June 24, 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 24, 1961
NY Times Headlines — Week of June 24, 1961
Macmillan Hints At Negotiations On Berlin Issue; But Prime Minister Asserts Talks With Soviet Would Not Be Under Duress West'S Stand Affirmed Willingness To Confer Seen As Modification Of Allied Position On Crisis Macmillan Hints At Berlin Parley
U.S. Widens Policy; President Opens Move To Engage Soviet On Broad Issues Kennedy Challenges Khrushchev To Give Assent To Self-Determination For Berlin U.S. Widens Policy To Settle Crisis President Seeks To Counter Soviet On Broad Range Of East-West Differences
President Meets His Top Advisers On Berlin Crisis; They Discuss Far-Reaching Steps To Counter Soviet There And Elsewhere Acheson Plan Weighed Expansion Of Civil Defense Is Studied -- U.S. Rejects East German Air Curb President Meets Security Council
World Events — June 1961
Time Person of the Year — 1961
On the radio
Billboard Charts — June 24, 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 24, 1961
On the field
Sports Champions — June 24, 1961
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