level in the Pacific Ocean January 24 - A major insurrection in Algiers against French colonial policy January 25 - The National Association of Broadcasters reacts to the Payola scandal by threatening fines for any disk jockeys who accepted money for playing particular records February 9 - Joanne Woodward receives the first star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame February 9 - Adolph Coors III, chairman of the board of the Coors Brewing Company, is kidnapped and captors demand $500.000. Coors is later found killed and Joseph Corbett Jr is indicted February 11 - The airship ZPG-3W is destroyed in a storm in Massachusetts February 13 - Nuclear testing: France tests its first atomic bomb February 21 - Cuban leader Fidel Castro nationalizes all businesses in Cuba. February 29 - Earthquake totally destroys Agadir, Morocco. March-April March 1 - USS Gato struck from the Naval Vessel Register March 1-2 ? Earthquake in Agadir, Morocco ? 20.000 dead, thousands injured March 6 - Vietnam War: The United States announces that 3,500 American troops are going to be sent to Vietnam March 21 - Apartheid: Massacre in Sharpeville, South Africa: Afrikaner police open fire on a group of unarmed black South African demonstrators, killing 69 and wounding 180. March 22 - Arthur Leonard Schawlow & Charles Hard Townes receive the first patent for a laser. April 1 - Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad, 1st Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia dies in office. He is replaced by Hisamuddin Alam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah, Sultan of Selangor. April 1 - The United States launches the first weather satellite, TIROS-1 April 4 - First three female priests ordained in Sweden April 21 - In Brazil, The Country's capital (Federal District) is shifted from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília. The Estado da Guanabara (State of Guanabara) is founded to succeed Rio de Janeiro as the Brazilian Federal District. April 27 - Togo gains independence from French-administered UN trusteeship May-June May 1 - Soviet missile shoots down the US U2 spy plane- the pilot Gary Powers is captured May 9 - Reproductive rights: The Food and Drug Administration approves sale of the birth control pill May 10 - The nuclear submarine USS Nautilus completes the first under water circumnavigation of the earth May 11 - In Buenos Aires four Mossad agents abduct fugitive Nazi Adolf Eichmann who was using the assumed name "Ricardo Klement." May 13 - First ascent of Dhaulagiri, 7th highest mountain May 15 - Sputnik 4 is launched into Earth orbit May 16 - Nikita Khrushchev demands an apology from US President Dwight D. Eisenhower for U-2 spy plane flights over the Soviet Union thus ending a Big Four summit in Paris. May 23 - Prime Minister of Israel David Ben-Gurion announces that Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann has been captured May 27 - In Turkey, General Cemal G�rsel leads a military coup d'etat removing President Celal Bayar and the rest of the democratic government June 4 - Lake Bodom Murderers June 20 - Independence of Mali and Senegal June 24 - Avro 748 first flight at Woodford, UK June 30 - Belgian Congo gains independence from Belgium - civil war follows July July 1 - A Soviet MiG fighter north of Murmansk in the Barents Sea shot down a six-man RB-47 crew. Two young United States Air Force officers survived and were imprisoned in Moscow's dreaded Lubyanka prison. (see RB-47H shot down) July 4 - With the admission of Hawaii as the 50th U.S. state earlier in the year, the 50-star flag of the United States debuts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 11 ? Moise Tshombe declares Congolese province of Katanga independent; he receives Belgian help July 14 ? United Nations decides to send troops to Katanga to oversee Belgian troops withdrawal July 20 - Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) elects Sirimavo Bandaranaike Prime Minister, the world's first female head of government. July 21 - Francis Chichester, English navigator and yachtsman, arrives in New York aboard Gypsy Moth II - he has made a record solo Atlantic crossing in 40 days July 27 - OECD founded August August - Stanley Clifford Weyman, US impostor, is killed when he tries to prevent a robbery August 6 - Cuban Revolution: In response to a United States embargo, Cuba nationalizes American and foreign-owned property in the nation August 7 - Côte d'Ivoire becomes independent August 16 - Joseph Kittinger parachutes from a balloon over New Mexico at 102,800 feet (31,333 m). He sets unbeaten (as of 2003) world records for: high-altitude jump; free-fall by falling 16 miles (25.7 km) before opening his parachute; and fastest speed by a human without motorized assistance, 982 km/h (614 mi/h). August 16 - Cyprus gains its independence from the United Kingdom August 17 - Gabon gains independence from France August 18 - Enovid, the first commercially produced oral contraceptive, is launched in Skokie, Illinois August 19 - Cold War: In Moscow, downed American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers is sentenced to ten years imprisonment by the Soviet Union for espionage August 19 - Sputnik program: The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 5 with the dogs Belka and Strelka (Russian for "Squirrel" and "Little Arrow"), 40 mice, 2 rats and a variety of plants. The spacecraft will return to earth the next day and all animals will be recovered safely August 20 - Senegal breaks from the Mali federation, declaring independence. August 25 - USS Seadragon (SSN-584) surfaces at the north pole where the crew plays softball. September-October September 1 - Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah, Sultan of Selangor