What happened in January 1968?
The top front-page story of each day in January 1968, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Jan 1🏆 Packers Win NFL Title – Packers beat Cowboys 21-17 in a thrilling finish, securing their third consecutive NFL title in the last 13 seconds.
- Jan 2🏈 L.S.U. Wins Sugar Bowl – L.S.U. triumphs over opponents 20-13 in the Sugar Bowl, with a strong fourth-period rally led by Smith.
- Jan 3❤️ Second Heart Transplant – Second heart transplant operation performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard in Cape Town, marking a significant medical milestone.
- Jan 4🏔️ Bruggmann Wins Slalom – Swiss skier Bruggmann triumphs in Giant Slalom at Silver Fir Alpine Ski Meet in Germany, beating French rival Killy.
- Jan 5🎭 Playwrights' New Opportunities – Regional stages open for playwrights, indicating a vibrant future for new works and talent in theater.
- Jan 6📈 Stocks Advance Broadly – Stocks see significant gains, with blue chips leading the way. Dow Average rises 1.85 to 901.24, marking a rebound.
- Jan 7🏆 Amon Wins Grand Prix – Amon drives his Ferrari to victory in the New Zealand Grand Prix, with Gardner finishing second. Both injured drivers are hospitalized.
- Jan 8🌍 Chile's Chief Wins Control – Leftist leaders step down as Frei gains support at a special session, solidifying his leadership in Chile.
- Jan 9🌍 Antarctic Snow Study – Research begins on Antarctic snow to analyze Earth's evolution, revealing the South Pole as the last pollution-free area.
- Jan 10🏦 World Bank Rate Increase – World Bank raises lending rate to 6.25%, granting first loan to Sudan for power development.
- Jan 11🌍 Antarctic Snow Study – Belgian researchers plan to analyze Antarctic snow to study Earth's evolution, noting it remains free from modern pollution.
- Jan 12🌍 Bahamas Independence Drive – Bahamas' Pindling calls for full internal self-government, marking a significant step towards independence.
- Jan 13🎨 Whistler Art Survey – The Art Institute of Chicago mounts a major survey of Whistler, featuring loans from the Glasgow collection.
- Jan 14🏔️ Austrians Sweep Ski Race – Austrians achieve a 1-2 finish in the downhill ski race at the World Alpine Cup meet held in Switzerland.
- Jan 15🌍 Soviet Naval Moves – Soviet naval activities in the Mediterranean raise concerns among NATO allies amid British military withdrawal.
- Jan 16🎿 Elliott Wins Ski Trials – Elliott secures first place in the final race of the Olympic 15-kilometer ski trials, with Gallagher following after a mishap.
- Jan 17🏚️ Sicily Earthquake Aftermath – Grief and fear of new tremors follow the Sicily earthquake, with the death toll expected to reach about 200.
- Jan 18🏌️ Kaiser Golf Tournament Begins – The $125,000 Kaiser Golf Tournament kicks off on the coast, spotlighting talented pro rookies including Fleckman and Beman.
- Jan 19🔬 Microbes Studied in Antarctica – Space biologists study microbes in Antarctica to learn how to detect life on Mars.
- Jan 20🎨 Ellington's Concert Premiere – Duke Ellington's 'Sacred Concert' premieres at St. John the Divine, attracting 7,500 attendees to experience his artistry.
- Jan 21🏁 Stock-Car Racing Season – Ford and Chrysler kick off the stock-car racing season with a 500-mile event at Riverside, showcasing eight factory cars.
- Jan 22🚀 Surveyor 7 Images – Surveyor 7 relays new images of laser beams from the Western U.S., marking a significant communications achievement.
- Jan 23🌕 Moon Ship Orbits – An unmanned lunar craft successfully fired its engines after a faltering descent test, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
- Jan 24⚾ Medwick Elected HOF – Medwick becomes the only player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame from 48 candidates, receiving 240 ballots.
- Jan 25🏛️ President Urges Rights Measures – President Johnson calls for legislation to address civil rights issues, emphasizing fair housing and jury selection reforms.
- Jan 26🏅 Seagren Sets Record – Seagren sets world indoor pole vault record at 17 feet 4 1/4 inches during the Millrose Games in New York.
- Jan 27🌍 U.S. Asks U.N. Action – The U.S. requests the United Nations to intervene for the release of the USS Pueblo and its crew held by North Korea.
- Jan 28🏇 Horse Racing Season Starts – Horse racing season kicks off in Nassau with record attendance at Aqueduct-Under-the-Palms, showcasing vibrant calypso culture.
- Jan 29🎿 Penz Wins Slalom – Penz of France triumphs in a decisive first run at the 5-day Alpine meet, with Digruber second and Heuga third.
- Jan 30🖼️ Picasso's Concrete Bust – Picasso entrusts Carl Nesjar to create a 60-ton concrete bust in Greenwich Village, showcasing artistic collaboration.
- Jan 31🏭 Mergers Reshape Economy – Major industrial mergers are transforming the British economy, indicating significant economic restructuring.
Happy Birthday! 1968 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1968 in real headlines. See the 1968 book →
Born in January? Pick the day
Every birthday in January has its own On This Day in Headlines book: