January 8
January 8
“Mona Lisa” exhibited in Washington
At the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, is exhibited for the first time in America. Over 2,000 dignitaries, including President John…
A Year In History: 1963
This Year in History:
1963
Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.
January 14
January 14
George Wallace inaugurated as Alabama governor
On January 14, 1963, George Wallace is inaugurated as the governor of Alabama, promising his followers, “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!” His inauguration speech was written by Ku Klux…
February 19
February 19
“The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan is published
Though perhaps not the typical housewife—she had been involved in radical politics from a young age and had a degree in psychology from Smith College—Betty Friedan is often credited as…
March 5
March 5
Hula Hoop patented
March 5, 1963: the Hula Hoop, a hip‑swiveling toy that became a huge fad across America when it was first marketed by Wham‑O in 1958, is patented by the company’s…
March 21
March 21
Alcatraz closes its doors
Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco‘s Bay closes down and transfers its last prisoners. At its peak period of use in 1950s, “The Rock,” or “America’s Devil Island,” housed over 200…
April 1
April 1
Soap operas “General Hospital” and “The Doctors” premiere
On April 1, 1963, the ABC television network airs the premiere episode of General Hospital, the daytime drama that will become the network’s most enduring soap opera and the longest‑running…
April 7
April 7
Tito is made president of Yugoslavia for life
On April 7, 1963, a new Yugoslav constitution proclaims Tito the president for life of the newly named Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Formerly known as Josip Broz, Tito was…
April 10
April 10
Atomic submarine USS Thresher sinks in the Atlantic, killing all on board
On April 10, 1963, the USS Thresher, an atomic submarine, sinks in the Atlantic Ocean, killing the entire crew. One hundred and twenty‑nine sailors and civilians were lost when the…
April 12
April 12
Martin Luther King Jr. is jailed; writes “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
On April 3, 1963, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his Southern Christian Leadership Conference and their partners in the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights led a campaign…
May 1
May 1
Gloria Steinem publishes part one of “A Bunny’s Tale” in SHOW magazine
After enduring a brief but grueling stint as a Bunny in Manhattan’s Playboy Club, feminist writer Gloria Steinem published the first half of her landmark account, “A Bunny’s Tale,” in…
May 2
May 2
More than 1,000 schoolchildren protest segregation in the Children’s Crusade
On May 2, 1963, in Birmingham, Alabama, more than 1,000 Black school children march through the city in a demonstration against segregation. The goal of the non‑violent demonstration, which became…
May 8
May 8
Sean Connery stars in his first Bond movie, “Dr. No”
On May 8, 1963, with the release of Dr. No, North American moviegoers get their first look–down the barrel of a gun–at the super‑spy James Bond (codename: 007), the immortal…
May 12
May 12
Bob Dylan walks out on “The Ed Sullivan Show”
By the end of the summer of 1963, Bob Dylan would be known to millions who watched or witnessed his performances at the March on Washington, and millions more who…
May 27
May 27
Dylan’s breakthrough album, “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan,” is released
On May 27, 1963, Bob Dylan releases his second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, which goes on to transform him from a popular local act to a global phenomenon. “Of…
June 5
June 5
British Secretary of War John Profumo resigns amid sex scandal
On June 5, 1963, British Secretary of War John Profumo resigns his post following revelations that he had lied to the House of Commons about his sexual affair with Christine…
June 11
June 11
University of Alabama desegregated
Facing federalized Alabama National Guard troops, Alabama Governor George Wallace ends his blockade of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and allows two African American students to enroll on June…
June 11
June 11
Buddhist immolates himself in protest
Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc publicly burns himself to death in a plea for President Ngo Dinh Diem to show “charity and compassion” to all religions. Diem, a Catholic who…
June 12
June 12
Civil rights leader Medgar Evers is assassinated
In the driveway outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi, African American civil rights leader Medgar Evers is shot to death by white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith. During World War…
June 16
June 16
Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space
On June 16, 1963, aboard Vostok 6, Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman to travel into space. After 48 orbits and 71 hours, she returned to earth, having…
June 20
June 20
United States and Soviet Union agree to establish a nuclear “hot line”
To lessen the threat of an accidental nuclear war, the United States and the Soviet Union agree to establish a “hot line” communication system between the two nations. The agreement…
