Year 1969 in History

Apollo 11 Moon Landing

NASA's Apollo 11 mission successfully lands the first humans on the Moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first people to walk on the lunar surface.

space exploration

Jack Kent Cooke, owner of the NHL's LA Kings, fines each player $100 for not arguing with the referees

Atlantic Records releases Led Zeppelin’s eponymous debut album in the United States

The Palestine National Congress appoints Yasser Arafat chairman of the PLO

Yasser Arafat (August 1929 – 11 November 2004), also popularly known by his kunya Abu Ammar, was a Palestinian political leader.

United States population reaches 200 million

The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America.

The film "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," based on the novel by Muriel Spark, directed by Ronald Neame and starring Magg

The film "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," based on the novel by Muriel Spark, directed by Ronald Neame and starring Maggie Smith (Academy Award Best Actress), premieres in London

New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle announces his retirement due to persistent knee injuries and finishes an 18-season

New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle announces his retirement due to persistent knee injuries and finishes an 18-season career with 536 home runs and a .298 batting average

Beatle Paul McCartney (26) marries American photographer Linda Eastman (27) at Marylebone Register's Office in London

Sir James Paul McCartney is an English musician. He gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he was the bassist and keyboardist, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John...

Greek poet and Nobel Prize laureate Giorgos Seferis makes a famous statement on the BBC World Service opposing the junta

Greek poet and Nobel Prize laureate Giorgos Seferis makes a famous statement on the BBC World Service opposing the junta in Greece

The Internet's symbolic birth date: publication of RFC 1

The Internet (or internet) is the global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices.

Milwaukee Bucks sign #1 NBA Draft pick, star UCLA center Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an American former basketball player. He played professionally for 20 seasons for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and…

American movie actress Lana Turner (48) weds 7th husband, hypnotist Ronald Pellar (39); divorce in 1972

British comedy troupe Monty Python forms, made up of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones,

British comedy troupe Monty Python forms, made up of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin

MLB legend Mickey Mantle gives his farewell retirement speech during "Mickey Mantle Day" at Yankee Stadium as 60,096 fan

MLB legend Mickey Mantle gives his farewell retirement speech during "Mickey Mantle Day" at Yankee Stadium as 60,096 fans see #7 retired

"The Wild Bunch", directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring William Holden and Ernest Borgnine, is released

The Wild Bunch is a 1969 American epic revisionist Western film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Edmond O'Brien, Ben Johnson and Warren Oates.

,000 attend Newport '69, then largest-ever pop concert in Northridge, California. Jimi Hendrix paid $120,000 to perform.

David Bowie releases the single "Space Oddity" nine days before Apollo 11 lands on the moon

"Easy Rider", directed by Dennis Hopper, starring himself, Peter Fonda, and Jack Nicholson, is released

Easy Rider is a 1969 American road drama film written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Terry Southern. It was produced by Fonda and directed by Hopper.

NASA's Apollo 11 lunar module, carrying Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, lands on the surface of the Moon. Seven hours la

NASA's Apollo 11 lunar module, carrying Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, lands on the surface of the Moon. Seven hours later, Armstrong becomes the first person to step on the moon at 10:56 pm EDT, and Aldrin joins him shortly after. Michael Collins remains in orbit in the command module. [1]

British Army deploys on the streets of Northern Ireland, beginning Operation Banner

Woodstock Festival opens in Bethel, New York, on Max Yasgur's dairy farm; performers include Richie Havens, Tim Hardin,

Woodstock Festival opens in Bethel, New York, on Max Yasgur's dairy farm; performers include Richie Havens, Tim Hardin, Ravi Shankar, Melanie, Arlo Guthrie, and Joan Baez

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi deposes King Idris in the Libyan Revolution

Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi (1942 – 20 October 2011) was a Libyan military officer, revolutionary, politician, and political theorist who ruled Libya from 1969 until his overthrow by...

"Scooby-Doo Where are You" by Hanna-Barbera debuts on CBS in the US

Scooby-Doo (often written as Scooby-Doo!) is an American media franchise owned by Warner Bros.

Actor Rod Taylor (39) divorces model Mary Hilem after 5 years of marriage

Virtual cartoon band The Archies' single "Sugar, Sugar" hits #1

Apple Records releases The Beatles' 11th studio album "Abbey Road," their final recordings as a quartet, topping the cha

Apple Records releases The Beatles' 11th studio album "Abbey Road," their final recordings as a quartet, topping the charts in eleven countries

"Jesus Christ Superstar" soundtrack album by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice is recorded

Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1970 album musical written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, and the debut of the rock opera of the same name.

Millions nationwide protest against the Vietnam War on Moratorium Day in the US

The Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam was a massive demonstration and teach-in across the United States against the United States involvement in the Vietnam War.

The Beatles' "Abbey Road" album goes #1 in the US and stays #1 for 11 weeks

Children's educational television series "Sesame Street" premieres on PBS TV

An estimated 2 million people take part in the Vietnam War Moratorium demonstration across the United States

The Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam was a massive demonstration and teach-in across the United States against the United States involvement in the Vietnam War.

