June 12, 1961
The federal minimum wage stood at $1.15/hr that summer of 1961, and the Dow Jones sat at 731 — with the United States and Soviet Union locked in a standoff over the future of Berlin, as Washington issued firm warnings to Moscow that Western rights in the divided city would be defended. On the cultural front, Bobby Lewis spent the summer at number one on the charts with "Tossin' And Turnin'," while television audiences were tuning in to the Western drama "Gunsmoke" week after week. On August 6, Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov launched aboard "Vostok 2" and became the first human being to spend more than a single day in outer space, completing 17 orbits before landing safely — a milestone that underscored how quickly the space race was accelerating.
On the cover
Magazine Covers — June 12, 1961
NY Times Headlines — Week of June 12, 1961
Soviet Treaty Bid Is Rejected By U.S.; Adenauer Backs Assertion That German Peace Pact Plan Is Unacceptable U.S. Rejects Soviet Proposals On Peace Treaty With Germans
U.S. Warns Soviet It May Drop Curb On Atomic Tests; Treaty Demanded Reply To Khrushchev Insists On Success In Geneva Talks U.S. Warns Soviet Oh Nuclear Tests
World Events — June 1961
Time Person of the Year — 1961
On the radio
Billboard Charts — June 12, 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 — June 12, 1961
On the field
Sports Champions — June 12, 1961
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