The year was 1961 and this is what was going on in the world:
1) Music
Some of the hot songs for 1961 included:
Patsy Cline, “I fall to Pieces”
Bobby Lewis, “Tossin’ and Turnin’”
Dion, “Runaround Sue”
The Shirelles, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”
2) Politics
On January 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as President of the United States. This was where he made his famous statement, “ask not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country”
The Bay of Pigs was a failed military invasion of Cuba that was under taken by the CIA. This failed invasion would last from April 17-19, 1961.
Civil rights were more at the forefront than ever. The Freedom Riders were civil rights activist who rode buses into the segregated south in the US. The purpose of the riders was to challenge the non-enforcement of the United States Supreme Court decisions Irene Morgan v Commonwealth of Virginia. Far from an easy undertaking, many Freedom Riders were beaten and worse during their journey. Heading from Washington DC to New Orleans, the Freedom Riders were successful in campaigning for laws that would make segregation illegal.
Constructed by the German Democratic Republic in August of 1961, the wall cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin.
3) Books
Catch 22 was a novel written by Joseph Heller and is widely considered one of the greatest literary of works of the 20th Century. The story takes place during World War II and follows the life of Captain John Yossarian, a US Army Air Force B-25 bombardier.
4) Major Events
Some say 1961 was the year of the great space race, and it’s easy to see why.
Yuri Gagarin cosmonaut would be the first human being to circle Earth in space in 1961.
Alan Shepard would be the first American to travel to space.
5) Sports
Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s World Record during the 1961 season with 61 home runs, breaking Babe Ruth’s single season record of 60 home runs.
6) Movies
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
This film was a romantic comedy from Paramount Pictures. The film was based on a novel by Truman Capote and starred Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard.
West Side Story
This Romantic musical drama film was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robins. It was based on a 1957 Broadway musical, which was inspired by William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. The music was by Leonard Bernstein.