Information for the Year 1962

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  • France transfers sovereignty to new republic of Algeria (July 3).
  • Cuban Missile Crisis: USSR to build missile bases in Cuba; Kennedy orders Cuban blockade, lifts blockade after Russia backs down (Aug.-Nov.).
  • Pope John XXIII opens Second Vatican Council (Oct. 11).
  • Cuba releases 1,113 prisoners of 1961 invasion attempt (Dec. 24).
  • Burundi, Jamaica, Western Samoa, Uganda, and Trinidad and Tobago become independent.
  • Population:  3.136 billion
  • Nobel Peace Prize:  Linus Pauling (United States)
  • John F. Kennedy defeats Richard Nixon in a closely-fought presidential race.
  • Black sit-in at Greensboro, N.C., diner receives national attention.
  • President:  John F. Kennedy
  • Vice President:   Lyndon B. Johnson
  • Population:  186,537,737
  • Life expectancy:  70.1 years
  • US GDP (1998 dollars):  $585.2 billion
  • Federal spending:   $106.82 billion
  • Federal debt:  $302.9 billion
  • Median Household Income(current dollars):  $5,956
  • Consumer Price Index:  30.2
  • Unemployment:   6.7%
  • Cost of a first-class stamp:  $0.04
  • Super Bowl  The first Super Bowl was not played until the year 1967.
  • World Series of Baseball  New York Yankees defeated the San Francisco Giants
  • National Basketball Association Championship  Boston defeated LA Lakers
  • National Hockey League Stanley Cup  Toronto Maple Leafs defeated Chicago Red Wings
  • Women Wimbledon Tennis  Karen Susman defeated. defeated Sukova (6-4 6-4)
  • Men Wimbledon Tennis  Rod Laver defeated M. Mulligan (6-2 6-2 6-1)
  • Kentucky Derby Horse Race Champion   Decidedly
  • National College Athletic Association Basketball Championship  Cincinnati defeated Ohio St. (SCORE 71-59)
  • National College Athletic Association Football Champions  USC (RECORD 11-0-0)
  • World Soccer Cup  Brazil defeated Czechoslovakia
  • The first transatlantic television transmission occurs via the Telstar Satellite, making worldwide television and cable networks a reality.
  • Government regulations force studios out of the talent agency business.
  • Johnny Carson takes over hosting duties of The Tonight Show.
  • Academy Award, Best Picture:  West Side Story
  • Grammy Award - Record of the Year  Moon River by Henry Mancini
  • Emmy Award - Best Television Comedy  The Bob Newhart Show - NBC
  • Miss America:  Maria Fletcher (North Carolina)
  • Lt. Col. John H. Glenn, Jr., is first American to orbit Earth — three times in 4 hours 55 minutes (Feb. 20).
  • Mariner II, the first interplanetary probe, reaches Venus.
  • Unimation introduces the first industrial robot.
  • The commercially sponsored Telstar communications satellite is launched.

 

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