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Major Events of January 1960: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from January 1960 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of January 1960: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Jan 1960 Cameroon Achieves Independence: Cameroon gained independence from France and the United Kingdom on January 1, 1960, transitioning from colonial administration to a sovereign nation.
  • 02 Jan 1960 John F. Kennedy Announces Presidential Campaign: U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts formally announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination, marking the beginning of his historic presidential campaign that would ultimately lead to his election in 1960.
  • 03 Jan 1960 Lee Harvey Oswald Defects to Soviet Union: Lee Harvey Oswald, a controversial American figure, defected to the Soviet Union and was warmly received in Minsk. The local mayor personally welcomed him, providing a free apartment and securing employment at the Byelorussian Radio and Television factory, marking a significant Cold War-era personal migration.
  • 04 Jan 1960 European Free Trade Association Established: The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) was formed in Stockholm, Sweden, marking a significant economic collaboration between European nations. This organization aimed to promote free trade and economic cooperation among its member states, providing an alternative to the European Economic Community (EEC).
  • 05 Jan 1960 Carnegie Hall Demolition Proposed: An announcement was made regarding the potential demolition of the iconic Carnegie Hall, a significant cultural landmark in New York City.
  • 06 Jan 1960 Lee Harvey Oswald Defects to Soviet Union: Lee Harvey Oswald, an American defector, was warmly received in the Soviet Union. The Mayor of Minsk personally welcomed him, provided a free apartment, and secured employment for him as a metal worker at the Byelorussian Radio and Television factory, highlighting the complex geopolitical dynamics of the Cold War era.
  • 07 Jan 1960 First Successful Polaris Missile Test Launch: On January 7, 1960, the United States Navy successfully test launched the Polaris submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). This marked a significant milestone in Cold War-era strategic nuclear capabilities, demonstrating the ability to launch nuclear-capable missiles from submarines, which provided a mobile and hard-to-detect nuclear deterrent platform.
  • 08 Jan 1960 Lee Harvey Oswald's Soviet Defection: Lee Harvey Oswald, a controversial American defector, was warmly received in the Soviet Union. The Mayor of Minsk personally welcomed him, providing him with a free apartment and securing employment at the Byelorussian Radio and Television factory. This event was a notable Cold War-era incident of individual political migration.
  • 09 Jan 1960 Aswan High Dam Construction Begins: President Gamal Abdel Nasser officially launched the construction of the Aswan High Dam by dramatically detonating ten tons of dynamite to demolish twenty tons of granite on the east bank of the Nile River. This monumental engineering project would become a symbol of Egypt's technological ambition and post-colonial development.
  • 10 Jan 1960 Kennedy Announces Presidential Campaign: U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts formally declares his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination, launching what would become a historic and transformative presidential campaign that would ultimately lead to his election as the 35th President of the United States.
  • 11 Jan 1960 Chad Gains Independence: Chad officially declares independence from France, marking a significant milestone in its post-colonial history. This event represents the end of French colonial rule and the beginning of Chad's journey as a sovereign nation in Central Africa.
  • 12 Jan 1960 Cameroon Gains Independence from France: At midnight local time on January 12, 1960, the Republic of Cameroun officially gained independence from France. The transition was symbolized by lowering the French tricolor flag and raising a new national flag featuring red, yellow, and green colors in Yaoundé.
  • 13 Jan 1960 White House Initiates Covert Plans Against Cuba: In a pivotal Cold War meeting, senior U.S. government officials convened at the White House to discuss and strategize potential covert operations aimed at destabilizing and potentially overthrowing Fidel Castro's newly established socialist government in Cuba. These initial discussions would later contribute to significant CIA-backed interventions like the Bay of Pigs invasion.
  • 14 Jan 1960 Establishment of Reserve Bank of Australia: The Reserve Bank of Australia, the country's central bank and primary banknote issuing authority, was officially established on this date. Authorized by the 1959 Reserve Bank Act, this institution would play a crucial role in managing Australia's monetary policy and financial stability.
  • 15 Jan 1960 Khrushchev Proposes Troop Reduction in Eastern Europe: Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev formally requested approval from the Supreme Soviet to reduce the number of Soviet military troops stationed in Eastern European countries, signaling a potential shift in Cold War military strategy.
