August 23, 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 23, 1961
NY Times Headlines — Week of August 23, 1961
U.S. Test Ban Plan Ignored By Soviet; Russian Snubs Dean'S Call For Neutral Scientists To Act On Widening Treaty Soviet Snubs U.S. On Test Ban Plan
World Events — August 1961
Time Person of the Year — 1961
On the radio
Billboard Charts — August 23, 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 23, 1961
On the field
Sports Champions — August 23, 1961
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