What happened in February 1968?
The top front-page story of each day in February 1968, 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🌍 Apollo Deaths Reported – Senate report criticizes NASA for overconfidence in Apollo project, highlighting safety concerns after recent fatalities.
- Feb 2🎨 Exhibitions Focus on Richter – Two exhibitions highlight Hans Richter's works, showcasing a retrospective at Finch Museum and recent sculptural reliefs at Byron.
- Feb 3🏅 Seagren Sets Record – Seagren sets a new pole vault record at 16 feet 6 3/4 inches during a K. of C. event, showcasing athletic excellence.
- Feb 4🏅 Winter Olympics Opening – France prepares for the Winter Olympics in Grenoble, set to open on Tuesday with great anticipation.
- Feb 5🏎️ Porsches Dominate Daytona – Porsches take the top three spots in the 24-hour Daytona race, showcasing remarkable endurance and speed.
- Feb 6🏅 Winter Olympics Open – De Gaulle leads ceremonies for the 10th Winter Olympics in Grenoble, featuring 1,355 athletes from 37 nations.
- Feb 7🏅 Winter Olympics Open – 60,000 attendees witness de Gaulle declare the Winter Olympics open in a grand ceremony showered with paper roses.
- Feb 8⛷️ Olympic Ski Upset – Franco Nones of Italy wins cross-country ski race at the Olympics, surprising competitors and fans alike.
- Feb 9⛸️ Fleming Leads Figure Skating – Peggy Fleming widens her lead in Olympic figure skating, virtually clinching gold after the compulsory figures test.
- Feb 10🎶 Nashville Sound Impact – NBC traces the influence of country music, highlighting its nostalgic resonance and cultural significance.
- Feb 11🏅 U.S. Wins Figure Skating – Miss Fleming of the U.S. wins Olympic figure skating, marking a historic triumph for the American team.
- Feb 12🏔️ Killy Wins Giant Slalom – Jean-Claude Killy wins first heat in the Giant Slalom, marking a significant moment in skiing history.
- Feb 13⛷️ Killy Wins Olympic Gold – Jean-Claude Killy secures his second Olympic gold medal in giant slalom, continuing his quest for a 'Grand Slam' at the Winter Games.
- Feb 14⛷️ Olympic Slalom Victory – Miss Goitschel of France wins Olympic slalom as U.S. competitor Miss Nagel falls during her second run.
- Feb 15🏛️ Con Ed Plans Nuclear Plant – Con Edison proposes a $900-million nuclear facility on Fort Slocum, aiming to enhance energy production.
- Feb 16⛷️ Greene Wins Olympic Gold – Nancy Greene of Canada wins the Giant Slalom at the Winter Olympics, clocking 1:51.97 for 1,610 meters.
- Feb 17🏗️ Housing Starts Rebound – Housing starts show a significant rebound with a reported increase of 16 percent for the month, following a previous downturn.
- Feb 18🏇 Race Finish Highlights – Gamely and Princessnesian finish first and second in a $100,000 race, separated by a nose at the wire.
- Feb 19🏅 Beloussov Wins Gold – Beloussov captures the 90-meter ski jump gold medal at the 10th Winter Olympics in Grenoble, marking the Soviet Union's first victory in this event.
- Feb 20🏊 World Record Set – Fiolo of Brazil sets a world breast-stroke record of 1:06.4 for 100 meters, cutting the previous record by 0.3 seconds.
- Feb 21📈 Stocks Advance Significantly – Stock market sees gains with DOW index climbing 4.45 as bargain hunters boost market strength.
- Feb 22🏛️ Museum's Future Planned – Director seeks broader involvement with scholars and public for modern museum's future initiatives.
- Feb 23🎭 Joffrey Ballet's Impact – The Joffrey Ballet's performance is praised for its mind-expanding work, highlighting its vital role in the future of theater.
- Feb 24🏫 Hidden Schools Found – Visitor discovers hidden schools, factories, and hospitals in North Vietnam's mountain refuge.
- Feb 25🌍 Sea Reclamation Project – Dutch town's sea reclamation will create 7% more land, addressing population growth and environmental challenges.
- Feb 26🏛️ Makarios Re-elected President – Makarios was re-elected President of Cyprus with a 20-to-1 margin, reporting a 90% voter turnout in the election.
- Feb 27📉 Stock Prices Decline – Stock prices fell sharply, with significant losses in the first 90 minutes of trading, attributed to bearish market developments.
- Feb 28🌾 Johnson's Farm Plan – President Johnson submits a comprehensive farm plan aimed at reducing poverty through crop controls and price support.
- Feb 29🏅 Protopopovs Retain Title – Soviet pair Protopopovs win the World Pairs Skating Championship, with U.S. siblings Kauffman taking third place.
Happy Birthday! 1968 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1968 in real headlines. See the 1968 book →