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Major Events of January 1968: 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 1968 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of January 1968: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Jan 1968 Creedence Clearwater Revival Forms: The music group The Blue Velvets officially changes its name to Creedence Clearwater Revival, marking the beginning of one of the most iconic rock bands of the late 1960s.
  • 02 Jan 1968 Second Heart Transplant by Dr. Christiaan Barnard: Dr. Christiaan Barnard performed the world's second heart transplant on Louis Washkansky at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. This groundbreaking medical procedure marked a significant milestone in surgical history and advanced understanding of organ transplantation.
  • 04 Jan 1968 Leo Fender Sells Fender Guitars Company: On January 4, 1968, legendary guitar manufacturer Leo Fender sold his iconic Fender Guitars company for $13 million. This sale marked a significant moment in music industry history, transferring ownership of a brand that had revolutionized electric guitar design and sound.
  • 05 Jan 1968 Prague Spring Begins in Czechoslovakia: Alexander Dubček assumes leadership of the Czechoslovak Communist Party, initiating a period of political liberalization known as the 'Prague Spring'. This reform movement sought to introduce democratic socialism and reduce Soviet control over Czechoslovakia, marking a significant moment of potential political transformation in the Eastern Bloc.
  • 06 Jan 1968 First US Adult Cardiac Transplant Operation: Dr. Norman E. Shumway, a pioneering cardiac surgeon at Stanford University, performed the first successful adult cardiac transplant operation in the United States. This groundbreaking medical procedure marked a significant milestone in cardiovascular surgery and organ transplantation.
  • 07 Jan 1968 Surveyor 7 Lunar Mission Launch: The Surveyor 7, the final spacecraft in NASA's Surveyor lunar exploration program, was launched from Cape Canaveral's launch complex 36A. This mission represented the culmination of the Surveyor series, which played a crucial role in gathering critical data about the lunar surface in preparation for the Apollo moon landings.
  • 08 Jan 1968 Diplomatic Meeting Between Northern Ireland and Ireland: Northern Ireland Prime Minister Terence O'Neill made a significant diplomatic visit to Dublin, meeting with Irish Prime Minister Jack Lynch to discuss matters of mutual governmental interest. This meeting represented an important moment of cross-border dialogue during a politically tense period in Irish history.
  • 09 Jan 1968 US Surveyor 7 Lunar Landing: NASA's Surveyor 7 space probe successfully performs a soft landing on the Moon, completing the Surveyor program and contributing crucial scientific data about lunar surface conditions.
  • 10 Jan 1968 US Surveyor 7 Lunar Landing: NASA's Surveyor 7 spacecraft successfully landed near the lunar crater Tycho, marking the final mission in the Surveyor program's exploration of the Moon's surface. This mission provided critical scientific data about lunar terrain and geology.
  • 11 Jan 1968 Death of Isidor Isaac Rabi, Renowned Physicist: Isidor Isaac Rabi, a prominent American physicist and Nobel Prize laureate, passed away. Rabi was a key scientific figure of the 20th century, known for his groundbreaking work in quantum mechanics and contributions to the development of radar technology during World War II. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1944 for his research on magnetic properties of atomic nuclei.
  • 12 Jan 1968 Beatles Rename Film Production Company: The Beatles' film production company officially changes its name from Beatles Film Production Ltd to Apple Film Production Ltd, signaling the early stages of their Apple Corps business venture. This renaming was part of the band's expanding business and creative interests during their later years together.
  • 13 Jan 1968 Tet Offensive Begins in Vietnam War: The Tet Offensive, a coordinated series of attacks by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces against South Vietnamese and United States military targets, commenced, marking a pivotal moment in the Vietnam War.
  • 14 Jan 1968 Super Bowl II: Green Bay Packers Triumph: In a decisive victory, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Oakland Raiders 33-14 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Quarterback Bart Starr was named Most Valuable Player, solidifying the Packers' dominance in professional football during the late 1960s.
  • 15 Jan 1968 Jeannette Rankin Anti-War March: At 87 years old, pioneering congresswoman Jeannette Rankin leads a massive protest of approximately 5,000 women in Washington D.C. against the Vietnam War, demonstrating remarkable political activism in her later years.
  • 16 Jan 1968 Youth International Party (Yippies) Founded: The Youth International Party, commonly known as the Yippies, was established as a radical, youth-oriented political movement blending counterculture activism with political protest. Founded by Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, the group would become a significant force in the late 1960s anti-war and social justice movements.
