August 7, 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 — August 7, 1961
NY Times Headlines — Week of August 7, 1961
Pentagon Shrugs At Titov'S Flight; No Military Advance Seen -- Congress Backs Funds For Race To The Moon Pentagon Shrugs At Titov'S Flight
Sees War Threat; Complains Of Kennedy 'Ultimatum' -- Firm On German Treaty Khrushchev Asks Parley On Berlin
Berlin Plans Win 'Broad' Approval Of Nato Council; Preparations Of West'S Big Three To Meet Pressure By Soviet Get Approbation Rusk Reports On Talks Appeals To Alliance'S Other Members To Help Bolster Its Forces For Crisis Berlin Plans Win Approval In Nato
Soviet Putskonev In East Germany; Marshal Will Head Russian Forces -- He Commanded Warsaw Treaty Units Soviet Names Konev Commander In Germany
U.S. Arms Build-Up For Berlin Crisis Held Inadequate; Some In The Pentagon Fear Nato Will Not Be Able To Fight Non-Nuclear War U.S. Military Build-Up Termed Inadequate For The Berlin Crisis
World Events — August 1961
Time Person of the Year — 1961
On the radio
Billboard Charts — August 7, 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 — August 7, 1961
On the field
Sports Champions — August 7, 1961
Interested in postcards, posters or t-shirts? Leave your email and we’ll let you know.