  • 16 Jan 1960 Cameroon's Turbulent Independence Day: On its first day of independence, the Republic of Cameroon experienced significant political violence, with thirty people killed during conflicts led by Marxist revolutionary Félix-Roland Moumié against the Ahidjo government. This tragic event marked a tumultuous beginning for the newly independent nation.
  • 17 Jan 1960 Aswan High Dam Construction Begins: The construction of the Aswan High Dam in Egypt commenced, marking a significant infrastructure and engineering project that would dramatically transform Egypt's economic and agricultural landscape by controlling the Nile River's annual flooding and generating hydroelectric power.
  • 18 Jan 1960 US-Japan Mutual Defense Treaty Signed: On January 18, 1960, the United States and Japan signed a pivotal mutual defense treaty, solidifying their strategic alliance in the post-World War II era. This agreement committed both nations to mutual defense, with the United States pledging to protect Japan in case of an armed attack, while also establishing a significant geopolitical partnership in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • 19 Jan 1960 US-Japan Security Treaty Signed: United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi signed the US-Japan Mutual Cooperation and Security Treaty in Washington, D.C., establishing a formal defense alliance during the Cold War era.
  • 20 Jan 1960 JFK Announces Presidential Campaign: U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts formally declared his candidacy for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, launching what would become a historic and transformative presidential campaign that would ultimately lead to his election as the 35th President of the United States.
  • 21 Jan 1960 First Human Descent to Mariana Trench: Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh made history by descending into the Mariana Trench in the bathyscaphe Trieste, reaching a depth of 10,911 meters (35,797 feet). They became the first humans to reach the lowest point on Earth, a groundbreaking moment in deep-sea exploration.
  • 22 Jan 1960 Assassination Attempt on Charles de Gaulle: French President Charles de Gaulle narrowly escaped an assassination attempt orchestrated by General Massu, highlighting the political tensions of the era.
  • 23 Jan 1960 Record-Breaking Deep Sea Dive in Mariana Trench: Jacques Piccard and Donald Walsh made history by piloting the Swiss-built US Navy bathyscaphe Trieste to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, reaching a record submersible depth of 10,911 meters underwater in the Pacific Ocean. This groundbreaking expedition explored the deepest known point on Earth, the Challenger Deep, marking a significant milestone in deep-sea exploration.
  • 24 Jan 1960 Barricades Week in Algiers: During the Algerian War, European volunteer units in Algiers staged a significant insurrection known as the 'Barricades Week', where they seized government buildings and engaged in direct confrontations with local police, challenging French colonial authority.
  • 25 Jan 1960 First Mercury Spacecraft Production Delivery: McDonnell Aircraft successfully delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft to NASA's Space Task Group at Langley Research Center, achieving this milestone in less than one year from the project's inception. This delivery was a critical step in the United States' early space exploration efforts during the Space Race.
  • 26 Jan 1960 Pete Rozelle Becomes NFL Commissioner: Pete Rozelle was elected as the NFL commissioner after an extensive 23-ballot voting process, marking a significant moment in professional football leadership.
  • 28 Jan 1960 First Lunar Photograph Transmission: The first photograph is successfully bounced off the Moon from Washington, D.C., demonstrating groundbreaking communication and space exploration technology during the early stages of the Space Race.
  • 29 Jan 1960 Establishment of the Reserve Bank of Australia: The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) was officially established on January 14, 1960, serving as the central bank of Australia. This institution plays a crucial role in managing the nation's monetary policy, maintaining financial stability, and issuing currency. The RBA replaced the Commonwealth Bank of Australia's central banking functions and became an independent statutory authority responsible for formulating and implementing monetary policy to contribute to the economic prosperity and welfare of the Australian people.
  • 30 Jan 1960 CIA Authorizes U-2 Aircraft Production: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) grants Lockheed permission to produce a new U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, a critical development in Cold War aerial intelligence gathering capabilities.
  • 31 Jan 1960 Greensboro Sit-In: A Pivotal Civil Rights Moment: On January 31, 1960, four African-American students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University initiated a groundbreaking civil rights protest by staging a peaceful sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. This nonviolent demonstration challenged the racist Jim Crow segregation policies and became a catalyst for the broader Civil Rights Movement, inspiring similar protests across the Southern United States.