  • 17 Jan 1968 First Manned Spacecraft Docking: Soyuz 4 and 5: Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 successfully completed the first-ever docking of two manned spacecraft in orbit, marking a significant milestone in human spaceflight and demonstrating advanced space rendezvous capabilities.
  • 18 Jan 1968 Eartha Kitt's Controversial White House Appearance: Actress and singer Eartha Kitt attended a White House luncheon hosted by Lady Bird Johnson focused on 'Women for Peace'. During this event, Kitt famously and critically spoke out against the Vietnam War, causing significant political controversy and personal repercussions for her career.
  • 19 Jan 1968 Soviet Nuclear Test at Semipalatinsk: The Soviet Union conducts a nuclear weapons test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan, continuing Cold War-era nuclear proliferation and weapons development efforts in the remote northeastern region.
  • 20 Jan 1968 Houston Ends UCLA's Historic Basketball Winning Streak: In a stunning upset, the University of Houston defeated the UCLA Bruins, breaking their remarkable 47-game consecutive winning streak with a narrow 71-69 victory. This game was a significant moment in college basketball history, challenging UCLA's dominance under legendary coach John Wooden.
  • 21 Jan 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh Begins: One of the most publicized and controversial battles of the Vietnam War begins at the Khe Sanh Combat Base. This strategic engagement would become a critical moment in the conflict, symbolizing the intense military confrontations between U.S. and North Vietnamese forces.
  • 22 Jan 1968 Apollo 5 Lunar Module Launch: NASA launches Apollo 5, carrying the first Lunar Module into space, a critical milestone in the Apollo Program's mission to land humans on the Moon.
  • 23 Jan 1968 USS Pueblo Incident: North Korean Seizure of US Navy Intelligence Ship: On January 23, 1968, the USS Pueblo (AGER-2), a US Navy intelligence ship, was attacked and seized by North Korean patrol boats in the Sea of Japan. The incident involved the capture of the ship and its 83-member crew, who were accused by North Korea of violating their territorial waters while conducting espionage operations. This event significantly escalated tensions between the United States and North Korea during the Cold War era.
  • 24 Jan 1968 Operation Coburg: Australian Military Action in Vietnam War: During the Vietnam War, the 1st Australian Task Force launched Operation Coburg, a significant military engagement against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces near Long Bình and Biên Hòa. This operation represented a coordinated effort by Australian and New Zealand military personnel to combat communist forces in the region.
  • 25 Jan 1968 INS Dakar Submarine Tragedy: The Israeli submarine INS Dakar sank in the Mediterranean Sea in a tragic incident that resulted in the loss of 69 crew members, marking a significant maritime disaster for Israel.
  • 26 Jan 1968 Israeli Submarine Dakar Tragedy: The Israeli submarine INS Dakar mysteriously sank in the Mediterranean Sea, resulting in the tragic loss of all 69 crew members. This maritime disaster was a significant moment in Israeli naval history, highlighting the inherent risks of submarine operations during the Cold War era.
  • 27 Jan 1968 French Submarine Tragedy in Mediterranean: A French naval submarine sank in the Mediterranean Sea, resulting in the loss of 52 crew members. The incident highlights the inherent risks of maritime military operations during the Cold War era.
  • 28 Jan 1968 French Submarine Minerve Disaster: The French submarine Minerve tragically sank in the Mediterranean Sea, resulting in the loss of 52 crew members' lives. This maritime catastrophe highlighted the inherent risks of submarine operations during the Cold War era.
  • 29 Jan 1968 Billie Jean King Wins Australian Open: American tennis legend Billie Jean King defeated home favourite Margaret Court in the Australian Open, securing her 13th Grand Slam singles title. This victory further solidified King's status as one of the most dominant tennis players of her era and highlighted her exceptional skill and competitive spirit.
  • 30 Jan 1968 Tet Offensive Begins in Vietnam War: The Tet Offensive was a major coordinated series of surprise attacks launched by Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army forces against South Vietnamese and United States military positions across multiple urban centers. This strategic military campaign marked a critical turning point in the Vietnam War, demonstrating the resilience and tactical capabilities of communist forces.
  • 31 Jan 1968 Tet Offensive Begins: During the Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tet), Viet Cong guerrillas launched a massive, coordinated surprise attack on multiple targets in South Vietnam, including a bold assault on the United States embassy in Saigon. This strategic offensive marked a critical turning point in the Vietnam War, demonstrating the resilience and tactical capabilities of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces.