1960s Timeline

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Feb 3

Edwin Walker Says Gubernatorial Run Part of Fight Against Communism

Feb. 3, 1962 - Edwin A. Walker (pictured in 1957), former Army major general, said today that his race for Governor of Texas was part of his fight against international communism. “My platform is the need to defend the United States under God in a struggle for survival against international communism,” he said. “With nine million others, I want Texans to lead this fight.” Mr. Walker visited state Democratic headquarters yesterday and presented a $1,000 check to get his name o

Feb 3

Virginia May Revoke Charter of American Nazi Party

Feb. 3, 1962 - A proposal to revoke the Virginia charter of the American Nazi party stirred debate in the state’s House of Delegates this week. Critics questioned whether the measure would set a precedent and whether it would suppress free speech. In debate on Thursday, Delegate C. Harrison Mann Jr., an Arlington lawyer and Marine Corps veteran of World War II, assured them on both points. “It does not,” said Mr. Mann, “limit their operations or suppress free speech. They can

Feb 2

Edwin Walker to Run for Governor of Texas as Democrat

Feb. 2, 1962 - Edwin A. Walker (pictured right with evangelist Billy James Hargis), former Army major general, filed today as a Democratic candidate for Governor of Texas. Among his opponents will be Gov. Price Daniel, who also announced his candidacy today. Mr. Walker, 53, listed his occupation as “soldier” on the official filing application. He flew to Austin today in a private plane and refused to answer most questions asked by reporters. Mr. Walker has been affiliated wit

Feb 2

Romney to Announce Decision on Michigan Governor Run by Feb. 10

Feb. 2, 1962 - The political credo of George Romney, the new hope of Michigan Republicans, is a mixture of strongly conservative views and some unorthodox opinions. Mr. Romney, the 54-year-old president of the American Motor Corporation, is being mentioned as a probable candidate for Governor of Michigan and also as a possibility for the Republican Presidential nomination in 1964. Mr. Romney declines to classify himself as a liberal or a conservative. He says that he does not

Feb 2

Tough Talk from Ike to GOP

Feb. 2, 1962 - Dwight D. Eisenhower warned Republicans last night to overhaul the party’s organization and get rid of incompetents if they hope to win in this year’s Congressional and state elections. The former President received top billing from the Republican National Committee on a closed-circuit television hook-up that linked 16 fund-raising dinners and one public rally. The dinners are intended to raise $1.5 million for the 1962 campaign to win control of the House from

Jan 29

Senator Goldwater Offers Economic Proposals

Jan. 29, 1962 - Senator Barry Goldwater, Republican of Arizona, listed four possible ways today for the U.S. to meet increasing economic competition from overseas. He said the steps were an alternative to President Kennedy’s proposal for closer ties with the European Common Market. Speaking to 1,000 delegates at the National Cotton Council’s convention in New Orleans, Mr. Goldwater suggested: “fiscal responsibility,” in the form of a balanced budget for four or five years; a

Jan 25

Nixon Campaigns in San Francisco

Jan. 25, 1962 - Richard M. Nixon walked through the Mission district of San Francisco today bidding for votes in his campaign for Governor. The former Vice President stopped passers-by, shook hands, spoke a few words of Spanish, and generally left a trail of smiles. “He’s terrific” and “a great guy” were heard as the Republican candidate invaded the home city of Gov. Edmund G. Brown. Last night, the Democratic Governor assailed Mr. Nixon at a party dinner, in which the Govern

Jan 25

Texas Senator Yarborough Won't Run for Governor

Jan. 25, 1962 - Texas Senator Ralph Yarborough (pictured far left in 1960) took himself out of his state’s gubernatorial race today. The Democratic Senator said that President Kennedy’s advice had been a factor in his decision. He added, however, that the President’s position on his possible candidacy had not been “overriding.” Mr. Yarborough told a news conference that the President telephoned him in December to discuss the gubernatorial question. It was also in December tha

Jan 24

California Governor Brown Formally Declares Candidacy for Re-election, Hits Nixon

Jan. 24, 1962 - California Governor Edmund G. Brown (pictured center in 1959) formally became a Democratic candidate for a second term today with an attack on former Vice President Nixon. In a speech, Gov. Brown accused Mr. Nixon of having labeled Sacramento, the state capital, as merely “a whistle stop on the line to Washington.” The Governor declared that Californians would not permit Mr. Nixon “to convert the Governor’s chair into Nixon-for-President national headquarters.

