April 2, 1961
Gas cost $0.31 a gallon in the spring of 1961, and the Dow Jones stood at 731 — a young Navy test pilot named Alan Shepard had just become the first American in space, riding a Freedom 7 capsule on a 15-minute suborbital flight that May and returning to a hero's welcome in Washington. On the cultural front, "Blue Moon" by The Marcels was climbing the charts with its distinctive doo-wop sound, while "The Apartment" had just taken home the Oscar for Best Picture. In sports, the Boston Celtics claimed the NBA championship over the St. Louis Hawks, and on the golf course that April, South African Gary Player became the first non-American to win the Masters Tournament.
On the cover
Magazine Covers — April 2, 1961
NY Times Headlines — Week of April 2, 1961
Kennedy Assures Congress On Role For Space Agency; Will Not Subordinate Civil Unit To The Pentagon -- Clarifies His Policy Areas Are Delineated Scientific Exploration Cited As Major Field Outside Province Of Military Pole Is Assured For Space Agency
President Reaffirms Hope Of A 'Peaceful Settlement'; Kennedy Pleased By Soviet Reply
Castro Minister Says U.S. Wages Undeclared War; Roa Denounces Washington Pamphlet Urging Havana To Cut Ties With Reds Plans Charge In U.N. Cuban Says Army Of 4,000 Is Being Trained, Mostly At Camps In Florida Castro Aide Says U.S. Wages 'War'
Anti-Castro Units Trained To Fight At Florida Bases; Force There And In Central America Is Reported To Total 5,000 To 6,000 Castro Foes Train Troops In Florida
World Events — April 1961
Time Person of the Year — 1961
On the radio
Billboard Charts — April 2, 1961
Grammy Awards
On the bookshelf
On the television
Nielsen Top 10 — 1960–61 Season
Emmy Winners — 1961
At the movies
Box Office & Oscar Winners — April 2, 1961
On the field
Sports Champions — April 2, 1961
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