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

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

  • 01 Nov 1968 US Halts Bombardment of North Vietnam: The United States ceased military operations against North Vietnam at 9:00 PM local time, with aircraft, naval vessels, and ground artillery units stopping their missions, signaling a potential diplomatic shift in the Vietnam War.
  • 02 Nov 1968 Civil Rights March in Derry Defies Ban: A significant civil rights demonstration organized by the Derry Citizens' Action Committee (DCAC) successfully proceeded despite an official ban. The massive public turnout overwhelmed the Royal Ulster Constabulary's attempts to prevent the march, marking a pivotal moment in the Northern Ireland civil rights movement.
  • 03 Nov 1968 Greek Political Unrest: Papandreou's Funeral and Mass Demonstration: Former Greek Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou is buried amid massive political protests, with 300,000 citizens demonstrating against the ruling military junta, highlighting significant political tension in Greece.
  • 04 Nov 1968 Northern Ireland Political Talks: Northern Ireland Prime Minister Terence O'Neill met with British Prime Minister Harold Wilson to discuss the political situation in Northern Ireland. Wilson emphasized that any constitutional changes would require the consent of the local population, reflecting the complex political dynamics of the time.
  • 05 Nov 1968 1st AL pitcher to win MVP, Denny McLain
  • 06 Nov 1968 Richard Nixon Elected 37th President of the United States: Richard Nixon won the 1968 presidential election, defeating Democratic candidate Hubert Humphrey in a pivotal and closely contested race during a tumultuous period of social and political change in the United States.
  • 08 Nov 1968 MPAA Introduces Film Rating System: The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) implemented a new film rating system, categorizing movies as 'G', 'M', 'R', or 'X'. The 'M' rating would later evolve into the 'PG' (parental guidance suggested) classification, revolutionizing movie content guidance for audiences.
  • 09 Nov 1968 Loyalist March in Derry: Ian Paisley and Ronald Bunting led a provocative Loyalist march to the Diamond area of Derry, Northern Ireland. This event was part of the complex political tensions during the early years of the Northern Ireland conflict, known as 'The Troubles'.
  • 10 Nov 1968 Mário Soares Released from Banishment: Portuguese socialist leader Mário Soares was freed from political banishment, marking a significant moment in Portugal's political resistance against the authoritarian Estado Novo regime. Soares, a key figure in the Portuguese democratic movement, was released from exile in Sao Tomé under the new leadership of Marcello Caetano.
  • 11 Nov 1968 Vietnam War: Operation Commando Hunt: The United States military initiated Operation Commando Hunt, a strategic campaign designed to disrupt and interdict North Vietnamese supply lines and troop movements along the Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos into South Vietnam. This operation was part of the broader military efforts to weaken the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army's logistical capabilities.
  • 12 Nov 1968 Tinker v. Des Moines Supreme Court Case: Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District is argued before the Supreme Court of the United States, a landmark case concerning student free speech rights.
  • 13 Nov 1968 Northrop HL-10 Wingless Aircraft First Rocket-Powered Flight: The Northrop HL-10 experimental aircraft, nicknamed 'the flying flatiron', successfully completed its first rocket-powered flight, marking a significant milestone in aerospace engineering and experimental aircraft design.
  • 14 Nov 1968 Yale University Goes Co-Educational: Yale University announced its groundbreaking decision to become co-educational, ending 267 years of male-only admission and paving the way for gender equality in higher education.
  • 15 Nov 1968 US Air Force Launches Operation Commando Hunt: The United States Air Force initiated Operation Commando Hunt, a large-scale aerial bombing campaign targeting the Ho Chi Minh trail during the Vietnam War, aimed at disrupting North Vietnamese supply lines and military logistics.
  • 16 Nov 1968 Polish Communist Party Politburo Reshuffles Leadership: During the Fifth Congress of the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR), Władysław Gomułka was re-elected as General Secretary, signaling continuity in party leadership. The congress marked a significant internal power restructuring, with three Politburo members being removed, notably Foreign Minister Adam Rapacki. Rapacki's dismissal was primarily due to his disagreement with the party's hardline approach towards student protests, which were growing increasingly vocal during this period of political tension. Three new hardline members were appointed to replace the ousted officials, indicating a more conservative and potentially repressive direction for the party's leadership.
