1960

Facts and Events That Happened in This Year

Dec 15

The red robin was officially named Britain's National Bird.

Dec 9

The first Domino's Pizza opened in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Dec 2

Paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey discovered a 1.4 million-year-old Homo erectus in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania.

Dec 1

Paul McCartney and Pete Best were arrested.

Nov 14

Ruby Bridges became the first African American girl to take classes at an all-white school in Louisiana.

Nov 4

A chimpanzee was observed for the first time making and using tools.

Oct 13

The US government began its trade embargo against Cuba.

Oct 6

The American epic historical drama movie 'Spartacus' premiered in New York City.

Oct 1

Nigeria, Africa, gained its independence from British rule.

Sep 30

American animated sitcom 'The Flintstones,' which romanticized the Stone Age debuted on ABC.

Aug 19

The Soviets shot down the plane of an American CIA agent, and the pilot was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Aug 16

Cyprus gained its independence from the United Kingdom.

Jul 13

John F. Kennedy was nominated as a presidential candidate by the US Democrats.

Jul 11

Harper Lee's book 'To Kill a Mockingbird' was published by J. B. Lippincott & Co.

Jun 23

The FDA approved the first oral contraceptive pill called Enovid.

Jun 15

The comedy movie 'The Apartment' was released in New York, US.

May 27

Turkish President Celâl Bayar was removed from office by a military coup.

May 10

An atomic submarine circumnavigated the globe.

May 9

The United States became the first country to legalize a birth control pill.

May 6

United States President Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1960.

Apr 21

Brazil founded the city of Brasília and made it the nation's new capital city.

Apr 13

The world's first satellite navigation system, Transit 1-B, was successfully launched from the US.

Apr 9

NASA publicly announced the names of the first 7 American astronauts.

Apr 1

The TIROS satellite transmitted the first-ever TV picture from space.

Mar 28

Stanley Kramer became the first person to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Mar 22

Arthur Schawlow & Charles Townes was granted the first patent for a laser.

Mar 11

NASA launched the Pioneer 5 space probe from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Feb 29

The first Playboy Club opened in Chicago.

Feb 29

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Agadir, Morocco, wiped out a third of the city's population.

Feb 29

The Family Circus Comic Strip by Bill Keane debuted.

Feb 13

France became the fourth nuclear-capable nation following its successful Gerboise Bleue atomic test.

Feb 8

Queen Elizabeth II announced that the Royal family is called Windsor, while her offspring are named Mountbatten-Windsor.

Jan 2

Democratic Senator John F. Kennedy gave a speech announcing that he was running for US President.