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

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

  • 01 Nov 1961 Women Strike for Peace Inaugural Protest: On November 1st, 1961, a groundbreaking nationwide demonstration took place as 50,000 women in 60 cities across the United States participated in the inaugural Women Strike for Peace (WSP). This massive protest was a powerful statement against nuclear proliferation during the height of the Cold War, highlighting women's collective activism and concern about potential nuclear conflict.
  • 02 Nov 1961 CIA Spy Oleg Penkovsky's Cover Blown: A critical moment in Cold War espionage occurred when Oleg Penkovsky's covert intelligence operation was exposed. Four KGB agents caught a CIA case officer retrieving sensitive information, leading to Penkovsky's eventual capture. His intelligence sharing with the CIA would ultimately result in his execution, which was publicly announced on May 17, 1963.
  • 03 Nov 1961 U Thant Becomes UN Secretary-General: U Thant was unanimously appointed as the 3rd Secretary-General of the United Nations, becoming the first non-European individual to occupy this prestigious diplomatic post. This historic appointment marked a significant moment in the organization's leadership diversity and global representation.
  • 04 Nov 1961 CIA Issues Secret Memorandum on Cuban Operation: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) issued a confidential memorandum recommending subsequent strategic actions related to the ongoing Cuban operation, likely referring to planning surrounding the Bay of Pigs aftermath or early Cold War interventions.
  • 05 Nov 1961 CIA Spy Oleg Penkovsky's Cover Exposed: A critical moment in Cold War espionage occurred when Soviet counterintelligence successfully exposed Oleg Penkovsky, a high-ranking Soviet military intelligence officer who had been secretly passing classified information to American CIA agents. Four KGB agents caught a CIA case officer during an information exchange, effectively ending Penkovsky's extensive intelligence-gathering operation that had provided crucial insights into Soviet military capabilities.
  • 06 Nov 1961 Heinz Felfe Espionage Arrest: Heinz Felfe, West Germany's chief of counterintelligence for the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), was arrested by his own agents. A former Nazi, Felfe was discovered to have been systematically passing classified secrets of the American CIA to the Soviet Union and East Germany since 1959, compromising the identities of more than 100 CIA agents in Moscow.
  • 07 Nov 1961 PGA Ends Racial Membership Restrictions: The Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA) made a landmark decision to amend its constitution, eliminating the discriminatory 'Caucasian clause' that had restricted membership since 1934. This significant step opened membership to non-white golfers from all regions, symbolizing a progressive move towards racial inclusivity in professional sports.
  • 08 Nov 1961 Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8 Crash: Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8, a Lockheed Constellation aircraft, crashed while attempting to land at Richmond, Virginia, resulting in a tragic loss of 77 lives. The accident remains one of the deadliest aviation incidents in Virginia's history, highlighting the critical importance of aviation safety protocols during the early 1960s.
  • 09 Nov 1961 Berlin Wall Construction Negotiations: The Four Western Allies engage in critical diplomatic discussions with the Soviet Union regarding the ongoing construction of the Berlin Wall, a pivotal moment in Cold War tensions and geopolitical negotiations.
  • 10 Nov 1961 Stalingrad Renamed Volgograd: The city of Stalingrad, famous for its pivotal World War II battle, is officially renamed Volgograd as part of the Soviet Union's de-Stalinization process, removing the direct reference to Joseph Stalin.
  • 11 Nov 1961 Tragic UN Peacekeeping Massacre in Congo: Thirteen Italian Air Force servicemen, deployed to the Congo as part of the UN peacekeeping force, were brutally massacred by a local mob in Kindu, marking a dark moment in international peacekeeping efforts.
  • 12 Nov 1961 Birth of Nadia Comaneci, Legendary Gymnast: Nadia Comaneci was born in Onesti, Romania, who would later become one of the most iconic gymnasts in Olympic history. She made history at the 1976 Montreal Olympics by scoring the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics and went on to win multiple gold medals in 1976 and 1980.
  • 13 Nov 1961 KGB Leadership Change: Vladimir Yefimovich Semichastny succeeds Aleksandr Nikolayevich Shelepin as the head of the Soviet Union's state security and intelligence agency, the KGB. This leadership transition occurred during the Cold War era, signaling potential shifts in Soviet intelligence strategy.
  • 15 Nov 1961 United Nations Nuclear Arms Ban: The United Nations passes a resolution banning nuclear arms, marking a significant diplomatic effort to reduce global nuclear proliferation and promote international peace and security.