  • 17 Nov 1968 Panagoulis Condemned to Death: Greek resistance fighter Alexandros Panagoulis is sentenced to death for his attempted assassination of military dictator George Papadopoulos during the Greek military junta. This event highlights the political repression of the time.
  • 18 Nov 1968 Soviet Zond 6 Lunar Mission Recovery: On November 18, 1968, the Soviet space program successfully recovered the Zond 6 spacecraft after its lunar flyby mission. This mission was part of the Soviet Union's ambitious lunar exploration program during the Space Race, representing a significant technological achievement in space exploration and reconnaissance.
  • 19 Nov 1968 Mali Military Coup Led by Lieutenant Moussa Traoré: On November 19, 1968, Lieutenant Moussa Traoré led a bloodless military coup d'état in Mali, successfully overthrowing President Modibo Keita and establishing himself as the new head of state. This political transition marked a significant moment in Mali's post-colonial history, representing a shift in political leadership through military intervention.
  • 20 Nov 1968 Vietnam War Combat Incident: During the Vietnam War on November 20, 1968, a Long Range Patrol team from F Company, 58th Infantry, 101st Airborne was ambushed by North Vietnamese army regulars from the 4th and 5th Regiments. The eleven-man team was surrounded and nearly decimated in a fierce engagement. After several hours of intense combat, seven wounded survivors were rescued by an impromptu rescue force composed of fellow unit members, demonstrating the extreme risks and close-knit nature of combat operations during the conflict.
  • 21 Nov 1968 Cincinnati Reds Trade Leo Cardenas to Minnesota Twins: The Cincinnati Reds traded shortstop Leo Cardenas to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for pitcher Jim Merritt, marking a significant player exchange during the 1968 baseball season.
  • 22 Nov 1968 First Interracial Kiss on Television: In a landmark moment for television and civil rights, Star Trek aired an episode featuring the first interracial kiss on American television. Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Lieutenant Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) shared a historic on-screen kiss in the episode 'Plato's Stepchildren', breaking significant racial barriers in media representation.
  • 23 Nov 1968 Milwaukee Bucks First NBA Trade: The Milwaukee Bucks completed their first significant NBA trade, exchanging players Bob Love and Bob Weiss to the Chicago Bulls in return for Flynn Robinson. This early transaction was part of the team's strategic player development and roster management during their formative years in the NBA.
  • 24 Nov 1968 U.S. Military Attack on Tham Piu Cave: A tragic U.S. military operation in Laos resulted in the deaths of 374 civilians during an attack on the Tham Piu Cave in Xiangkhouang Province, representing a devastating incident during the Vietnam War era.
  • 25 Nov 1968 Death of Upton Sinclair: Upton Beall Sinclair, a prominent American author known for his muckraking novels and social activism, passed away on November 25, 1968, at the age of 90. Sinclair was a significant literary figure who exposed social injustices through works like 'The Jungle' and was an influential voice in early 20th-century progressive movements.
  • 26 Nov 1968 The Beatles Release White Album: The Beatles released their groundbreaking self-titled double album, commonly known as the 'White Album', which became a landmark recording in rock music history.
  • 27 Nov 1968 Penny Ann Early becomes the first woman to play in a major professional men's basketball league, for the Kentucky Colonels in an ABA game against the Los Angeles Stars.
  • 28 Nov 1968 John Lennon Fined for Drug Possession: Beatles member John Lennon was fined £150 for unauthorized drug possession, reflecting the era's strict legal approach to drug-related offenses and the ongoing scrutiny of high-profile musicians during the late 1960s.
  • 29 Nov 1968 Civil Rights Tension in Northern Ireland: A Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association march in Armagh was halted by the Royal Ulster Constabulary due to the presence of a Loyalist counter-demonstration led by prominent political figures Ian Paisley and Ronald Bunting. This event highlights the deep political and sectarian tensions in Northern Ireland during the late 1960s.
  • 30 Nov 1968 Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association March Stopped: A Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association march in Armagh was halted by the Royal Ulster Constabulary due to a Loyalist counter-demonstration led by prominent figures Ian Paisley and Ronald Bunting, highlighting the tensions during the Northern Ireland conflict.