Apollo 12's Charles Conrad and Alan Bean become the 3rd and 4th humans on the Moon

Isolation of a single gene is announced by scientists at Harvard University

Four-node ARPANET network is established between the University of California, Los Angeles, Stanford Research Institute,

Four-node ARPANET network is established between the University of California, Los Angeles, Stanford Research Institute, U.C. Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah

,000 attend a free concert featuring The Rolling Stones in Altamont, California; the event is marred by violence and fou

,000 attend a free concert featuring The Rolling Stones in Altamont, California; the event is marred by violence and four deaths

Benjamin Mays is named president of the Atlanta Board of Education

Benjamin Elijah Mays (August 1, 1894 – March 28, 1984) was an American Baptist minister and civil rights leader who is credited with laying the intellectual foundations of the American civil rights...

Adam Clayton Powell Jr returns to seat in US House of Representatives, having been re-elected after previously being exp

Adam Clayton Powell Jr returns to seat in US House of Representatives, having been re-elected after previously being expelled from Congress

John Lennon and Yoko Ono's album "Two Virgins" is declared obscene in New Jersey

A People's Democracy march between Belfast and Derry is repeatedly attacked by loyalists and off-duty police officers

Bollingen prize for poetry presented to John Berryman and Karl Shapiro

Dance Theatre of Harlem ballet school opens in a church basement

Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and 110th...

First test flight of the Concorde supersonic jetliner in Bristol, England

Concorde is a retired Anglo-French supersonic airliner jointly developed and manufactured by Sud Aviation and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). Studies began in 1954 and a UK–France treaty...

Pirate Radio Station Free Derby begins operation by Northern Ireland

"Hooked on a Feeling" by BJ Thomas peaks at #5

"Hooked on a Feeling" is a 1968 pop song written by Mark James and first recorded by American singer B. J. Thomas.

25 members of US aircraft carrier Enterprise die during maneuvers

Nuclear test at Pacific Ocean

Jan Palach, a Czech student, self-immolates in protest after the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia

Jan Palach was a Czech student of history and political economics at Charles University in Prague.

Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 5 lands

Expanded 4 party Vietnam peace talks began in Paris

The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of...

A partial meltdown at the Lucens nuclear reactor in Switzerland seriously contaminating the cavern containing the reacto

A partial meltdown at the Lucens nuclear reactor in Switzerland seriously contaminating the cavern containing the reactor; the plant is sealed and decommissioned

Orbiting Solar Observatory 5 launched into earth orbit

The Orbiting Solar Observatory (abbreviated OSO) Program was the name of a series of American space telescopes primarily intended to study the Sun, though they also included important non-solar...

Cream releases their last album "Goodbye"

US-North Vietnamese peace talks begin in Paris

The Paris Peace Accords (Vietnamese: Hiệp định Paris về Việt Nam, lit. 'Paris Treaty about Vietnam'), officially the Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Viet-Nam (Hiệp định về chấm dứt...

Minister of Health and Social Services William Morgan resigns from the Northern Ireland government

The National Health Service (NHS) is the collective term for the four separate publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom: the National Health Service (England), NHS Scotland, NHS...

14 spies hanged in Baghdad

Sheahan & Connolly hang on for exciting draw Australia v West Indies

The Beatles perform their last live gig, a 42-minute concert on the roof of Apple Corps HQ in London, England

Vice Admiral Rufus L Taylor, USN, ends term as deputy director of CIA

KMST TV channel 46 in Monterey-Salinas, CA (CBS) begins broadcasting

Ibuprofen launches in the UK under the brand name Brufen as a prescription medicine, now the world's most popular anti-i

Ibuprofen launches in the UK under the brand name Brufen as a prescription medicine, now the world's most popular anti-inflammatory painkiller [1]

41,163, then largest NBA crowd, watches doubleheader Cin-Det, SD-Bost

John Madden is named head coach of NFL's Oakland Raiders

The 1969 Oakland Raiders season was the team's tenth as a franchise, and tenth in both Oakland and the American Football League.

"Turn-On," debuts and cancelled by ABC after flopping so badly

A&M Records releases "The Gilded Palace of Sin", the debut studio album by American country-rock band The Flying Burrito

A&M Records releases "The Gilded Palace of Sin", the debut studio album by American country-rock band The Flying Burrito Brothers; Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman's fusion of modern country, psychedelic rock, and folk music was a favorite of critics, but not a commercial success

Last edition of American magazine "Saturday Evening Post"

The Saturday Evening Post is an American magazine published six times a year. It was first published in 1821, and published weekly from 1897 until 1963. It was published every other week until 1969.

1st flight of the Boeing 747 jumbo jet

Louisiana State University's Pete Maravich scores 66, despite his team losing to Tulane 101-94

The 1969–70 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1969–70 NCAA University Division college basketball season.

Dorey Funk Jr beats Gene Kiniski in Tampa, to become NWA champ

"Cloud Nine" 9th studio album by The Temptations is released (Grammy Award Best Rhythm & Blues Performance by a Duo or G

"Cloud Nine" 9th studio album by The Temptations is released (Grammy Award Best Rhythm & Blues Performance by a Duo or Group 1969, Billboard Album of the Year 1969)

Doug Walters scores 2nd innings century after 242 in 1st

1st launching of heavy N-1 rocket at Baikonur Kazakhstan (explodes)

The N1 (from Ракета-носитель Raketa-nositel', "Carrier Rocket"; Cyrillic: Н1) was a super heavy-lift launch vehicle intended to deliver payloads beyond low Earth orbit.