and 2nd Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, dies in office. He is replaced by Tuanku Syed Putra, Raja of Perlis. September 1 - Disgruntled railroad workers effectively halt operations of the Pennsylvania Railroad, marking the first shutdown in the history of the company (event lasted 2 days) September 8 - In Huntsville, Alabama, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower formally dedicates the Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA had already activated the facility on July 1) September 14 - OPEC is founded October 1 - Nigeria gains independence - Nnamdi Azikiwe is the first native Governor General October 7 - Second notable flood in Horncastle October 12 - Cold War: Nikita Khrushchev pounds his shoe on a table at a General Assembly of the United Nations meeting to protest discussion of Soviet Union policy toward Eastern Europe. October 14 - US presidential candidate John F. Kennedy first suggests the idea for the Peace Corps October 29 - In Louisville, Kentucky, Cassius Clay (who later took the name Muhammad Ali) wins his first professional fight November November 1 - While campaigning for President of the United States, John F. Kennedy announces his idea of the Peace Corps. November 2 - Penguin Books is found not guilty of obscenity in the Lady Chatterley's Lover case. November 8 - U.S. presidential election, 1960: In a close race, John F. Kennedy is elected over Richard M. Nixon, becoming the youngest man elected to that office. November 13 - Sammy Davis, Jr. marries Swedish actress May Britt. Interracial marriage is still illegal in 31 US states out of 50. November 15 - The Polaris missile is test launched November 22 ? United Nations supports government of Kasavubu and Joseph Mobutu in Congo November 28 - Mauritania becomes independent of France November 30 - Production of the De Soto automobile brand ceases December December ? State of emergency is lifted in Kenya - Mau Mau Rebellion is officially over December 1 - Patrice Lumumba, the deposed premier of the Republic of the Congo was arrested by troops of Col. Joseph Mobutu December 1 - A 5-ton Soviet space ship containing animals, insects and plants was launched into orbit. The spacecraft burned up upon re-entry. December 2 - The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Geoffrey Francis Fisher, talked with Pope John XXIII for about an hour in the Vatican. It was the first time in more than 500 years that a head of the Anglican church had visited the Pope. December 2 - U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorizes the use of $1M for the relief and resettlement of Cuban refugees in Florida. Cuban refugees have been arriving in Florida at the rate of 1,000 a week December 4 - Admission to the United Nations of Mauritania was vetoed by the USSR. December 5 - Pierre Lagaillarde, who led 1958 and 1960 insurrections in Algeria, failed to appear in a Paris court. He was reported to have fled with 4 fellow defendants to Spain en route to Algeria. December 7 - The United Nations Security Council was called into session by the USSR to consider the Soviet demands that the U.N. seek the immediate release of former Congolese Premier Patrice Lumumba. December 9 - French President Charles de Gaulle's visit to Algeria was marked by bloody riots by European and Muslim mobs in Algeria's largest cities, killing 127 people. December 12 - A Federal Court ruling that Louisiana's anti-integration laws were unconstitutional was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. December 13 - While the Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia was on a visit to Brazil, an unsuccessful revolt against his rule is carried out by his Imperial Guard. The rebels proclaim the emperor's son, Crown Prince Asfa-Wossen. December 14 - Antione Gizenga proclaims in Stanleyville in the Republic of the Congo that he has assumed the premiership. December 15 - King Mahendra of Nepal deposes the government and takes power into his own hands December 16 - U.S. Secretary of State Christian Herter announced that the United States would commit five atomic submarines and 80 Polaris missiles to NATO by the end of 1963 December 16 - A collision of a United Airlines DC-8 and a TWA Super-Constellation over New York City killed 128 on planes and 6 on the ground. December 17 - Troops loyal to Haile Selassie I in Ethiopia suppress the revolt that started on December 13 and give power back to their leader upon his return from Brazil. Haile Selassie absolves his son of any guilt. December 19 - Fire sweeps through the USS Constellation, the U.S.'s largest aircraft carrier, while it is under construction at a Brooklyn Navy Yard pier, injuring 150 and killing 50. December 20 - Discoverer XIX is launched into polar orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base, to measure radiation. December 27 - France sets off its third nuclear test blast at its atomic proving grounds at Reggane, Algeria. Year in topic 1960 in film The Apartment Spartacus, directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, John Gavin, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, and Tony Curtis. Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho The Alamo starring John Wayne 1960 in literature 1960 in music 1960 in sports September 9 - First American Football League (AFL) game is played. (Denver Broncos 13, Boston Patriots 10) 1960 in television February 11 - Jack Paar walks off his TV show because his monologue had been edited the night before, in favor of a three minute news update. Parr walked out at the beginning of the show, announced that he was quiting, said "There's got to be a better way to make a living," and walked off the stage. After network executives personally apologized, Parr returned to the show a month later. His first show back started with the words "As I was saying before I was interrupted..." American Presidential Candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon debate live on television. The candidates behavior during the debate most likely altered the outcome of the election. In addition to being the first Presidential debates to be broadcast on television, the debates also marked the first time "split screen" images were used by a network. The Andy Griffith Show premieres Hanna Barbera's The Flintstones make their debut 90% of homes in the United States now own a television set, and over one hundred million television sets in use worldwide Births January-February January 3 - Joan Chen, actress January 4 - Michael Stipe, singer for R.E.M. January 6 - Nigella Lawson, celebrity chef, writer January 6 - Howie Long, American football star January 11 - Stanley Tucci, actor January 12 - Oliver Platt, actor January 13 - Kevin Anderson, actor January 22 - Michael Hutchence, musician ("INXS") (d. 1997) January 24 - Nastassja Kinski, actress January 28 - Robert von Dassanowsky, cultural historian, writer, producer January 29 - Greg Louganis, Olympics gold medalist in diving February 7 - James Spader, actor (Pretty in Pink, Stargate, The Practice) February 11 - Richard Mastracchio, astronaut February 13 - Pierluigi Collina, football referee February 19 - Prince Andrew, second son of Queen Elizabeth II February 29 - Tony Robbins, motivational speaker March-June March 4 - Mykelti Williamson, actor March 7 - Joe Carter, baseball star March 7 - Ivan Lendl, tennis player March 13 - Adam Clayton, bassist for the rock band U2 March 18 - Richard Biggs, actor March 21 - Ayrton Senna, automobile racer (d. 1994) March 24 - Nena Kerner, German singer March 26 - Marcus Allen, American football star March 29 - Marina Sirtis, actress April 2 - Linford Christie, British athlete April 4 - Jane Eaglin, English soprano April 4 - Hugo Weaving, actor April 14 - Brad Garrett, actor April 26 - Roger Taylor, musician ("Duran Duran") May 10 - Bono, singer of U2 May 18 - Jari Kurri, Hockey Hall of Famer May 18 - Yannick Noah, tennis player May 20 - John Billingsley, actor May 21 - Jeffrey Dahmer, serial killer (d. 1994) June 6 - Gary Graham, actor June 8 - Mick Hucknall singer/songwriter of Simply Red August August 4 - José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain August 7 - David Duchovny, actor (The X-Files) August 10 - Antonio Banderas, actor (Desperado, Spy Kids) August 19 - Morten Andersen, American football player August 24 - Cal Ripken, Jr., baseball star August 26 - Branford Marsalis, jazz musician September September 9 - Hugh Grant, English actor September 10 - Colin Firth, actor September 16 - John Franco, baseball relief pitcher September 17 - Damon Hill, 1996 Formula 1 World Champion October October 5 - Daniel Baldwin, actor October 30 - Diego Maradona, soccer player November November 3 - Karch Kiraly, volleyball star November 10 - Neil Gaiman, author November 25 - John F. Kennedy, Jr., lawyer and journalist (d. 1999) November 25 - Amy Grant, contemporary Christian music star December December 4 - Glynis Nunn, Australian heptathlete December 10 - Kenneth Branagh, actor, film director December 19 - Mike Lookinland, television actor December 27 - Maryam d'Abo, actress December 31 - John Allen Muhammad, convicted Beltway sniper Deaths January 4 - Albert Camus, Author, Nobel Prize winner (1957) January 12 - Nevil Shute, writer January 24 - Edwin Fischer, pianist and conductor February February 3 - Fred Buscaglione, Italian singer and actor February 10 - Aloysius Stepinac, Roman Catholic prelate February 11 - Ernst von Dohnanyi, Hungarian conductor (b. 1877) April April 1 - Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad, Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan and 1st Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. May May 8 - J. H. C. Whitehead, British mathematician May 30 - Boris Pasternak, Soviet novelist June June 23 - Frantisek Omelka, Czech pedagogue (b. 1904) June 27 - Lottie Dod, English athlete August August 28 - John O'Hara, U.S. cardinal August 29 - Vicki Baum, Jewish writer September September 1 - Hisamuddin Alam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah, Sultan of Selangor and 2nd Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia September 9 - Jussi Björling, Swedish tenor (b. 1911) October October 15 - Henny Porten, German film producer November November 2 - Dimitri Mitropoulos, Greek conductor, pianist, and composer (b. 1896) November 5 - Mack Sennett, pioneer producer/director Nobel Prizes Physics - Donald Arthur Glaser Chemistry - Willard Frank Libby Medicine - Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet, Peter Brian Medawar Literature - Saint-John Perse Peace - Albert John Luthuli Office holders List of state leaders in 1960 List of religious leaders in 1960 List of international organization leaders in 1960 ast:1960 Most Popular Articles: Music    Musical Instruments    Guitar    Classical Music    History    Music Definition    Country Music    Rock Music    Pop Music    Hip Hop    Rap    DJ    Video Games    Casino Games    Poker    Blackjack    Casinos    Real Estate    Loan    Auction    eBay    Marketing    Search Engine Optimization    File Sharing    MP3    Music Industry    Kazaa    Internet    Supermodel    Fashion    Fashion Designers    Erotica    Modeling    Clothing    Boots    Shoes    Diamond Engagement Rings    Diamond    Rugs    Gospel Music    Affiliate    E-Commerce    Radio This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html You may copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license. 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