I graduated from college in May of 1969, almost exactly 50
years ago. The year was a very memorable
one, in ways both good and bad. The link
below contains a listing of all of the major events of the year. However, since
all of us get enough bad news just about every day, I’ll just list a few of the
more memorable (and happy) events of each month, as we travel backwards through time.
January – One of rock’s best groups, Led Zeppelin, released their
first album on January 12. (Their 4th album two years later included
Stairway to Heaven, considered by many people to be one of the greatest rock
songs of all time). On the same day, “Broadway Joe” Namath and his Jets upset the
Baltimore Colts in Superbowl III 16-7.
February – In a case that still has relevance today, Tinker v.
Des Moines Independent School District was ruled on in favor of the dependents
on February 24. The defendants (the Tinkers) wore black armbands to school to
protest the Vietnam war, and the Supreme Court ruled in their favor. In recent
months, students in a Phoenix suburb wore MAGA hats to school. The court
allowed them to wear the hats, but prohibited their banners.
March – On March 3, the United States Navy established the Top
Gun Program at Naval Air Station Miramar, allowing brave pilots to venture further
into “the danger zone”.
On March 30, the body of Dwight Eisenhower is brought by
caisson to the United States Capital.
April – On April 8, the Montreal Expos debut as the Major
League Baseball’s first team outside the United States.
May – On May 25, Midnight Cowboy, an X-rated Oscar- winning film,
is released.
June – On June 22, the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland catches
fire. The event so galvanized the nation that an avalanche of water control regulations
(the Clean Water Act, Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and the EPA) were
passed within a year. On June 28, the Stonewall riots in New York City started
the gay rights movement in the United States.
July – On July 14, “Easy Rider” is released in theatres.
Costing no more than $400,000, the movie ultimately grossed $60 million
worldwide, making Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper very wealthy men.
On July 18, Ted Kennedy and Mary Jo Kopechne drove off a bridge
in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts, casting a shadow on his political career that
lasted for decades. On July 20, Neil Armstrong took a giant step for mankind by
walking on the surface of the moon
August – The Woodstock Festival is held at Max Yasgur’s farm
in Bethel, New York from August 15-18.
September – On September 1, Muammar Gaddafi benefited from a
bloodless coup d’etat, and came to power in Libya. On September , the first ATM
machine is installed in Rockville Center, New York. On September 23, Butch
Cassidy and the Sundance Kid opens to limited release in the United States.
October – The New York Mets defeat the Baltimore Orioles four
games to one in one of the greatest upsets in baseball history. On October 29,
the first message is sent over ARPANENT, the forerunner of the internet. On October 31, Wal-Mart incorporates as Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc.
November – On November 9, a group of American Indians seizes
Alcatraz Island, and offers to buy the land from the federal government for
$24, roughly what the government paid the natives for Manhattan Island. Sesame Street
airs its first episode on the NET network on November 10.
On December 1, the new draft lottery begins, and September 14
was the first date drawn. (My number was 165, which caused me to join the National
Guard in February of 1970, Since 30 dates were being drawn each month, I would would have been drafted sometime in May). On December 2, the Boeing 747 makes its first passenger flight.
In 1965, Frank Sinatra released a Grammy award-winning song titled,
“It Was a Very Good Year”. 1969 was definitely one of those years.
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