Barbara Jo Rubin becomes 1st female jockey to win at an American parimutuel race at a major US track aboard Cohesian at

Barbara Jo Rubin becomes 1st female jockey to win at an American parimutuel race at a major US track aboard Cohesian at Charles Town, West Virginia

11th Daytona 500: LeeRoy Yarbrough driving for Junior Johnson, catches Charlie Glotzbach on final lap to win; first Dayt

11th Daytona 500: LeeRoy Yarbrough driving for Junior Johnson, catches Charlie Glotzbach on final lap to win; first Daytona 500 won on a last lap pass

Mariner 6 launched for Mars flyby to study planet's atmosphere

Mariner 6 launched for fly-by of Mars

Mariner 6 and Mariner 7 (Mariner Mars 69A and Mariner Mars 69B) were two uncrewed NASA robotic spacecraft that completed the first dual mission to Mars in 1969 as part of NASA's wider Mariner...

Ice Dance Championship at Colorado Springs won by Towler & Ford of Great Britain

Diane Margaret Towler MBE married Green, is an English former ice dancer and currently a figure skating coach.

After 88 weeks, the Beatles' album "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" drops off the charts

1st test flight of the supersonic Concorde

Concorde is a retired Anglo-French supersonic airliner jointly developed and manufactured by Sud Aviation and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). Studies began in 1954 and a UK–France treaty...

Apollo 9 launched for 151 Earth orbits (10 days)

Apollo 9 (March 3–13, 1969) was the third human spaceflight in NASA's Apollo program, which successfully tested systems and procedures critical to landing on the Moon.

London East End gang bosses twins Ronnie Kray and Reggie Kray are found guilty of murder; both will die in custody

Gustav Heinemann elected President of West Germany

Gustav Walter Heinemannf ˈhaɪnəman] ; 23 July 1899 – 7 July 1976) was a German politician who was President of West Germany from 1969 to 1974.

USSR performs nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeast Kazakhstan

Apollo 9 returns to Earth

Apollo 9 (March 3–13, 1969) was the third human spaceflight in NASA's Apollo program, which successfully tested systems and procedures critical to landing on the Moon.

Barbara Jo Rubin becomes first female jockey to win at Aqueduct Racetrack, NYC aboard 2-year-old bay Bravy Galaxy at 13

Barbara Jo Rubin becomes first female jockey to win at Aqueduct Racetrack, NYC aboard 2-year-old bay Bravy Galaxy at 13 to 1

Boston Bruins scores a NHL record 8 goals in 1 period

The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference.

British invade Anguilla

US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site

The Nevada National Security Sites, popularized as the Nevada Test Site (NTS) until 2010, is a reservation of the United States Department of Energy located in the southeastern portion of Nye County,...

Rally for Decency in Miami

Francis Turner is sworn in as the director of the Federal Highway Administration

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation.

"Marcus Welby, M.D.", starring Robert Young and James Brolin debuts as a TV movie on ABC-TV, prior to becoming a weekly

"Marcus Welby, M.D.", starring Robert Young and James Brolin debuts as a TV movie on ABC-TV, prior to becoming a weekly series

Black Academy of Arts & Letters forms in Boston

Communist New People's Army founded in the Philippines

The New People's Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Loyalists bomb water and electricity installations in Northern Ireland in the hope that the attacks would be blamed on t

Loyalists bomb water and electricity installations in Northern Ireland in the hope that the attacks would be blamed on the IRA and on elements of the civil rights movement, which was demanding an end to discrimination against Catholics

Royal Canadian Mint formally forms as a Crown Corporation

The Royal Mint is the United Kingdom's official maker of British coins. It is currently located in Llantrisant, Wales, where it moved in 1968.

Toronto center Forbes Kennedy sets a Stanley Cup playoff record for most penalties in one game with 8 as the Maple Leafs

Toronto center Forbes Kennedy sets a Stanley Cup playoff record for most penalties in one game with 8 as the Maple Leafs crash 10-0 to the Bruins at Boston; Boston’s first NHL playoff victory in 10 years

Vietnam War: U.S. Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird announces that the United States will start a policy of "Vietnamizat

Vietnam War: U.S. Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird announces that the United States will start a policy of "Vietnamization", reducing American involvement

CBS-TV abruptly cancels "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" three weeks after renewing it, citing the program's failure

CBS-TV abruptly cancels "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" three weeks after renewing it, citing the program's failure to provide advance screening for review before airing [1]

Massive anti-Vietnam War demonstrations occur in many U.S. cities

The involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War began in the 1950s and greatly escalated in 1965 until its withdrawal in 1973. The U.S.

Dodgers' Bill Singer is credited with 1st official save, against Reds

Expansion teams Royals, Expos, Padres & Pilots win their 1st games

The 1969 San Diego Padres season was the inaugural season in franchise history. They joined the National League along with the Montreal Expos via the 1969 Major League Baseball expansion.

1st flight of Concorde 002 (Filton-Bristol)

Concorde is a retired Anglo-French supersonic airliner jointly developed and manufactured by Sud Aviation and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). Studies began in 1954 and a UK–France treaty...

Simon & Garfunkel releases "Boxer"

"The Boxer" is a song written by Paul Simon and recorded by the American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their fifth and final studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970).

Closure of the Brisbane tramway network.

