In 1961

The year was 1961.

In Politics

John F Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States and the youngest man ever elected to office. He was determined to restore the prestige and power of the United States, which he felt had eroded during Eisenhower's watch and to stop the expansionism of the Soviet Union. He proposed an "Alliance for Progress" between the U.S. and Latin America. He also proposed putting a man on the moon. Alan Shepard had already become the first American in space and Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth. In Germany, construction began on the Berlin Wall, which divided East and West Germany and became a symbol of the Cold War.  Meanwhile, The United States and the Soviet Union came close to armed conflict after the U.S. blockaded Cuba to prevent the Soviets from delivering nuclear warheads.

In Entertainment

The Supremes were signed by Motown who had recently sold a million copies of “Shop Around" by The Shirelles who became the first Black all-girl group to top the Hot 100! Also in entertainment The top-grossing films in the United States in 1961 were: West Side Story, The Guns of Navarone, El Cid, The Parent Trap and The Absent-Minded Professor. The top-rated television programs in 1961–62 were: Wagon Train, Bonanza, Gunsmoke and Hazel. In books, Where the Red Fern Grows was written by by Wilson Rawls. At the Oscars: Moon River a song by Andy Williams won best song while the movie West Side Story won the most Oscars at the 1961 Academy Awards, winning 10 of its 11 nominations, including Best Picture.

In Consumerism

Consumer products that were launched in 1961 include Coffee Mate, CoverGirl, Fritos, Grecian Formula, Head & Shoulders, the IBM Selectric typewriter, Life (cereal), Magic tape, Mrs. Butterworth's, PAM (cooking spray), Pampers, Sprite, and Total (cereal). Ken (Barbie Male Doll) and Sensodyne toothpaste. Cars that came out in 1961 included The Buick Skylark, Chevrolet Chevy II, Fiat 1300/1500, Ford Thunderbird, Mercedes-Benz W112 and the Pontiac Grand Prix.

In Remembrance

On Feb. 15, 1961, a commercial aircraft carrying all 18 members of the U.S. figure skating team, who were headed to a competition in Prague, crashed near the Brussels airport, killing everyone on board. Six coaches were also on the plane, along with four officials and six of the group's family members. In total, 73 people died in the accident — the 72 people on Sabena Flight 548 and an additional person on the ground. Then-President John F. Kennedy addressed the loss in a statement from the White House. Outlets covered the crash extensively, calling out the blue skies over Brussels that day and the unknown cause, which remains a mystery 60 years later.

In Houston, Texas

Sam Harty was born on December 31st, 1961. Of course she was naturally adorable and came out with a pen in her hand and told the male doctor to fuck off!! (joking! lol)

In Summary

1961 was a significant year marked by the inauguration of John F. Kennedy as the US President, the start of the space race with Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becoming the first human in space, the construction of the Berlin Wall, the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba, and the increasing involvement of the US in the Vietnam War, all amidst heightened Cold War tensions; it also saw the beginning of the Civil Rights movement with Freedom Riders challenging segregation in the South, and......... SAM WAS BORN!!! YAY!!

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Thanks for reading this I know it was "so very interesting" (note sarcasm) of a read! - Sam