What happened in December 1956?
The top front-page story of each day in December 1956, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Dec 1🏙️ Penn Station's Ticket Center – Penn Station's new electronic ticket center nears completion, featuring a TV and 31 clerks to enhance service efficiency.
- Dec 2🌍 U.S. Admits Refugees – President announces plans to admit 21,500 Hungarian refugees, responding to public support for humanitarian aid.
- Dec 3🏅 Olympics Medal Count – America's Olympic team secures 28 gold, 18 silver, and 9 bronze medals, leading the standings in Melbourne.
- Dec 4🌍 U.N. Forces in Suez – U.N. forces in Suez receive orders to take over the Israeli-held zone as British and French forces prepare to withdraw.
- Dec 5🏛️ Protestants Aid Refugees – A $2,000,000 drive begins to help those fleeing Hungary and the Middle East amid rising tensions.
- Dec 6🔬 U.S. Pledges Atomic Aid – $20 million pledged for an atomic project in Manila, promising 'men and materials' for the initiative.
- Dec 7🏛️ Hungarian Crisis Escalates – Clashes in Budapest lead to casualties as tensions rise between Hungarian Reds and opposition marchers.
- Dec 8🌋 Erupting Volcano Filmed – Scientists filmed an active volcano in El Salvador, capturing stunning visuals during a brief lull in activity.
- Dec 9🏅 Olympics Conclude in Melbourne – The Melbourne Olympics end with Russia winning 37 medals, including 13 golds, showcasing athletic prowess on a global stage.
- Dec 10🌍 Eisenhower Criticizes Soviet – Eisenhower condemns Soviet actions in Hungary, expressing horror and revulsion over human rights violations.
- Dec 11🏛️ U.N. Chief Urged – U.N. officials are urged to visit Moscow amid tensions over Hungary, with a bitter debate among nations ongoing.
- Dec 12🌌 Cosmos 'Created' Test Tube – Physicist creates a model of the universe in a test tube, producing galaxies and offering insights into cosmic formation.
- Dec 13🌍 Japan-Soviet Peace Pact – Japan and the Soviet Union celebrate the ratification of a peace pact, marking a significant step towards Asian peace.
- Dec 14🔬 Uranium Yield Doubled – A.E.C. reports uranium production doubled to 8,000 tons annually, with significant reserves in Canada.
- Dec 15🔬 New Atom Reactor Device – A new boiling-water reactor device is set to enhance atomic power experiments, marking a significant advancement in energy technology.
- Dec 16🌍 Eisenhower Adds Refugee Fund – President Eisenhower allocates $4 million to the U.N. for Hungarian refugee aid, praising Austria's efforts in the crisis.
- Dec 17🌍 Suez Canal Closure – Europe's economy suffers due to the Suez Canal closure, leading to fuel shortages and significant shipping losses.
- Dec 18🚗 Ford Leads Vehicle Output – Ford takes the lead in weekly vehicle production, while Chevrolet's year-long lead diminishes amid rising inventory.
- Dec 19🌍 Japan Joins U.N – Japan is elected as the 80th member of the United Nations with a unanimous vote of 77-0, marking a significant diplomatic milestone.
- Dec 20🏀 Syracuse Defeats Cornell – Syracuse wins 86-59 against Cornell, with Jordan setting a record of 20 free throws in the game.
- Dec 21🌍 Nehru Visit Successful – India's Prime Minister Nehru expresses happiness as he leaves the capital, reassuring doubters about his visit's success.
- Dec 22🔬 G.E. Patent Granted – General Electric receives a design patent for a wingless 'Flying Flash Bulb' with innovative vertical take-off capabilities.
- Dec 23🏔️ Hillary Heads to Pole – Sir Edmund Hillary sails for Antarctica to lead a New Zealand expedition, aiming to traverse the continent.
- Dec 24🏞️ New Park Established – $10,000 Baruch gift secures a 250-acre public picnic and fishing area in the U.S., linking two isles for community use.
- Dec 25🎄 Devout Hail Christmas – Masses and meditations celebrated the birth of Christ, with messages of love and hope shared across communities.
- Dec 26🌍 Saar Returns to Germany – Saarland's 1 million residents prepare for peaceful transition back to Germany from France on January 1.
- Dec 27🔬 Scientists Report Life Clues – Laboratory tests provide new insights into the origin of life, marking a significant shift in scientific understanding.
- Dec 28🔬 New Light Speed Method – A Soviet physicist suggests a simple method to measure light speed, sparking enthusiasm among physicists despite questioned results.
- Dec 29🔬 New Atomic Method – Scientists achieve atomic energy reaction without uranium or intense heat, promising a simpler method for future applications.
- Dec 30🏛️ Older Gospel Manuscript Found – A scholar reports the discovery of a 150 A.D. manuscript of St. John, containing 14 of the 21 chapters, in Egypt.
- Dec 31🔬 Physicist Transmutes Carbon – A physicist successfully creates helium from carbon, advancing understanding of the universe's origins and the Big Bang theory.
Happy Birthday! 1956 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1956 in real headlines. See the 1956 book →
Born in December? Pick the day
Every birthday in December has its own On This Day in Headlines book: