May 5, 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 — May 5, 1961
NY Times Headlines — Week of May 5, 1961
Fulbright Hints U.S. Weighs Use Of Troops In Asia; Senator Indicates President Is Studying Intervention In Vietnam And Thailand More Aid Will Be Sent Rusk Says Saigon Is To Get Increased Arms Help To Counteract Red Threat Fulbright Hints U.S. Weighing Use Of Troops In South Vietnam
Johnson To Meet Leaders In Asia On U.S. Troop Use; President Says Decision On South Vietnam Action Will Await Report Talks Set In Capitals Ngo Dinh Diem Is Expected To Seek American Units To Deter Red Attack Johnson To See Asian Leaders On Use Of U.S. Troops In Area
Khrushchev Sees Arms Talks 'Soon' By U.S. And Soviet; Speech In Armenia Regarded As Bid To Better Relations With President Kennedy Premier'S Tone Is Mild But Washington Asserts Two-Nation Conference Is Not Being Planned Khrushchev Sees Arms Talks 'Soon'
Washington Cheers Shepard As Hero; Astronaut Decorated By Kennedy -- Tells Story Of Flight Washington Hails Shepard As A Hero And Hears Him Tell Story Of Space Flight Astronaut Says Trip Was 'Smooth' No 'Bad Moments At All,' Flier Relates On Day Of Plaudits And Honors The Time Had Come To Present The Medal To The Astronaut, And The President -- Oops -- Did His Duty
World Events — May 1961
Time Person of the Year — 1961
On the radio
Billboard Charts — May 5, 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 — May 5, 1961
On the field
Sports Champions — May 5, 1961
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