The Brisbane tramway network served the city of Brisbane, Australia, between 1885 and 1969. It ran on standard gauge track.

Greek actress and activist Melina Mercouri establishes Greek Aid Fund

Serious rioting in the Bogside area of Derry following clashes between Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association marcher

Serious rioting in the Bogside area of Derry following clashes between Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association marchers and Loyalists and members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary

23rd Tony Awards: "The Great White Hope" (play) & "1776" (musical) win

The 23rd Annual Tony Awards was broadcast by NBC television on April 20, 1969, from the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York City. Hosts were Diahann Carroll and Alan King.

The Ministry of Defence in London announces that British troops would be used in Northern Ireland to guard key public in

The Ministry of Defence in London announces that British troops would be used in Northern Ireland to guard key public installations following a series of bombings

Over 1000 square miles flooded in Shantung Province, China

Car firm British Leyland launch the Austin Maxi in Oporto Portugal

5,400th & last episode of BBC Radio serial "The Dales" (formerly "Mrs Dale's Diary")

Firestone World Bowling Tournament (Mercury Open) won by Jim Godman

James William Godman (January 5, 1946 – May 3, 2001) was an American professional bowler who won eleven titles on the Professional Bowlers Tour, and was the first bowler to win the prestigious...

British progressive rock band King Crimson with Robert Fripp, Greg Lake & Ian McDonald debuts

King Crimson are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 by Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald and Peter Sinfield.

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jim Maloney records his second MLB no-hitter in 10-0 rout of Houston Astros

Cambodia recognizes the German Democratic Republic (East Germany)

East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from its formation on 7 October 1949 until its reunification with West Germany (Federal Republic of...

BPAA All-Star Bowling Tournament won by Billy Hardwick

Pilot Ken Wallis achieves record speed for autogyros - 179 KPH

Race riots, later known as the May 13 Incident, take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a federal territory of Malaysia.

Abortion & contraception legalized in Canada

Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. The unmodified word abortion generally refers to induced abortion, or deliberate actions to end a pregnancy.

Associate Justice Abe Fortas resigns from Supreme Court

Abraham Fortas (June 19, 1910 – April 5, 1982) was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1965 to 1969.

"My Wife, My Dog, My Cat" by Maskman & The Agents hits #92

Apollo 10 launches from Kennedy Space Center and later transmits the 1st color pictures of Earth from space

The Space Race was a 20th-century competition between the Cold War rivals, the United States and the Soviet Union, to achieve superior spaceflight capability.

US troop capture Hill 937/Hamburger Hill in Vietnam

The Battle of Hamburger Hill (13–20 May 1969) was fought by US Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) forces against People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces during Operation Apache Snow of...

Stafford & Cernan pilot Apollo 10 LEM 9.4 mi(15km) above lunar surface

22nd Cannes Film Festival: "If..." directed by Lindsay Anderson wins the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film

"Sugar, Sugar" single released by cartoon band The Archies (Billboard Song of the Year, 1969)

"Sugar, Sugar" is a song written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim, produced by Barry and recorded by the Archies, a fictional bubblegum pop band from Archie Comics.

Apollo 10 astronauts return to Earth

Apollo 10 (May 18–26, 1969) was the fourth human spaceflight in the United States' Apollo program and the second to orbit the Moon.

Atlantic Records releases the eponymous debut album of "Crosby, Stills & Nash"; it contains hits 'Marrakesh Express' an

Atlantic Records releases the eponymous debut album of "Crosby, Stills & Nash"; it contains hits 'Marrakesh Express' and 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes'

Australian Derek Clayton runs world record marathon (2:08:33.6) at Antwerp, Belgium; record disputed (short course)

Tobacco advertising is banned on Canadian radio & TV

Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne slices US destroyer USS Frank E Evans in half, killing 74 (South Vietnam)

22-year-old man sneaks into wheel pod of a jet parked in Havana and survives 9-hr flight to Spain despite thin oxygen le

22-year-old man sneaks into wheel pod of a jet parked in Havana and survives 9-hr flight to Spain despite thin oxygen levels at 29,000 ft

Dutch Antilles government of Kroon resigns

"The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" variety show last airs on CBS-TV [1]

Variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including musical performances, sketch comedy, magic, acrobatics, juggling, and...

"Hee Haw" with Roy Clark & Buck Owens premieres on CBS TV

Hee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with the fictional rural "Kornfield Kounty" as the backdrop. It aired from 1969 to 1993.

US Supreme Court rules suspension of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr from House of Representatives violated Article I of the Con

US Supreme Court rules suspension of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr from House of Representatives violated Article I of the Constitution by citing reasons beyond the exclusive list of qualifications in the article [1]

State troopers ordered to Cairo Ill, to quell racial disturbances

1st reported hearing of pirate radio WGHP (With God's Help Peace)

Cleveland's Cuyahoga River catches fire due to pollution

24 Africans from the Graaff-Reinet district, Cape Province, appear in the Grahamstown Supreme Court on charges under the

24 Africans from the Graaff-Reinet district, Cape Province, appear in the Grahamstown Supreme Court on charges under the Sabotage Act; alleged they had conspired or incited others to kill White people or police

American Pancho González (41) beats Puerto Rican Charlie Pasarell (25) in 5 hour and 12 minute, 112-game marathon at Wim

American Pancho González (41) beats Puerto Rican Charlie Pasarell (25) in 5 hour and 12 minute, 112-game marathon at Wimbledon

John Hampshire scores 107 on Test cricket debut v WI at Lord's

1st Jewish worship service at the White House

In South Africa, General Laws Amendment Bill is passed; the Bill contains far-reaching provisions and restrictions affec

In South Africa, General Laws Amendment Bill is passed; the Bill contains far-reaching provisions and restrictions affecting the administration of justice and the disclosure of evidence

American guitarist Leslie West and producer, bassist Felix Pappalardi form rock group Mountain

Mountain was an American rock band formed on Long Island, New York, in 1969. Originally consisting of vocalist-guitarist Leslie West, bassist-vocalist Felix Pappalardi, keyboardist Steve Knight, and...

