What happened in February 1960?
The top front-page story of each day in February 1960, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Feb 1🌍 World Bank Aid Rules – World Bank submits charter for new loan unit aimed at global aid, seeking approval from 68 member nations.
- Feb 2🏫 N.A.A.C.P. Suit Filed – N.A.A.C.P. initiates a lawsuit in Florida seeking the integration of all students and teachers in the Pensacola school system.
- Feb 3🏔️ Taiwan Skiers Barred – Skiers from Nationalist China and India are excluded from the Winter Olympics due to non-membership in the governing body.
- Feb 4🧠 Psyche Revealed by Game – Projective test based on hobby-shop items provides psychologists insights into personality traits.
- Feb 5🌍 Graham Crusade Charms Africans – Evangelist Billy Graham's tour in Africa is a smooth operation, reflecting months of planning and engagement.
- Feb 6🔬 Satellite to Seek Radiation – Scientists install 3,000 tiny windows on new space vehicle to study dense radiation in space.
- Feb 7🌍 Economic Unity of Africa – Delegates at Tangier Parley of U.N. Group stress the drive to raise economic levels across African nations.
- Feb 8📜 Ancient Scrolls Discovered – Fragments of two Biblical scrolls found in Israeli desert, believed to date back to the 2nd century.
- Feb 9🌍 Indian President Condemns China – President Prasad addresses Parliament, emphasizing the need for rapid economic growth amid tensions with China.
- Feb 10🌍 Key Oil Pipeline Completed – A major oil pipeline linking Iran's mainland to Kharg Island, a terminal for a 100-mile facility, has been completed.
- Feb 11🎶 Dohnanyi Passes Away – Hungarian composer and pianist Ernő Dohnányi, a key figure in the Romantic movement, dies at 82, leaving a significant musical legacy.
- Feb 12⚗️ X-Ray Heart Treatment – Surgeons test new cobalt therapy for coronary disease, showing encouraging results in initial treatments.
- Feb 13🏁 Smith Sets Auto Record – Jack Smith achieves a stock-car record with an average speed of 146 mph at Daytona Speedway during a 100-mile race.
- Feb 14🌍 De Gaulle Celebrates Nuclear Test – France rejoices over successful Sahara nuclear test, joining the 'Nuclear Club' and marking a significant milestone in global nuclear capabilities.
- Feb 15🏗️ Afghanistan's Development Aid – Afghanistan to develop a valley with $22.4 million in Soviet aid for a dam and irrigation project to boost farming.
- Feb 16🌍 Nehru Invites Chou – Nehru invites Chou En-lai to India for talks on border issues, expressing doubts about finding common ground.
- Feb 17🌍 U.S. Ships Reach Antarctic – Two U.S. icebreakers become the first to penetrate the isolated Thurston Peninsula in Antarctica from the sea.
- Feb 18🏅 Olympics Opening Ceremony – Nixon travels 3,000 miles for a brief speech at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California.
- Feb 19🏅 Winter Olympics Open – The Winter Olympics commence at Squaw Valley, with Vice President Nixon participating in the opening ceremonies featuring 740 athletes.
- Feb 20🏅 U.S. Wins Olympic Opener – The U.S. hockey team defeats Czechoslovakia 7-5 in the Olympic round-robin opener, with Mayasich scoring three goals.
- Feb 21🔬 Photon Telescope Developed – New British device utilizes Michelson interference fringe principle to measure stars, marking a significant advancement in astronomy.
- Feb 22🌍 Algerian Quake Devastates – An earthquake in Algeria razes 200 huts, killing 44 and injuring nearly 100, mostly women and children.
- Feb 23🌍 Oil Origin Theory – New theory suggests oil may have originated in the sky, with hydrocarbons returning to Earth via rain.
- Feb 24⛸️ Olympic Figure Skating – Miss Heiss wins gold in figure skating at the Olympics, with Miss Pitou taking silver in the ski race.
- Feb 25🚀 Titan Successful Launch – Titan successfully fires a capsule over a 5,000-mile range, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
- Feb 26🌍 Eisenhower Cheered in Brazil – 500,000 rain-soaked Brazilians welcome President Eisenhower in Sao Paulo, shouting 'Viva Eeke' beneath umbrellas.
- Feb 27🚀 Atom Moon Trip Forecast – U.S. director predicts capability for moon expedition in the 1960s if urgency is prioritized.
- Feb 28🌍 Virus Discovery Made – Chance discovery leads to insights for faster production of flu vaccines, potentially improving public health.
- Feb 29🏒 U.S. Wins Olympic Hockey – A Russian tip helps the U.S. team secure victory in Olympic hockey, overcoming the Soviet Union in a thrilling match.
Happy Birthday! 1960 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1960 in real headlines. See the 1960 book →