Fidel Castro banned elections and declared Cuba to be a socialist nation.
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Despite running out of oxygen, Jim Whittaker became the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Construction started on Chicago's first-ever skyscraper for the Home Insurance Company of New York.
Mr. Potato Head was officially released, originally only consisting of the accessories which were stuck in an actual potato.
General Mills introduced Cheerios.
Levi Strauss was founded.