Jan 17

Police Commissioner Eugene "Bull" Connor to Seek Nomination for Governor of Alabama

Jan. 17, 1962 - Police Commissioner Eugene “Bull” Connor (pictured) said today that he would seek the nomination for Governor of Alabama in the May 1 Democratic primary. He indicated that the racial issue would be in the fore of his campaign. Mr. Connor, a segregationist, said that Alabama “needs a Governor in the coming four years whom the people can trust completely on this racial issue, one who will do everything that can be done to stop the slaughter of the right of the s

Jan 16

U.S. Army Withdraws Tanks from Berlin Border

Jan. 16, 1962 - The U.S. Army has begun withdrawing its armored guard, including 15 tanks, from a camp on the Friedrichstrasse on the border between West and East Berlin. The move, which began last night, was described today by sources as a gesture to the Soviet Union to “normalize” the Berlin situation. An Army spokesman said the purpose of withdrawing the armored infantry task force to Tempelhof Airfield, about two miles from the border, was “to improve the disposition of U

Jan 16

Former Gov. Knight Withdraws from California Race, Boost for Nixon

Jan. 16, 1962 - Former Gov. Goodwin J. Knight (pictured left in 1958) withdrew today from the California gubernatorial race because of ill health. His action removed a major obstacle to former Vice President Nixon’s bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Mr. Nixon expressed “sympathy and best wishes” for Mr. Knight. Gov. Edmund G. Brown, a Democrat, was elected in 1958 after Mr. Knight had been maneuvered out of a bid for re-election by Republican intra-party jockey

Jan 13

Goldwater Urges Conservatism for Republican Party

Jan. 13, 1962 - Senator Barry Goldwater urged Republican party workers today to shape a clearly conservative image for the party. The Arizona conservative was the final speaker at a two-day meeting of the Republican National Committee in Oklahoma City. “The Republican Party has failed to present to this nation a solid political organization unequivocally committed to an easily definable political philosophy,” Mr. Goldwater said. He assailed “two-faced images.” He said the par

Jan 10

John W. McCormack Elected Speaker of the House

Jan. 10, 1962 - The election-year session of the 87th Congress opened today. The chief event was the election of John W. McCormack (right) of Massachusetts as Speaker of the House, succeeding the late Sam Rayburn. After short meetings, both chambers adjourned to await President Kennedy’s State of the Union Message in a joint session at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow. Mr. McCormack took the oath as Speaker from Representative Carl Vinson, Democrat of Georgia. He had asked Mr. Vinson to s

Jan 9

Nixon Responds to Governor Brown's Charges

Jan. 9, 1962 - Former Vice President Nixon said today that both Democrats and Republicans needed “responsible leadership which will avoid the extremes of the far left and the far right.” His remarks, in partial reply to charges by Gov. Edmund G. Brown, were prepared for delivery at a birthday dinner at Whittier College. Mr. Nixon, 49 years old today, was guest of honor at his alma mater. Governor Brown charged yesterday that Mr. Nixon was soft on the John Birch Society and ex

Jan 8

California Gov. Brown Hits Nixon for "Courting Radicals of the Right"

Jan. 8, 1962 - Gov. Edmund G. Brown (pictured in 1958) of California charged former Vice President Nixon today with courting political support of the John Birch Society and other “radicals of the right.” Governor Brown, a Democrat, told a National Press Club audience that right-wing extremists had become a strong political force in California and threatened to take control of the Republican party organization. A fear of communism had caused many Californians to lose sight of

Dec 31, 2021

Kennedy and Khrushchev Exchange New Year's Greetings

Dec. 31, 1961 - President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev, in an exchange of New Year’s greetings made public today, assured each other of a firm resolve to find a durable peace in 1962. Wishing the Russian people “a peaceful and prosperous New Year,” Mr. Kennedy expressed the hope that 1962 “will bring an improvement in the relations between our countries, upon which so much depends.” The Soviet Premier wished “peace and happiness” to all Americans and to the President and hi

Dec 29, 2021

Former First Lady Edith Wilson is Dead

Dec. 29, 1961 - Mrs. Edith Wilson (pictured in 1915), the former First Lady, died last night at the stately Washington townhouse that became her home when she and the World War I President left the White House more than 40 years ago. She was 89 years old. Mrs. Wilson, who had no children, married the President when he was serving his first term. She shared many of Wilson’s political and wartime trials and finally, acting as intermediary between him and his associates during h

Dec 27, 2021

World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan to Go Forward

Dec. 27, 1961 - The end of a long-standing legislative impasse between New York and New Jersey appeared imminent today. Governor-elect Richard J. Hughes (pictured with President Kennedy in October), meeting with the Democratic majority in the 1962 State Assembly, won its unqualified endorsement of legislation that would enable the Port of New York Authority to erect a World Trade Center in lower Manhattan and to purchase and operate the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad. The legi

Dec 27, 2021

President Passes Physical Exam

Dec. 27, 1961 - President Kennedy passed his physical examination today with high marks, but did not quite make straight A’s. The President is in “excellent general health” and exercises have strengthened his back, the official bulletin said, but he is not yet in shape for vigorous physical activity. Dr. Preston Wade of the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, whose principal field is orthopedics, made the examination of the President. The President strained a muscle in