Information for the Year 1963

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  • France and West Germany sign treaty of cooperation ending four centuries of conflict (Jan. 22).
  • Pope John XXIII dies (June 3), and is succeeded June 21 by Cardinal Montini, who becomes Paul VI.
  • Washington-to-Moscow "hot line" communications link opens, designed to reduce risk of accidental war (Aug. 30).
  • Kenya achieves independence.
  • There are 15,000 US military advisers in South Vietnam.
  • 32 independent African nations establish the Organization for African Unity.
  • Population:  3.205 billion
  • Nobel Peace Prize:  Intl. Comm. of Red Cross; League of Red Cross Societies (both Geneva)
  • Michael E. De Bakey implants artificial heart in human for first time at Houston hospital (April 21).
  • US Supreme Court rules no locality may require recitation of Lord's Prayer or Bible verses in public schools (June 17).
  • "March on Washington," civil rights rally held by 200,000 blacks and whites in Washington, D.C.; Martin Luther King delivers "I have a dream" speech (Aug. 28).
  • President Kennedy shot and killed in Dallas, Tex. Lyndon B. Johnson becomes President same day (Nov. 22).
  • Lee Harvey Oswald, accused Kennedy assassin, is shot and killed by Jack Ruby (Nov. 24).
  • President:  John F. Kennedy
  • Vice President:   Lyndon B. Johnson
  • Population:  189,241,798
  • Life expectancy:  69.9 years
  • US GDP (1998 dollars):   $617.4 billion
  • Federal spending:   $111.32 billion
  • Federal debt:  $310.3 billion
  • Median Household Income(current dollars):  $6,249
  • Consumer Price Index:  30.6
  • Unemployment:   5.5%
  • Cost of a first-class stamp:  $0.04  $0.05 as of 1/7/63)
  • Super Bowl  The first Super Bowl was not played until the year 1967.
  • World Series of Baseball  Los Angeles Dodgers defeat New York Yankees
  • National Basketball Association Championship  Boston defeated Los Angeles Lakers
  • National Hockey League Stanley Cup  Toronto Maple Leafs defeated Detriot Red Wings
  • Women Wimbledon Tennis  Margaret Smith defeated B.J. Moffitt (6-3 6-4)
  • Men Wimbledon Tennis  Chuck McKinley defeated F. Stolle (9-7 6-1 6-4)
  • Kentucky Derby Horse Race Champion   Chateaugay
  • National College Athletic Association Basketball Championship  Loyola-IL defeated Cincinnati (SCORE 60-58 in OverTime)
  • National College Athletic Association Football Champions  Texas (RECORD 11-0-0)
  • Beatlemania hits the U.K. The Beatles, a British band composed of John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, take Britain by storm.
  • The Rolling Stones emerge as the anti-Beatles, with an aggressive, blues-derived style.
  • The French Chef with Julia Child debuts on educational television.
  • Academy Award, Best Picture:  Lawrence of Arabia
  • Grammy Award - Record of the Year   I Left My Heart in San Francisco by Tony Bennett
  • Emmy Award - Best Television Comedy  The Dick Van Dyke Show - CBS
  • Miss America:  Jacquelyn Mayer (Ohio)
  • The first liver transplant is performed by F.D. Moore and Thomas E. Starzl.
  • The first commercial nuclear reactor goes online at the Jersey Central Power Company.

 

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