"Give Peace a Chance" single by John Lennon & Plastic Ono Band is released in UK

"Give Peace a Chance" is an anti-war song written by John Lennon (originally credited to Lennon–McCartney), and recorded with the participation of a small group of friends in a performance with Yoko...

Rolling Stones play a free concert in London's Hyde Park

Canada's House of Commons approves equality of French-English language

IBM CICS is made generally available for the 360 mainframe computer

Chilean Association of Librarians created

During the "marching season," serious rioting occurs in Derry, Belfast, and Dungiven, forcing many families in Belfast t

During the "marching season," serious rioting occurs in Derry, Belfast, and Dungiven, forcing many families in Belfast to leave their homes

Cincinnati Red Lee May hits four home runs in a doubleheader

Minnesota Twins' Rod Carew steals home for his career best 7th time of the season, against Chicago

The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division.

Russia's Luna 15 impacts moon after 52 lunar orbits

Luna 15 was a robotic space mission of the Soviet Luna programme that was in lunar orbit at the same time as the Apollo 11 spacecraft. On 21 July 1969, while Apollo 11 astronauts finished the first...

USSR performs nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeast Kazakhstan

Sharon Sites Adams, 39, becomes the first woman to solo sail the Pacific

Mariner 6 begins transmitting distant-encounter photos of Mars

Astros Denis Menke and Jim Wynn hit grand slams in the ninth inning against the Mets

The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West Division.

36th Chicago Charities College All-Star Game: NY Jets 26, All-Stars 24 (74,208 attendees)

Cincinnati Reds, with 25 hits and 10 runs in the 5th, edge Philadelphia Phillies 19-17 at Connie Mack Stadium

Mariner 7 flies past Mars

The Beatles are photographed by Iain MacMillan crossing the street as they walk away from EMI Recording Studios, for the

The Beatles are photographed by Iain MacMillan crossing the street as they walk away from EMI Recording Studios, for the cover of their "Abbey Road" album [1]

Manson Family commits Tate-LaBianca murders

The Manson Family (known among its members as the Family) was a commune, gang and cult led by criminal Charles Manson that was active in California in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Battle of the Bogside: RUC officers, backed by loyalists, enter the nationalist Bogside in armored cars and try to suppr

Battle of the Bogside: RUC officers, backed by loyalists, enter the nationalist Bogside in armored cars and try to suppress the riot by using CS gas, water cannon, and eventually firearms; the almost continuous rioting lasts for two days

Baltimore Oriole Jim Palmer no-hits the Oakland A's, 8-0

James Alvin Palmer is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 years in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles (1965–1967, 1969–1984).

Hurricane Camille strikes the US coastline and kills 259 people, mainly in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana

Mick Jagger accidentally shot while filming "Ned Kelly" in Australia; he survives

Edward Kelly (December 1854 – 11 November 1880) was an Australian bushranger, gang leader and police-murderer.

69 cm of rainfall in Nelson County, Virginia (state record)

Fire in Al-Aqsa-mosque in Jerusalem

The Al-Aqsa mosque fire was an arson attack on Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque, the primary prayer hall within the Al-Aqsa compound, on 21 August 1969.

Gloria O. Smith of New York is crowned the second Miss Black America

American Audrey McElmory wins the World Cycling Championships in Brno, Czechoslovakia

Peru nationalizes US oil interests

The Detroit Lions beat the Boston Patriots 22-9 in Montreal (NFL exhibition game)

Lindy's Pride wins Hambletonian Stakes

The Hambletonian Stakes is a major American harness race for three-year-old trotting horses, named in honor of Hambletonian 10, a foundation sire of the Standardbred horse breed, also known as the...

Joe Pepitone quits NY Yankees after being fined $500 for leaving the bench

American Steve Melnyk wins the 69th US Golf Amateur Championship

Three-day second Annual Sky River Rock Festival opens in Tenino, Washington, with 25,000 attendees, featuring performers

Three-day second Annual Sky River Rock Festival opens in Tenino, Washington, with 25,000 attendees, featuring performers such as James Cotton, Country Joe and the Fish, Flying Burrito Brothers, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Steve Miller Band, and Sons of Champlin

Jerry Lewis' 4th Muscular Dystrophy telethon

Ralph Houk signs 3-year contract to manage New York Yankees at $65,000 a season, then the biggest salary in MLB

Frente Obrero wins Dutch Antilles' national elections

Suleiman Maghrabi is appointed premier of Libya

Allegheny Airlines Flight 853 collides with a Piper Cherokee above Indiana, killing all 83 occupants

NY Mets sweep Montreal Expos putting them in first place for the first time

The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens.

