What happened in August 1964?
The top front-page story of each day in August 1964, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Aug 1🌕 Ranger 7 Moon Photos – Ranger 7 transmitted 4,000 close-up images of the moon, providing unprecedented detail and marking a significant achievement in lunar exploration.
- Aug 2🌕 Ranger 7 Moon Success – Ranger 7's lunar photos confirm the moon's surface is not deep dust, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
- Aug 3🏆 Sweden Leads Davis Cup – Sweden took a 2-1 lead over France in the European Zone Davis Cup final after winning the doubles match.
- Aug 4🌊 Australia Wins Davis Cup – Australia defeated Mexico 4-1 in the Davis Cup final, qualifying to play Chile in the next round of the American Zone.
- Aug 5🏌️ Zembriski, Spangler Win – Walt Zembriski and Jeff Spangler became the first public links players to win the Ike golf team championship in its 12-year history.
- Aug 6🌌 Moon Surface Insights – Ranger 7's moon pictures suggest the lunar surface resembles hard, crunchy snow, according to a leading astronomer.
- Aug 7🕌 Ancient Mosque Reopened – King Hussein of Jordan reopened the Dome of the Rock mosque, completing the first stage of its restoration.
- Aug 8🌍 Ho Chi Minh Statement – President Ho Chi Minh of North Vietnam condemned U.S. naval strikes, calling them deliberate acts of aggression against his country.
- Aug 9🏛️ World's Fair Success – Children enjoy the World's Fair, a playground filled with rides and attractions, making it a hit among young visitors.
- Aug 10📜 Pope Paul Signs Encyclical – Pope Paul VI signed his first encyclical, 'Ecclesiam Suam,' addressing the church's role, in a ceremony at Castel Gandolfo.
- Aug 11🔬 Soviet Space Plans – The Soviet Union hinted at a potential manned space flight by a woman, signaling advancements in their space program.
- Aug 12🎉 World Parachuting Record – A Soviet team broke the world record for men's parachute team jumping from 1,000 meters at the championships in West Germany.
- Aug 13🏗️ Toronto Nuclear Plant – Plans for one of the world's largest nuclear power stations near Toronto are nearing completion, marking a significant energy development.
- Aug 14📈 Payments Deficit Widens – The U.S. balance of international payments deficit reached $740 million in Q2, as reported by the Commerce Department.
- Aug 15🚀 Soviet Satellite Launched – The Soviet Union successfully orbited an unmanned cosmos satellite, paving the way for future manned space missions.
- Aug 16🔬 Indonesia Launches Rocket – Indonesia successfully launched its first homemade rocket, reaching an altitude of 37 miles, marking a significant achievement in its space program.
- Aug 17🏛️ Bust of Kennedy Unveiled – A bust of John F. Kennedy was unveiled on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, dedicated to the memory of the late President.
- Aug 18🌍 93 Countries Compete – A record 93 countries will participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games, scheduled for October 10 to 24.
- Aug 19🏅 Olympic Yacht Harbor Ready – The Ennoshima yacht harbor for the Tokyo Olympic games was completed, ready for sailing competitions.
- Aug 20🚀 Syncom 3 Launched – Syncom 3, a communications satellite, was launched to relay Olympic TV broadcasts from Tokyo, marking a significant advancement in satellite technology.
- Aug 21🔬 Deep Atlantic Life – Scientists report surprising findings of life in the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean, revealing unexpected terracing in the Puerto Rico Trench.
- Aug 22🗺️ Malta Gains Independence – Malta will become independent on September 21, joining the British Commonwealth, as announced by the Colonial Office.
- Aug 23🏆 Little League Championship – Massapequa Park wins the international senior Little League championship with a 2-1 victory, led by 14-year-old pitcher Richie Szal.
- Aug 24🏖️ Boardwalk Redevelopment Complete – Asbury Park, NJ, celebrates the completion of a five-year boardwalk redevelopment project with new pavilions opened for public inspection.
- Aug 25🌊 Typhoon Kills 12 – A typhoon swept through southwestern Japan, resulting in 12 deaths, 5 missing, and 25 injured as it moved into the Japan Sea.
- Aug 26🌍 Hurricane Aims at Florida – The season's first hurricane lashed Cuba, aiming for Florida, leaving 50 dead in Haiti.
- Aug 27🌍 Hurricane Strikes Miami – A hurricane struck Miami early today with winds of 75 miles per hour, causing significant disruption.
- Aug 28🌪️ Hurricane Cleo Hits Miami – Hurricane Cleo caused extensive damage across Miami and Florida's Gold Coast, leaving a path of destruction and prompting emergency responses.
- Aug 29🏅 Olympic Flame Reaches India – The Olympic flame arrived in New Delhi, igniting a two-day celebration ahead of the Tokyo Games.
- Aug 30🌌 Space Vehicles Exhibit – Three space vehicles were displayed in the Hall of Science at the World's Fair, showcasing advancements in space exploration.
- Aug 31🏆 Olympic Torch Arrives – The Olympic torch reached Burma, welcomed by a special committee as it continues its journey to Tokyo for the upcoming Games.
Happy Birthday! 1964 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1964 in real headlines. See the 1964 book →
Born in August? Pick the day
Every birthday in August has its own On This Day in Headlines book: