On this day

July 21, 1961

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

Historical Context for July 21, 1961

In 1961, the world population was approximately 3,064,869,675 people^[†]

Notable Births

1961Morris Iemma, Australian politician, 40th Premier of New South Wales^[†]

Morris Iemma is an Australian former politician who was the 40th Premier of New South Wales, serving from 3 August 2005 to 5 September 2008.

1961Jim Martin, American singer-songwriter and guitarist^[†]

James Blanco Martin is an American guitarist who played with the rock band Faith No More from 1983 to late 1993.

Historical Events

1961Mercury program: Mercury-Redstone 4 Mission: Gus Grissom piloting Liberty Bell 7 becomes the second American to go into space (in a suborbital mission).^[†]

Project Mercury was the first human spaceflight program of the United States, running from 1958 through 1963. An early highlight of the Space Race, its goal was to put a man into Earth orbit and return him safely, ideally before the Soviet Union. Taken over from the US Air Force by the newly created civilian space agency NASA, it conducted 20 uncrewed developmental flights, and six successful flights by astronauts. The program, which took its name from Roman mythology, cost $2.76 billion. The astronauts were collectively known as the "Mercury Seven", and each spacecraft was given a name ending with a "7" by its pilot.

1961Alaska Airlines Flight 779 crashes near Shemya Air Force Base in Shemya, Alaska killing six.^[†]

Alaska Airlines Flight 779 was a contract cargo flight operated on 21 July 1961 by an Alaska Airlines Douglas DC-6A that crashed short of the runway at Shemya Air Force Base with the loss of all six crew members on board.

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Headlines from July 21, 1961

NUCLEAR SURVEY ON SOVIET READY; Kennedy to Get Committee Data for U.S. Decision on Resumption of A-Tests NUCLEAR SURVEY ON SOVIET READY

By Special to The New York Times

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- An eleven-man scientific committee will report to President Kennedy tomorrow or Monday what it has learned about the possible testing of nuclear weapons by the Soviet Union.

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3 CANDIDATES ASK CHARTER CHANGES; Wagner, Lefkowitz, Levitt Testify at Hearing -- Urge New Power for Mayor 3 CANDIDATES ASK CHARTER CHANGE

By Peter Kihss

Wagner, Lefkowitz, Levitt agree on Cahill comm proposal to increase minority representation, statements, pub hearing; Lefkowitz urges plan be voted with rest of Charter as single question; view backed by Liberal party and several civic groups

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2 Billion Tax Rise Urged by Treasury To Meet Berlin Cost; TREASURY URGES INCREASED TAXES

By Alvin Shuster Special To the New York Times

US Treas recommends tax rise to meet costs of crisis

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ALLEN TELLS CITY TO ACT ON SCHOOLS; State Education Chief Holds 'Extraordinary' Talk With Board in Scandals ALLEN TELLS CITY TO ACT ON SCHOOLS

By Leonard Buder

NYS Comr Allen dissatisfied with reorgn efforts

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U.S. WILL DOUBLE POOL OF ELIGIBLES FOR DRAFT CALLS; But Kennedy Won't Declare Emergency Now -- Moves to Improve the Reserves U.S. WILL DOUBLE POOL FOR DRAFT

By Jack Raymond Special To the New York Times

Dir Hershey repts plans to double draft pool to 100,000

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French Accused in U.N.; TUNISIA BIDS U.N. MEET ON BIZERTE

By Kathleen Teltsch Special To the New York Times

Asks UN Security Council debate on alleged French aggression in Bizerte

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CON ED DIRECTED TO INSURE POWER; State Attributes Blackout to Substation Inadequacy Con Ed Is Ordered to Redesign Substations to Bar Blackouts

By Russell Porter

PSC orders Consol Edison to change substation design to bar recurrence of June 13 power failure; directs '2d-contingency design' for Manhattan high-voltage substations; blames failure on defective insulation in 2 circuit breakers mfrd by Westinghouse; co repts all such breakers replaced

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TIES ARE SEVERED; Bourguiba Denounces de Gaulle -- Tunisian Dead Put at 110 SIEGE OF BIZERTE BROKEN BY FRANCE

By Thomas F. Brady Special To the New York Times

rebels offer mil help to Tunisians in clash with French over Bizerte base; French and Tunisians reptdly clash in Sahara

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City Labor Backs Wagner; Will Seek Place on Ballot; Central Labor Council Backs Wagner's Bid for Re-election

By Clayton Knowles

Central Labor Council meets

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PRESIDENT WINS SENATE UNIT VOTE ON LONG-TERM AID; Panel on Foreign Relations Backs His Request for Treasury Borrowing PLAN CARRIES BY 10 TO 7 Fulbright Predicts a Move by Opposition for Cuts in 8.8 Billion Program PRESIDENT WINS ON LONG-TERM AID

By Felix Belair Jr. Special To the New York Times

Sen Foreign Relations Com approves, 10-7, Kennedy request for long-term borrowing, but cuts $436 million from 1st yr spending and some mil aid; details; Fulbright sees moves for further cuts in Cong

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TV FOOTBALL PACT VOIDED BY COURT; National League-C.B.S. Deal Held Antitrust Violation U.S. Court Voids Football Pact Of C.B.S. and National League

By Val Adams

Fed ct voids Natl Football League pact with CBS; sees antitrust law violation in that pact eliminates clubs competition in sale of TV rights

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Pentagon to Direct Broad Civil Defense; PENTAGON TO RUN CIVILIAN DEFENSE

By Peter Braestrup Special To the New York Times

Shifting civil defense responsibility from OCDM to Defense Dept

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