USSR performs nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeast Kazakhstan

San Francisco Giant Bobby Bonds is baseballs 4th 30-HR, 30-steal player

Male voters of Swiss Canton Schaffhausen reject female suffrage

UCLA fires professor Angela Davis for being a communist; termination was overturned in court and she was later fired for

UCLA fires professor Angela Davis for being a communist; termination was overturned in court and she was later fired for using inflammatory language

AFL New York Jets Steve O'Neal (23) kicks 98 yard punt, the longest professional American football punt in Denver agains

AFL New York Jets Steve O'Neal (23) kicks 98 yard punt, the longest professional American football punt in Denver against the Broncos

"Music Scene" debuts on ABC-TV

The Music Scene is a television series aired by the ABC Television Network in its Fall 1969 lineup, featuring primarily rock and pop music. The 45-minute program aired Mondays at 7:30 pm.

San Francisco Giant Willie Mays becomes the second player to hit 600 home runs

Willie Howard Mays Jr. (May 6, 1931 – June 18, 2024), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid", was an American professional baseball center fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Minnesota vs. Baltimore gains 530 yards passing

"Bright Promise" TV daytime soap opera debuts on NBC-TV

Atlanta's 10th consecutive win clinches the NL West pennant

Concorde 001 jet airplane test flight breaks the sound barrier

Seattle Pilots' last game in Seattle; crash to their 98th season loss, 3-1 to Oakland in front of just 5,473; move to Mi

Seattle Pilots' last game in Seattle; crash to their 98th season loss, 3-1 to Oakland in front of just 5,473; move to Milwaukee as the Brewers next season

Last wooden passenger subway cars retired at Brooklyn Myrtle Avenue

The AB Standard was a New York City Subway car class built by the American Car and Foundry Company and Pressed Steel Car Company between 1914 and 1924.

WJMN TV channel 3 in Escanaba, MI (ABC/NBC) begins broadcasting

The opening rally of the Days of Rage, organized by the Weather Underground in Chicago, Illinois

The Weather Underground was an American Marxist militant organization first active in 1969, founded on the Ann Arbor campus of the University of Michigan.

-28] Rome: 2nd bishop synod

First time five people are in space simultaneously (Soyuz 6 and Soyuz 7)

The Space Race was a 20th-century competition between the Cold War rivals, the United States and the Soviet Union, to achieve superior spaceflight capability.

Billy Martin (97-65) is fired as manager of AL West-winning Twins

Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin Jr. (May 16, 1928 – December 25, 1989) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) second baseman and manager, who, in addition to leading other teams, was five times the...

Palme government forms in Sweden

Sven Olof Joachim Palme was a Swedish politician and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Sweden from 1969 to 1976 and 1982 to 1986.

Bank of America World Headquarters (555 California) is dedicated

Plastic Ono Band's "Cold Turkey" is released in the UK

"Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)" is a song by Yoko Ono that was originally released by the Plastic Ono Band in October 1969 as the B-side of the "Cold Turkey"...

British singer Rod Stewart joins rock band The Faces

Faces are an English rock band formed in London in 1969. They formed after Small Faces lead singer and guitarist Steve Marriott left to form Humble Pie, and the remaining Small Faces— bassist Ronnie...

Oakland's Daryle Lamonica passes for 6 touchdowns against Buffalo (50-21)

Daryle Pasquale Lamonica (July 17, 1941 – April 21, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL)...

WKYH (now WYMT) TV channel 57 in Hazard, KY (NBC) begins broadcasting

Bloodless coup in Somalia (National Day)

The 1969 Somali coup d'état was a bloodless military takeover of the Somali Republic on 21 October 1969, led by Somali National Army officers of the Supreme Revolutionary Council under General Siad...

KAPN-AM in Santa Barbara CA changes call letters to KDB-AM

Pakistani cricketing brothers Hanif, Mushtaq, and Sadiq Mohammad play their only Test together in the drawn first Test a

Pakistani cricketing brothers Hanif, Mushtaq, and Sadiq Mohammad play their only Test together in the drawn first Test against New Zealand in Karachi

American ocean liner SS United States, still holding record for fastest Atlantic Ocean crossing, completes 400th voyage;

American ocean liner SS United States, still holding record for fastest Atlantic Ocean crossing, completes 400th voyage; new owners announce ship's retirement shortly thereafter [1]

WHMA (now WJSU) TV channel 40 in Anniston, AL (CBS) 1st broadcast

Nobel Prize in Economics awarded to John Tinbergen

Jan Tinbergen]; 12 April 1903 – 9 June 1994) was a Dutch economist who was awarded the first Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1969, which he shared with Ragnar Frisch for having developed...

WXPO (now WNDS) TV channel 50 in Manchester, NH (IND), begins broadcasting

Eastside race riot in Jacksonville, Florida

41-year old Detroit right wing Gordie Howe picks up his 19th and final NHL hat trick as the Red Wings beat Pittsburgh Pe

41-year old Detroit right wing Gordie Howe picks up his 19th and final NHL hat trick as the Red Wings beat Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3; Howe is the oldest player to score an NHL hat-trick

Congo president Mobutu visits Belgium

John Lennon and Yoko Ono release their second album "Wedding Album" in UK

Wedding Album is the third and final in a succession of three collaborative experimental albums by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. It followed Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins and Unfinished Music No.

