What happened in May 1962?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1962, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- May 1🚀 X-15 Climbs High – X-15 sets record with a successful 48-mile climb, paving the way for future space exploration advancements.
- May 2🔬 Bacteria Live Eons – 650-million-year-old bacteria found in Siberian deposits, showcasing the resilience of life over millennia.
- May 3🌌 Astronauts Visit Kennedy – Astronauts Titov and Glenn meet President Kennedy, touring the capital and attending a space session.
- May 4📺 TV Pictures via Satellite – TV pictures were successfully transmitted coast to coast using the orbiting Echo I satellite, marking a significant technological achievement.
- May 5🔬 Kennedy's Trade Speech – President Kennedy emphasizes the importance of his tariff program during a ceremony in New Orleans, highlighting trade's role against communism.
- May 6🌍 Two Germanies Issue – The division of Germany remains a critical issue in Europe, with reunification still distant amid economic and political challenges.
- May 7🕊️ Pope Canonizes Friar – Pope canonizes St. Martin de Porres in Vatican, honoring him as the Patron of Universal Brotherhood before 20,000 attendees.
- May 8🌍 French Nuclear Test – France conducts an underground nuclear test in the Sahara, marking its 31st test amid global tensions.
- May 9⚓ Kennedy Christens Submarine – First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy christens the submarine Lafayette in both English and French, marking a significant naval event.
- May 10🌍 New Science Panel Formed – An international group is established to screen space experiments, aiming to prevent harmful projects from being conducted.
- May 11🚗 Compact Car Innovation – West Germany unveils a new vehicle that combines a compact car and power boat for use in fresh or salt water.
- May 12🎨 Mount Fuji Exhibition – A Japanese print exhibition focuses on Mount Fuji, aiming to broaden interest in the works of artist Hokusai.
- May 13🏆 Sugar Ray in Paris – Sugar Ray Robinson's skills remain celebrated in Paris as a proposed bout stirs excitement among fans and promoters.
- May 14🌍 Sukarno Survives Attack – Indonesian President Sukarno escapes an assassination attempt, with guard officers reported injured during the incident.
- May 15🛰 Barrier to Arms Urged – U.S. delegate calls for a Geneva conference to prevent weapons in space, emphasizing the need for peace in orbit.
- May 16🏗️ Panama Canal Bridge Topped – A bridge across the Panama Canal is set to be topped off this week, marking a significant engineering milestone.
- May 17🏛️ Disney's Patriotic Display – Disney prepares a display featuring films and animated figures to dramatize the Constitution and its 34 Presidents.
- May 18🔬 Khrushchev Tours Bulgaria – Khrushchev visits Bulgaria, discussing agricultural issues and potential improvements, likening the area to Iowa.
- May 19🏅 World Track Records Broken – Long and Oerter break world records in shot put, discus, and mile, showcasing remarkable athletic achievements at the event.
- May 20🔬 Final Generator Online – Last unit of the Moses Plant at Niagara to produce power, surpassing Grand Coulee in capacity, marking a significant milestone in energy production.
- May 21🏁 Graham Hill Wins Grand Prix – Graham Hill of Britain secures victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, with notable performances from other drivers despite race crashes.
- May 22📈 Kennedy Calls Economy – President Kennedy urges a new approach to economic issues, calling for rational planning and collaboration among leaders.
- May 23🚀 Canaveral Awaits Flight – Canaveral prepares for Carpenter's flight, with concerns about smoke from the Everglades affecting the launch.
- May 24🔬 Virus Resistance Enhanced – A hog disease is reported curbed by an inoculation of an unrelated virus, enhancing resistance in tests.
- May 25🚀 Astronaut Guides Space – Astronaut maneuvers spacecraft with sophisticated controls, fixing orbit but altering craft's attitude through various devices.
- May 26🚀 Carpenter's Flight Success – Astronaut Carpenter declares his recent orbital flight a success, calling it a 'snap' despite initial anxiety during re-entry.
- May 27🎶 Duke Ellington Musical – Duke Ellington, renowned band leader and composer, announces plans to prepare a score for a new musical.
- May 28🎨 Japan Displays U.S. Art – Japan sets up a goodwill loan program to display 100 U.S. paintings under a sister-city initiative.
- May 29📉 Stock Market Crash – Stock prices dive in sharpest loss since 1929, erasing $20.8 billion in values as 1,212 issues drop.
- May 30🚀 Astronaut Receives Degree – Astronaut Carpenter receives a delayed degree from his college, predicting man will reach the Moon soon.
- May 31🎶 Goodman Concert in Moscow – Benny Goodman's concert in Moscow entertains and confuses Premier Khrushchev, showcasing cultural exchange during the Cold War.
Happy Birthday! 1962 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1962 in real headlines. See the 1962 book →