  • 16 Nov 1961 Kennedy's Foreign Policy Address at University of Washington: On November 16, 1961, President John F. Kennedy delivered a landmark foreign policy speech at the University of Washington Centennial Convocation. In this significant address, Kennedy articulated the United States' strategic approach to international relations, with a particular focus on diplomatic tensions with the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War.
  • 17 Nov 1961 Mysterious Disappearance of Michael Rockefeller in New Guinea: Michael Rockefeller, the 23-year-old son of prominent New York politician Nelson Rockefeller, vanished while on an anthropological expedition in the remote Asmat region of southwestern New Guinea (now Papua, Indonesia). Rockefeller was collecting artifacts for the Museum of Primitive Art and was traveling in a small canoe when he disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Despite extensive search efforts, his body was never found, leading to decades of speculation about his fate—whether he drowned, was killed by local indigenous tribes, or met some other unknown end.
  • 18 Nov 1961 US Military Advisors Deployed to South Vietnam: President John F. Kennedy sends 18,000 military advisors to South Vietnam, marking a significant escalation of U.S. involvement in the region during the early stages of the Vietnam War.
  • 19 Nov 1961 Meg Ryan Born: Meg Ryan, a prominent American actress and producer known for her iconic roles in romantic comedies like 'When Harry Met Sally' and 'Sleepless in Seattle', was born on November 19, 1961, in Fairfield, Connecticut.
  • 20 Nov 1961 Kennedy Ends Cuban Naval Blockade: President John F. Kennedy officially terminated the naval blockade of Cuba following the Soviet Union's removal of nuclear missile installations, marking a critical de-escalation of the Cuban Missile Crisis and reducing Cold War tensions.
  • 21 Nov 1961 First Revolving Restaurant in the United States: La Ronde: On November 21, 1961, the innovative 'La Ronde' restaurant opened in Honolulu, Hawaii, located on the 23rd floor of the Ala Moana Building. This groundbreaking dining establishment became the first revolving restaurant in the United States, offering patrons a unique 360-degree panoramic view of Honolulu's cityscape and surrounding landscapes while enjoying their meals.
  • 22 Nov 1961 James Bond Marketing Campaign Launch: Producers Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman initiated an ambitious and expensive publicity campaign to elevate Sean Connery's profile as the new James Bond, a strategic move that would ultimately transform the actor into a global cinema icon.
  • 24 Nov 1961 D.B. Cooper Hijacking Incident: On November 24, 1961, one of the most infamous unsolved aviation crimes in American history occurred when a man using the alias Dan Cooper hijacked a Northwest Orient Airlines flight. After successfully extorting $200,000 in ransom and obtaining parachutes, he dramatically escaped mid-flight by parachuting from the plane, never to be conclusively identified or captured. This mysterious event has since become a legendary cold case in criminal history.
  • 25 Nov 1961 Brian Epstein Discovers the Beatles: Music manager Brian Epstein saw the Beatles perform at the Cavern Club and quickly signed them, a moment that would revolutionize popular music worldwide.
  • 26 Nov 1961 Thalidomide Withdrawal Marks Medical Safety Milestone: West German pharmaceutical manufacturer Grünenthal GmbH became the first company to voluntarily withdraw the drug thalidomide from the market, responding to emerging evidence of severe birth defects and health risks. This pivotal moment would later become a landmark case in pharmaceutical regulation and medical ethics, highlighting the critical importance of drug safety testing.
  • 27 Nov 1961 Gordie Howe Reaches NHL Milestone: Hockey legend Gordie Howe becomes the first player in NHL history to play in 1,000 professional games, marking a significant achievement in professional sports and demonstrating extraordinary longevity and skill in ice hockey.
  • 28 Nov 1961 Soviet Spy Oleg Penkovsky Exposed: The cover of Oleg Penkovsky, a critical CIA informant who had been passing top-secret Soviet intelligence, was compromised, potentially ending one of the most significant espionage operations of the Cold War.
  • 29 Nov 1961 Freedom Riders Attacked in Mississippi: Freedom Riders were violently attacked by a white mob at a bus station in Mississippi, highlighting the intense racial tensions and ongoing civil rights struggles in the United States during the early 1960s.
  • 30 Nov 1961 Soviet Union Blocks Kuwait's UN Membership: On November 30, 1961, the Soviet Union exercised its veto power in the United Nations Security Council, preventing Kuwait from gaining membership in the international organization. This action occurred during a complex period of geopolitical tensions and Kuwait's recent independence from British colonial rule.