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Major Events of February 1961: 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 February 1961 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of February 1961: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Feb 1961 First US Minuteman ICBM Test: The United States successfully conducted its first full-scale test of the Minuteman I intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The rocket launched from Cape Canaveral at 11:00 a.m., traveling 4,000 miles (6,400 km) in less than 15 minutes to a target in the Atlantic Ocean, marking a significant milestone in Cold War-era missile technology.
  • 02 Feb 1961 Barack Obama's Parents Get Married in Hawaii: Stanley Ann Dunham, an 18-year-old University of Hawaii student, married Barack Obama Sr., a 25-year-old Kenyan graduate student in Wailuku, Hawaii. This marriage would later become historically significant as their son, Barack Obama, would become the 44th President of the United States, born six months after their wedding.
  • 03 Feb 1961 Operation Looking Glass Begins: The United States Air Force initiated Operation Looking Glass, a strategic Cold War defense protocol ensuring continuous airborne command and control capabilities. A specially designated 'Doomsday Plane' would remain perpetually airborne for the next 30 years, ready to take direct control of the nation's nuclear arsenal in the event of a ground command post's destruction.
  • 04 Feb 1961 Angolan War of Independence Begins: The Angolan War of Independence erupted, marking the start of a prolonged conflict between Portuguese colonial forces and Angolan nationalist movements seeking to end Portuguese colonial rule in Angola. This conflict would become part of the broader Portuguese Colonial War, lasting until 1974 and significantly impacting the decolonization of Africa.
  • 05 Feb 1961 Marilyn Monroe Seeks Medical Help: Movie actress Marilyn Monroe voluntarily checks herself into Cornell University Medical Center under the pseudonym 'Faye Miller', indicating her ongoing personal struggles with mental health and public scrutiny.
  • 06 Feb 1961 Jail, No Bail Movement Begins: The Civil Rights 'Jail, No Bail' movement launches in Rock Hill, South Carolina, a pivotal protest strategy where activists deliberately get arrested and refuse to pay bail, drawing national attention to racial segregation and systemic injustice.
  • 07 Feb 1961 Jane Fonda's Acting Debut: Jane Fonda made her professional acting debut in the NBC television drama 'A String of Beads', marking the beginning of what would become an illustrious and influential career in film and television. This early performance would be the first step in her journey to becoming an Academy Award-winning actress and prominent social activist.
  • 08 Feb 1961 Soviet Sputnik 7 Space Mission: The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 7, an early space mission initially reported as successful but later understood to be a probable Venus probe failure. This launch was part of the Soviet Union's ambitious space exploration program during the Cold War era, demonstrating their ongoing efforts to advance space technology and compete with the United States in the Space Race.
  • 09 Feb 1961 The Beatles' First Performance at the Cavern Club: On February 9, 1961, The Beatles performed for the first time at the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool, marking a pivotal moment in their early musical career. This performance would become a significant milestone in the band's journey to becoming one of the most influential rock groups in history.
  • 10 Feb 1961 Niagara Falls Hydroelectric Project Begins: The Robert Moses Niagara Hydroelectric Power Station went online, marking a significant milestone in renewable energy production. This massive project began generating 2.4 gigawatts of electricity per hour, making it the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world at the time.
  • 11 Feb 1961 Adolf Eichmann Trial Begins: The landmark trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann commenced in Jerusalem, Israel. A key architect of the Holocaust, Eichmann was captured in Argentina and brought to trial, representing a significant moment of post-World War II justice and Holocaust remembrance.
  • 12 Feb 1961 Soviet Union Launches Venera 1 Space Probe to Venus: The Soviet Union launched Venera 1, also known as Sputnik 8, towards Venus, marking a significant milestone in early space exploration. This unmanned spacecraft was part of the Soviet space program's ambitious planetary exploration efforts during the Space Race.
  • 13 Feb 1961 Patrice Lumumba's Death Announced: The Congolese government officially announces the killing of Patrice Lumumba, a pivotal political figure in the Congo's independence movement, marking a tragic moment in post-colonial African history.
