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Major Events of November 1964: 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 1964 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of November 1964: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Nov 1964 1964 United States Presidential Election: Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson decisively defeated Republican challenger Barry Goldwater, winning over 60 percent of the popular vote in a landmark election that signaled strong public support for Johnson's progressive policies and vision for America.
  • 02 Nov 1964 Saudi Royal Family Succession: King Saud of Saudi Arabia was deposed by a family coup, with his half-brother King Faisal taking the throne in a significant internal power transition. The coup occurred while King Saud was overseas, effectively removing him from power and establishing Faisal as the new monarch.
  • 03 Nov 1964 1964 US Presidential Election: Lyndon B. Johnson was elected to a full term as U.S. president, winning 61% of the vote and 44 states. In a historic moment, Washington D.C. residents were able to vote in a presidential election for the first time, casting the majority of their votes for Johnson.
  • 04 Nov 1964 Ayatollah Khomeini Arrested and Exiled: On November 4, 1964, Iranian religious and political leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was arrested by the Shah's regime after publicly denouncing the government. Following his arrest, he was sentenced to exile and placed on an airplane, marking a significant moment in Iran's political turbulence leading up to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
  • 05 Nov 1964 Mariner 3 Mars Mission Failure: The United States launched the Mariner 3 spacecraft on November 5, 1964, as part of its early Mars exploration efforts. Despite being designed to conduct scientific observations and gather critical data about the Martian environment, the mission encountered significant technical difficulties. The spacecraft failed to achieve its primary objectives, with no scientific data successfully transmitted back to Earth. This mission represented an important learning experience in the nascent era of interplanetary space exploration, highlighting the immense challenges of deep space missions during the 1960s.
  • 06 Nov 1964 1964 U.S. Presidential Election: Lyndon B. Johnson decisively defeated Republican challenger Barry Goldwater in the U.S. presidential election, winning a landslide victory with 61.05% of the popular vote and securing 486 electoral votes compared to Goldwater's 52 electoral votes.
  • 07 Nov 1964 Nelson Mandela Imprisoned: Nelson Mandela, a prominent anti-apartheid revolutionary, begins his 27-year imprisonment at Robben Island for his political activism against the racist apartheid regime in South Africa. This moment marks a pivotal point in the struggle for racial equality and human rights.
  • 08 Nov 1964 2nd Summer Paralympics Opens in Tokyo: The 2nd Summer Paralympics (13th International Stoke Mandeville Games) commenced in Tokyo, Japan, with 369 athletes from 22 nations participating. Crown Prince Akihito officially opened the games, marking a significant moment for Paralympic sports.
  • 09 Nov 1964 Britain Abolishes Death Penalty for Murder: The British House of Commons votes to permanently abolish capital punishment for murder, a landmark decision in criminal justice reform that reflected growing humanitarian and ethical concerns about state-sanctioned executions.
  • 10 Nov 1964 Australia Reintroduces Compulsory Military Service: Australia partially reinstates compulsory military service in response to escalating tensions during the Indonesian Confrontation, a geopolitical conflict between Indonesia and Malaysia that threatened regional stability.
  • 11 Nov 1964 Marcus Garvey Reinterment Ceremony: The body of Marcus Garvey, a prominent proponent of African-American nationalism and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), was solemnly reinterred in a significant national ceremony in Jamaica. Thousands of admirers gathered to pay their final respects, marking a historic moment as Garvey was proclaimed the first National Hero of Jamaica, recognizing his immense contributions to Pan-Africanism and black empowerment.
  • 12 Nov 1964 Televised Execution of Jeune Haiti Rebels: In a stark display of political repression, Haitian President François 'Papa Doc' Duvalier ordered the public, televised execution of two surviving members of the Jeune Haiti rebel group by firing squad. This event underscored the brutal nature of Duvalier's regime and its treatment of political opponents.
  • 13 Nov 1964 Bob Pettit Reaches 20,000 Points Milestone: Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks made NBA history by becoming the first player to score 20,000 points in his professional career. This remarkable achievement highlighted Pettit's exceptional scoring ability and established him as one of the most prolific scorers in early NBA history.
  • 14 Nov 1964 Marvin Gaye Reaches No. 1: Motown singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye achieved a significant milestone by scoring his first U.S. No. 1 single with the hit song 'Baby Don't You Do It', marking a breakthrough in his musical career.
  • 15 Nov 1964 Cyclone Sidr Devastates Bangladesh: Cyclone Sidr struck Bangladesh, causing catastrophic damage, killing an estimated 5,000 people and severely impacting the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest.
  • 16 Nov 1964 Radio CJCX Sydney Nova Scotia (Canada) starts shortwave transmission
  • 17 Nov 1964 British Labour Party Weapon Embargo Against South Africa: The British Labour Party implemented a comprehensive weapons embargo targeting South Africa, a significant political action during the apartheid era aimed at applying international pressure on the racist regime.
  • 18 Nov 1964 Peaceful Desegregation in McComb, Mississippi: A significant milestone in the Civil Rights Movement occurred as restaurants, lodging establishments, and theaters in McComb, Mississippi were peacefully desegregated through the efforts of the NAACP, marking a notable moment of progress in racial integration.
  • 19 Nov 1964 Third Period of Second Vatican Council Concludes: The third period of the Second Vatican Council, a landmark ecumenical council of the Catholic Church, comes to a close. This period was crucial in modernizing Catholic doctrine, liturgy, and church practices, representing a significant moment of reform and adaptation in the 20th-century Catholic Church.
  • 20 Nov 1964 Mandela's 'I Am Prepared to Die' Speech: Nelson Mandela delivers his iconic 'I Am Prepared to Die' speech during the Rivonia Trial, a pivotal moment in the anti-apartheid struggle. In this powerful address, Mandela eloquently defended the African National Congress's resistance to apartheid and affirmed his commitment to racial equality and justice.
  • 21 Nov 1964 Third Session of Second Vatican Council Closes: Pope Paul VI concludes the third session of the Second Vatican Council, a pivotal moment in modern Catholic Church history that aimed to modernize church practices and improve interfaith relations.
  • 22 Nov 1964 Lyndon B. Johnson Becomes 36th US President: Following the tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Baines Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States. This momentous event marked a significant transition of power during a deeply traumatic period in American history.
  • 23 Nov 1964 Vatican Reforms Liturgical Language: The Vatican made a significant historical decision to abolish Latin as the official language of Roman Catholic liturgy, marking a major shift in church communication and accessibility for global congregations.
  • 24 Nov 1964 Mariner 4 Mars Mission Launch: NASA launched the Mariner 4 space probe from Cape Kennedy, aimed at taking the first television pictures of Mars, a groundbreaking moment in space exploration.
  • 27 Nov 1964 Cold War: Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appeals to the United States and the Soviet Union to end nuclear testing and to start nuclear disarmament, stating that such an action would ''save humanity from the ultimate disaster''.
  • 28 Nov 1964 Vietnam War Escalation Planning: The National Security Council recommended a two-stage escalation of bombing campaigns in North Vietnam to President Lyndon B. Johnson, a critical strategic decision that would significantly impact the Vietnam War's trajectory.
  • 29 Nov 1964 Roman Catholic Church in US replaces Latin with English.
  • 30 Nov 1964 Sir Winston Churchill Day Proclaimed: On his 90th birthday, Sir Winston Churchill was honored with a special proclamation by the President of the United States, designating November 30, 1964, as Sir Winston Churchill Day. This recognition celebrated Churchill's monumental leadership during World War II and his enduring global stature as a statesman and historical figure.