On this day

December 19, 1961

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

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Headlines from December 19, 1961

Sukarno Sets Mobilization For Attack on New Guinea

By Special to The New York Times

Sukarno orders mobilization of Indonesian people to take W New Guinea, s, Jogjakarta rally; orders people to 'wreck Dutch efforts to set up puppet state'; Indonesian Air Force to close air space over Molucca Islands and around W New Guinea; Sukarno, at s on inauguration of USSR-built atomic reactor at Jogjakarta, holds Indonesians love freedom over peace; USSR Amb Mikhailov, at ceremony, backs Indonesian claims; Indonesian troops alerted; estimate of Dutch, Indonesian strength and weapons; Sukarno, answering Kennedy plea for peaceful solution, reptdly threatens force unless Dutch drop ind govt idea; map

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Military Governor Named; INDIANS CAPTURE THREE ENCLAVES

By Special to The New York Times

India repts capture of Goa, Diu and Damao completed, fighting ended; repts small resistance, light casualties; Menon names Maj Gen Candeth Mil Gov of Goa; Nehru defends India's action, news conf; retreating Portuguese troops reptd using scorched-earth policy; maps; USSR hails 'liberation' of Goa; calls US stand hypocritical

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Notable Births

Scott Cohen (actor)

1961Scott Cohen, American actor[†]

Scott Cohen is an American actor best known for his supporting role as Max Medina on the first three seasons of The WB comedy drama series Gilmore Girls (2000–03), as well as his lead roles as Detective Chris Ravell on the NBC legal drama series Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005–06), Dominic Eugene "Nico" Careles on the USA Network comedy drama series Necessary Roughness (2011–13), Ezra Wolf on the ABC legal drama series The Fix (2019), and Luca Falcone on the HBO crime drama miniseries The Penguin (2024).

Eric Allin Cornell

1961Eric Allin Cornell, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate[†]

Eric Allin Cornell is an American physicist who, along with Carl E. Wieman, was able to synthesize the first Bose–Einstein condensate in 1995. For their efforts, Cornell, Wieman, and Wolfgang Ketterle shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2001.

Matthew Waterhouse

1961Matthew Waterhouse, English actor and author[†]

Matthew Waterhouse is an English actor and writer, best known for his role as Adric in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1980 to 1982.

Reggie White

1961Reggie White, American football player and wrestler (died 2004)[†]

Reginald Howard White was an American professional football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons. White played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, earning unanimous All-American honors. After playing two seasons for the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League (USFL), he was selected in the first round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft, and then played for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Green Bay Packers and the Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the most awarded defensive players in NFL history.

Historical Events

Annexation of Goa

1961India annexes Daman and Diu, part of Portuguese India.[†]

The Annexation of Goa was the process in which the Republic of India annexed the Portuguese State of India, the then Portuguese Indian territories of Goa, Daman and Diu, starting with the armed action carried out by the Indian Armed Forces in December 1961. In India, this action is referred to as the "Liberation of Goa". In Portugal, it is referred to as the "Invasion of Goa". Jawaharlal Nehru had hoped that the popular movement in Goa and the pressure of world public opinion would force the Portuguese Goan authorities to grant it independence, but without success; consequently, Krishna Menon suggested taking Goa by force.

Historical Context for December 19, 1961

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