Jim Morrison arrested on an airplane by the FBI for drunkenness

James Douglas Morrison was an American singer-songwriter and poet who was the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band the Doors.

2nd Vietnam Moratorium Day in US

Janis Joplin, accused of vulgar & indicent language in Tampa, Florida

Mỹ Lai massacre of between 347 and 504 unarmed South Vietnamese civilians by US soldiers is first reported

The My Lai Massacre ( MEE LY; Vietnamese: Thảm sát Mỹ Lai [t̺ʰâm ʂǎt mǐˀ lāj] ) was a United States war crime committed on 16 March 1968, involving the mass murder of unarmed civilians in Sơn Mỹ...

US President Richard Nixon becomes first president to attend a season NFL game while in office: the Dallas Cowboys visit

US President Richard Nixon becomes first president to attend a season NFL game while in office: the Dallas Cowboys visit the Washington Redskins, winning 41-28

SALT-discussions open in Helsinki Finland

Prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi assigned to the Tate and LaBianca murders, will eventually convict Charles Mason for orchest

Prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi assigned to the Tate and LaBianca murders, will eventually convict Charles Mason for orchestrating the killings

KXIX (now KVCT) TV channel 19 in Victoria, TX (ABC) 1st broadcast

Apollo 12 returns to Earth

Apollo 9 (March 3–13, 1969) was the third human spaceflight in NASA's Apollo program, which successfully tested systems and procedures critical to landing on the Moon.

35th Heisman Trophy Award: Steve Owens, Oklahoma (RB)

Infielder Ted Sizemore becomes 7th Dodger to win NL Rookie of Year

The Beatles' single "Something" / "Come Together" reaches #1

"Something" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1969 studio album Abbey Road. It was written by George Harrison, the band's lead guitarist.

American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond makes his only appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," singing "Sweet Caroline" an

American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond makes his only appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," singing "Sweet Caroline" and "Holly, Holy"

LAPD announces warrants for the arrests of Manson cult members Watson, Krenwinkel, and Kasabian for murder

The Manson Family (known among its members as the Family) was a commune, gang and cult led by criminal Charles Manson that was active in California in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Boeing 747 jumbo jet 1st public preview (Seattle to NYC)

Greek DC-6B crashes in storm at Athens, 93 killed

Libya adopts constitution

The national flag of Libya was originally introduced in 1951, following the creation of the Kingdom of Libya.

MLB manager Billy Martin fired by the Minnesota Twins

USAF closes its Project Blue Book, concluding there is no evidence of extraterrestrial spaceships behind thousands of UF

USAF closes its Project Blue Book, concluding there is no evidence of extraterrestrial spaceships behind thousands of UFO sightings

"On Her Majesty's Secret Service", 6th James Bond Film starring George Lazenby and Diana Rigg, premieres in London

Beatle's 7th Christmas fan-club single is released

Pete Marovich sets NCAA record of hitting 30 of 31 foul shots

Ballon d'Or: Milan midfielder Gianni Rivera wins award for best European football player ahead of Cagliari forward Luigi

Ballon d'Or: Milan midfielder Gianni Rivera wins award for best European football player ahead of Cagliari forward Luigi Riva and Bayern Munich striker Gerd Müller

5 Israeli gunboats escape from Cherbourg harbor

The Cherbourg Project (or Boats of Cherbourg) was an Israeli military operation that took place on 24 December 1969 and involved the escape of five remaining armed Sa'ar 3 class boats from the French...

Dallas Cowboy kicker Mike Clark, attempting an on-side kick against Cleveland, missed the ball

USSR performs nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeast Kazakhstan

Congo-Brazzaville becomes People's republic, under major Ngouabi

Famous Births

Tommy Morrison is born

Tommy Morrison, American professional boxer, known for american boxer, was born on 1969-01-02.

Christy Turlington is born

Michael Schumacher is born

Michael Schumacher, German athlete, known for german racing driver, was born on 1969-01-03.

Marilyn Manson is born

Marilyn Manson, American musician, known for american musician, was born on 1969-01-05. Brian Hugh Warner, known professionally as Marilyn Manson, is an American rock musician.

Jason Bateman is born

Jason Bateman, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1969-01-14. Jason Kent Bateman is an American actor.

Dave Grohl is born

Dave Grohl, American musician, known for american rock musician, was born on 1969-01-14. David Eric Grohl is an American musician.

Tiësto is born

Tiësto, Dutch musician, known for dutch dj and record producer, was born on 1969-01-17. Tijs Michiel Verwest, known professionally as Tiësto, is a Dutch DJ and record producer.

Josh Brolin is born

Josh Brolin, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1969-02-12. Josh James Brolin is an American actor.

Daniel Craig is born

Daniel Craig, English actor, known for english actor, was born on 1969-03-02. Daniel Wroughton Craig ( CRAYG; born 2 March 1968) is an English actor.

Tammy Duckworth is born

Tammy Duckworth, American politician and military officer, known for american politician and military officer, was born on 1969-03-12.

Aaron Eckhart is born

Aaron Eckhart, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1969-03-12. Aaron Edward Eckhart is an American actor.

