What happened in July 1964?
The top front-page story of each day in July 1964, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Jul 1🌌 Comet to Be Visible – A new comet named Tomita-Gerber-Honda will be visible tonight across North America shortly after sunset.
- Jul 2🔬 Sunlike Flames Produced – Columbia University demonstrated a new device that creates flames as hot and bright as the sun, capable of cutting through concrete.
- Jul 3📜 Civil Rights Act Signed – President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, affirming equality and justice for all Americans.
- Jul 4📜 Independence Delivery Reenactment – Hartford Courant reenacts the 1776 horseback delivery of the Declaration of Independence for its 200th anniversary.
- Jul 5🌊 Big Fleet Starts Cruise – The Riverside Yacht Club's 33rd annual Stratford Shoal race began with a picturesque start off Flat Neck Point on July 4.
- Jul 6🌍 Malawi Gains Independence – Nyasaland became the independent African state of Malawi, marking a significant shift of control from whites to a black majority.
- Jul 7🌍 Mexican Earthquake Kills 40 – An earthquake in Guerrero, Mexico, killed at least 40 people and destroyed several villages, with hundreds injured.
- Jul 8🏌️ British Open Begins – The 93rd British Open golf tournament commenced at St. Andrews, Scotland, the birthplace of golf, despite rain threats.
- Jul 9🌳 Redwood National Park – President Johnson instructs the National Park Service to expedite plans for a new redwood national park to preserve remaining forests.
- Jul 10🌧️ Heavy Rain Eases Drought – Heavy rainfall ended a two-month drought in the Central Atlantic States, quenching fires but farms still need water.
- Jul 11🏛️ Tshombe Sworn In – Moise Tshombe is sworn in as the new Premier of the Congo, pledging to promote unity and economic development.
- Jul 12🚀 Russians Launch Space Stations – The Soviet Union launched twin space stations into orbit using a single rocket, marking a significant step in space exploration.
- Jul 13🏌️♂️ Miss Wright Wins Title – Mickey Wright won her fourth U.S. Women's Open golf title, defeating Ruth Jessen in a playoff with a score of 70.
- Jul 14🏙️ Soviet Living Standards Boost – Premier Khrushchev announced measures to improve living standards in the Soviet Union, aiming for a better quality of life.
- Jul 15⛵ Operation Sail – Tall ships sailed up the Hudson River, showcasing the last of the majestic sailing vessels from a bygone era.
- Jul 16🏛️ Goldwater Nominated – Barry Goldwater was nominated for President at the Republican National Convention, marking a significant shift in American politics.
- Jul 17🏛️ Goldwater Accepts Nomination – Senator Barry Goldwater accepted the Republican Presidential nomination, calling for liberty and freedom for all Americans.
- Jul 18🌧️ Monsoon Rains Devastate India – Monsoon rains in northern India have caused at least 25 deaths and widespread damage, affecting millions with danger and discomfort.
- Jul 19🌊 Nuclear Ship Arrives – The Savannah, the world's first nuclear-powered merchant liner, returns from a 42-day maiden voyage demonstrating atomic power in commerce.
- Jul 20🌧️ Floods Hit Japan – At least 108 people died in Japan due to landslides and floods caused by torrential rains over the weekend.
- Jul 21🔬 Electric Rocket Test – The first successful flight test of an electric rocket engine was conducted, marking a potential breakthrough for deep-space missions.
- Jul 22🌍 Malta Gains Independence – Britain and Malta agreed on a new constitution, paving the way for Malta's independence expected in September.
- Jul 23🚀 Japan Launches Rocket – Japan successfully launched its first weather observation rocket from Niijima Island, marking a significant step in its space program.
- Jul 24🏇 Britain Wins Nations Cup – Britain won the Nations Cup at the Royal International Horse Show, boosting its Olympic hopes against Italy, the U.S., and Ireland.
- Jul 25✈️ New Reconnaissance Plane – President Johnson announced the development of a long-range reconnaissance airplane capable of flying over 2,000 mph at altitudes above 80,000 feet.
- Jul 26🏅 World Records Broken – Fred Hansen and Dallas Long set new world records in pole vault and shot put at a track meet in Los Angeles, thrilling a crowd of 50,519.
- Jul 27🏆 U.S. Track Victory – The U.S. track team achieved a decisive 139-97 victory over the Soviet Union in a major meet, showcasing American athletic prowess.
- Jul 28🏛️ Churchill's Last Commons Visit – Sir Winston Churchill made what is believed to be his final appearance in the House of Commons.
- Jul 29🌌 Ranger 7 Launched – NASA launched Ranger 7 towards the Moon, aiming to capture images of the lunar surface during its 68-hour flight.
- Jul 30🔬 Hormone Actions Imitated – Scientists reported imitating hormone effects in living cells, potentially aiding fertility control and hormonal disease treatment.
- Jul 31🌌 Ranger 7 Nears Moon – Ranger 7 is on track to impact the moon today, aiming to capture the first close-up images of its surface.
Happy Birthday! 1964 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1964 in real headlines. See the 1964 book →
Born in July? Pick the day
Every birthday in July has its own On This Day in Headlines book: