1968

Facts and Events That Happened in This Year

Dec 30

Frank Sinatra first recorded 'My Way,' with lyrics written by Paul Anka based on the French song 'Comme d'habitude.'

Dec 28

The first major rock festival held on America's east coast took place.

Dec 24

The crew of NASA's Apollo 8 became the first humans to enter the Moon's orbit.

Dec 23

After eleven months of imprisonment, 83 men from the US Navy were released by North Korea.

Dec 21

The first manned Moon voyage, the Apollo 8, launched with Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders.

Dec 20

The Zodiac Killer claimed two more victims.

Dec 12

Arthur Ashe became the first black person to be ranked number one in tennis.

Dec 10

One of the biggest heists in Japan occurred.

Nov 14

Dr. Fritz Derom performed a successful single-lung transplantation on patient Aloïs Vereecken at the University Hospital in Ghent, Belgium.

Nov 6

Richard Milhous Nixon won the election and became the 37th President of the United States.

Oct 26

The Soyuz 3 spacecraft achieved the first Soviet space rendezvous with Soyuz 2.

Oct 18

Gold medalist Tommie Smith was suspended for performing the Black Power salute during the Olympics.

Oct 14

Queen Elizabeth II officially reopened London's Euston Railway Station.

Oct 9

A 2,000-strong student protest against police brutality broke out in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Oct 1

Night of the Living Dead was released in US cinemas.

Sep 30

The Supremes released their hit single 'Love Child.'

Sep 15

The Soviet Union launched Zond 5, the first spacecraft to successfully circle the moon and return to earth.

Sep 6

Swaziland gained independence from the United Kingdom.

Aug 26

The Beatles released one of their all-time hits, Hey Jude, in the US.

Jul 29

Pope Paul VI declared the prohibition of birth control.

Jul 20

Jane Asher broke up her engagement to Paul McCartney live on television.

Jul 20

Single 'In-a-gadda-da-vida' by Iron Butterfly became the first heavy metal song to hit the charts.

Jun 15

John Lennon and Yoko Ono planted acorns for world peace after also mailing acorns to many world leaders to do the same.

Jun 8

Senator Robert Kennedy was laid to rest.

Jun 5

Sirhan Sirhan assassinated Robert F. Kennedy, the late President Kennedy's younger brother.

Jun 3

Canada announced that silver coins would be replaced with nickel.

May 29

Manchester United became the first English football team to win the European Cup.

May 8

Jim ''Catfish" Hunter of the Oakland Athletics pitched the ninth perfect game, defeating the Minnesota Twins (4-0).

Apr 23

Bishop Reuben H. Mueller founded the United Methodist Church.

Apr 11

The Civil Rights Act was enacted in the US after being signed by President Lyndon B.

Apr 9

Martin Luther King Jr. was laid to rest in Atlanta, Georgia.

Apr 4

Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

Apr 2

The '2001: A Space Odyssey' sci-fi movie premiered in Washington, DC.

Mar 17

The Bee Gees made their first appearance on TV, performing 'Words' and 'To Love Somebody' on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Mar 16

Democratic Senator Robert F. Kennedy started his presidential campaign.

Mar 15

Jimi Hendrix was declared the ''most spectacular guitarist in the world" by LIFE magazine.

Mar 7

Newsroom on BBC2 switched to color, making it the first color news in the UK.

Feb 16

The first-ever 911 call was made in the US.

Feb 8

Planet of the Apes hit the theatres in New York City.

Jan 13

Johnny Cash recorded his iconic live album, At Folsom Prison.