PARIS, Dec. 29 -- President de Gaulle held out tonight qualified hopes for agreement on an independent Algeria, but, "in any case," he said, the bulk of the French Army engaged in Algeria will be brought home next year.

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1961Douglas Coupland, German-Canadian author and playwright^[†]

Douglas Coupland is a Canadian novelist, designer and visual artist. His first novel, the 1991 international bestseller Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, popularized the terms Generation X and McJob. He has published 13 novels, two collections of short stories, seven non-fiction books and a number of dramatic works and screenplays for film and television. He is a columnist for the Financial Times, as well as a frequent contributor to The New York Times, e-flux journal, DIS Magazine, and Vice. His art exhibits include Everywhere Is Anywhere Is Anything Is Everything, which was exhibited at the Vancouver Art Gallery, and the Royal Ontario Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, now the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada, and Bit Rot at Rotterdam's Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, as well as the Villa Stuck.

1961Bill English, New Zealand farmer and politician, 39th Prime Minister of New Zealand^[†]

Sir Simon William English is a New Zealand former politician who served as the 39th prime minister of New Zealand from 2016 to 2017 and leader of the National Party from 2001 to 2003 and 2016 to 2018. He had previously served as the 17th deputy prime minister of New Zealand and minister of finance from 2008 to 2016 under John Key and the Fifth National Government.

1961Sean Hannity, American radio and television host^[†]

Sean Patrick Hannity is an American conservative television presenter, broadcaster and writer. He hosts The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show, has hosted a self-titled political commentary program on Fox News since 2009, and co-hosted the original Fox News debate show Hannity & Colmes with Alan Colmes from the network's founding in 1996 to 2009.

1961Ben Johnson, Jamaican-Canadian sprinter^[†]

Benjamin Sinclair Johnson, is a Canadian former sprinter. During the 1987–88 season he held the title of the world's fastest man, breaking both the 100 m and the 60 m indoor World Records. He won the 100 metres at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics; and at the 1988 Summer Olympics, but was disqualified for doping and stripped of the gold medals.

1961Charlie Nicholas, Scottish footballer and sportscaster^[†]

Charles Nicholas is a Scottish former professional footballer. A striker, Nicholas is best known for his spells at Celtic and Arsenal. He won 20 international caps for Scotland, including playing at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

Historical Context for December 30, 1961

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

Headlines from December 30, 1961

8 Denounce Mayor For 'Salary Grab,' Then He Signs Bill; 8 Denounce City 'Salary Grab,' Then Mayor Signs Increases

THANT CHOOSES 8 AS CHIEF ADVISERS; Three Are Newcomers to Secretariat -- Loutfi of U.A.R. Surprise Choice Picked as U.N. Under Secretaries Thant Names 8 Chief Advisers; U.A.R.'s Loutfi Surprise Choice

Air Force Says Retired General Is Both Adviser and Contractor; Chairman of Scientific Board Heads Coast Concern That Won 2-Million Project 2 DEFENSE ROLES LAID TO GENERAL

TOP RUSSIAN AIDE IN BERLIN BARRED FROM U.S. SECTOR; Americans Act in Reprisal for East German Refusal to Let Officials Pass U.S. BARS RUSSIAN FROM BERLIN AREA

DE GAULLE TO PULL MOST TROOPS OUT OF ALGERIA IN '62; Announces Plan in Speech Voicing Qualified Hopes for Accord on Freedom REVIEWS REGIME'S ACTS Secret Army Group Bombs TV Stations During Talk -- New Violence in Oran DE GAULLE TO CUT ARMY IN ALGERIA

Notable Births

Historical Context for December 30, 1961