  • 14 Feb 1961 Kennedy's Cold War Diplomacy in Congo: President John F. Kennedy issued a stern warning to the Soviet Union, cautioning against interference with the United Nations' peacekeeping efforts in the Congo, highlighting the ongoing geopolitical tensions of the Cold War era.
  • 15 Feb 1961 Sabena Flight 548 Tragedy: Sabena Flight 548 crashes near Brussels, Belgium, resulting in a devastating loss of 73 lives, including the entire United States figure skating team, their coaches, and family members. The crash occurred during the team's journey to the World Figure Skating Championships, marking one of the most tragic moments in sports history.
  • 16 Feb 1961 NASA Explorer 9 Mission Launch: NASA's Explorer 9 mission launched a satellite from the Wallops Flight Facility in eastern Virginia. The satellite was a 12-foot metallic sphere covered in white dots to aid thermal control, designed to study the composition and density of Earth's lower exosphere and upper atmosphere.
  • 17 Feb 1961 Passing of Lütfi Kırdar, Turkish Statesman: Lütfi Kırdar, a prominent Turkish physician and politician who played a significant role in the modernization of Istanbul's infrastructure and healthcare system, died on this date. Kırdar served as the Governor of Istanbul and was known for his contributions to urban development and public health during the mid-20th century.
  • 18 Feb 1961 Henk van der Grift becomes world champion skater
  • 19 Feb 1961 Miraculous Child Survival: In a remarkable incident in Arizona, a seven-year-old boy survives a catastrophic 275-foot (84 m) fall into an irrigation well. Quick-thinking ranch employees rescue the child by tying him to a rope and pulling him to safety, highlighting human resilience and compassionate intervention.
  • 20 Feb 1961 Jerry Garcia's Early Life Car Accident: Jerry Garcia, a young 18-year-old musician and drifter who had recently been discharged from the U.S. Army, survived a significant car accident in Palo Alto, California. This incident occurred before his rise to fame as the lead guitarist of the legendary rock band Grateful Dead, and potentially could have altered the course of music history had the accident been more severe.
  • 21 Feb 1961 Mercury-Atlas 2 Space Test: The Mercury-Atlas 2 spacecraft conducted a critical reentry test, reaching an altitude of 172 kilometers, contributing to NASA's early space exploration efforts.
  • 23 Feb 1961 Duncan Carse's Solitary Antarctic Expedition Begins: Explorer Duncan Carse embarked on an extraordinary eighteen-month expedition, being deliberately dropped off alone on the British Antarctic island of South Georgia to conduct a unique survival and research mission.
  • 24 Feb 1961 Explorer (10) fails to reach Earth orbit
  • 25 Feb 1961 End of Sydney's Tramway Era: On February 25, 1961, Sydney, Australia witnessed the final public tram service, marking the conclusion of the Southern Hemisphere's most extensive tramway network. This transportation milestone represented a significant shift in urban mobility, transitioning from traditional tram-based public transit to newer transportation technologies.
  • 26 Feb 1961 Hassan II Ascends to Moroccan Throne: Hassan II became the King of Morocco, succeeding his father Mohammed V. His coronation marked a significant moment in Moroccan modern history, as he would rule the country for nearly four decades until his death in 1999. Known for his political acumen and controversial leadership, Hassan II played a crucial role in Morocco's post-colonial era.
  • 27 Feb 1961 Twenty-Second Amendment Ratification: The Twenty-Second Amendment to the United States Constitution was officially ratified, formally establishing the two-term limit for presidential service, a significant constitutional reform that prevents any president from serving more than eight consecutive years.
  • 28 Feb 1961 Kennedy Appoints Henry Kissinger as Special Advisor: President John F. Kennedy appointed Henry Kissinger, a prominent political scientist and diplomat, as a special advisor, marking an early stage in Kissinger's influential diplomatic career. This appointment would later prove significant in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War era.