Koji Igarashi is born

Lucy Lawless is born

Lucy Lawless, New Zealand zealand actress, known for new zealand actress, was born on 1969-03-29. Lucille Frances Lawless is a New Zealand actress, singer, and director.

Celine Dion is born

Celine Dion, Canadian musician, known for canadian singer, was born on 1969-03-30. Céline Marie Claudette Dion is a Canadian singer, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Patricia Arquette is born

Patricia Arquette, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 1969-04-08. Patricia Arquette is an American actress.

Omar Camporese is born

Tony Hawk is born

Tony Hawk, American athlete, known for american professional skateboarder, was born on 1969-05-12.

Scott Morrison is born

Anne Heche is born

Anne Heche, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 1969-05-25. Anne Celeste Heche ( HAYTCH; May 25, 1969 – August 11, 2022) was an American actress, known for her roles across a…

Kylie Minogue is born

Kylie Minogue, Australian singer and actress, known for australian singer and actress, was born on 1969-05-28. Kylie Ann Minogue is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress.

Bill Burr is born

Bill Burr, American comedian, known for american comedian, was born on 1969-06-10. William Frederic Burr is an American stand-up comedian, podcaster, actor, writer and director.

Robert Rodriguez is born

Robert Rodriguez, American filmmaker, known for american filmmaker, was born on 1969-06-20. Robert Anthony Rodriguez is an American filmmaker, composer, actor, chef and visual effects supervisor.

Jenni Rivera is born

Jenni Rivera, American musician, known for american singer, was born on 1969-07-02.

Marine Le Pen is born

Marine Le Pen, French politician, known for french politician, was born on 1969-08-05. Marion Anne Perrine "Marine" Le Pen is a French lawyer and politician.

Matthew Perry is born

Matthew Perry, American canadian actor, known for american and canadian actor, was born on 1969-08-19. Matthew Langford Perry (August 19, 1969 – October 28, 2023) was an American and Canadian actor.

Chris DiMarco is born

Shane Warne is born

Shane Warne, Australian athlete, known for australian cricketer, was born on 1969-09-13.

Marc Anthony is born

Marc Anthony, American musician, known for american singer, was born on 1969-09-16. Marco Antonio Muñiz, known by the stage name Marc Anthony, is an American singer and actor.

Keith Flint is born

Keith Flint, English musician, known for english dancer and singer, was born on 1969-09-17.

Ricki Lake is born

Ricki Lake, American television host and actress, known for american television host and actress, was born on 1969-09-21. Ricki Pamela Lake is an American television host and actress.

Will Smith is born

Will Smith, American actor and rapper, known for american actor and rapper, was born on 1969-09-25. Willard Carroll Smith II is an American actor, rapper, and film producer.

Hansie Cronje is born

Hansie Cronje, South African athlete, known for south african cricketer, was born on 1969-09-25.

Thom Yorke is born

Thom Yorke, English musician, known for english musician, was born on 1969-10-07. Thomas Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the singer and main songwriter of the rock band Radiohead.

Chris Ofili is born

Chris Ofili, British painter, known for british painter, was born on 1969-10-10. Christopher Ofili, is a British painter who won the Turner Prize in 1998.

Hugh Jackman is born

Hugh Jackman, Australian actor and singer, known for australian actor and singer, was born on 1969-10-12. Hugh Michael Jackman is an Australian actor, singer, and producer.

Didier Deschamps is born

Didier Deschamps, French athlete, known for french football manager, was born on 1969-10-15.

Shaggy is born

Shaggy, American musician, known for jamaican-american reggae musician, was born on 1969-10-22.

Sam Rockwell is born

Sam Rockwell, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1969-11-05. Sam Rockwell is an American actor known for his quirky and charismatic character roles in independent films.

Sammy Sosa is born

Sammy Sosa, Dominican athlete, known for dominican baseball player, was born on 1969-11-12. Samuel Peralta Sosa is a Dominican former professional baseball right fielder.

Owen Wilson is born

Owen Wilson, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1969-11-18. Owen Cunningham Wilson is an American actor and screenwriter.

Brendan Fraser is born

Brendan Fraser, American canadian actor, known for american and canadian actor, was born on 1969-12-03. Brendan James Fraser ( FRAY-zər; born December 3, 1968) is an American and Canadian actor.

Lisa Marie is born

Kurt Angle is born

Kurt Angle, American wrestler, known for american wrestler, was born on 1969-12-09. Kurt Steven Angle is an American retired professional wrestler and amateur wrestler.

Alexander Huber is born

Notable Deaths

Grażyna Bacewicz dies

Grażyna Bacewicz, Lithuanian musician, known for polish musician, died on 1969-01-17. Grażyna Bacewicz Biernacka was a Polish composer and violinist of Lithuanian origin.

Boris Karloff dies

Boris Karloff, English actor, known for english actor, died on 1969-02-02. William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), known professionally as Boris Karloff (), was an English actor.

Dwight D. Eisenhower dies

Dwight D. Eisenhower, American military leader & president, known for supreme commander of allied forces on d-day; 34th us president, died on 1969-03-28.

Franz von Papen dies

Franz von Papen, German politician, known for german politician, died on 1969-05-02.

Miles Dempsey dies

Miles Dempsey, British army general, known for british army general, died on 1969-06-06.

Cecil Frank Powell dies

Cecil Frank Powell, British experimental physicist, known for british experimental physicist, died on 1969-08-09.