On this day

January 31, 1968

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

Portrait 1080 × 1920 PNG · created on your device

Filter by:

Headlines from January 31, 1968

STATE UNIVERSITY SETS DRUG CURBS; Gould Issues New Controls in Reaction to Raid on Stony Brook Campus STATE UNIVERSITY SETS DRUG CURBS

By Sydney H. Schanbergspecial To the New York Times

Gould orders ban on illegal use of drugs and bars sanctuary for those who violate state and Fed narcotics laws at SUNY units; urges police and univ action against outsiders and loiterers who have no 'legitimate reason' to be on campuses; Sen Hughes says he has data indicating that 400-1,000 students at Stony Brook campus were involved in use of drugs, radio int

None0 words
Continue reading...
Share

A Pueblo Crewman Is Dead, U.S. Is Told; PUEBLO CREWMAN DEAD, U. S. IS TOLD

By Hedrick Smithspecial To the New York Times

Defense Dept repts it has recd word that 1 crew member of Pueblo has died; earlier statement reptd US was informed that crew was being 'properly' treated and given necessary med aid; Hungarian delegation, at UN, reptd to other members on death of crew member and treatment of captives; Repr Schadeburg charges lag in US efforts to save Pueblo stemmed from fact that ship was under direct command of Sec McNamara rather than Navy Dept; Pentagon denies it; Soviet sources, New Delhi, deny repts that Kosygin suggested Pueblo crew be traded for captured N Korean agents

None0 words
Continue reading...
Share

JOHNSON RECEIVES FLOW OF REPORTS; He Meets With Advisers on Saigon Raid, Viewed as New Step-Up in War JOHNSON RECEIVES FLOW OF REPORTS

By Special to The New York Times

Johnson Adm taken by surprise by raid; officials say Vietcong did not seize embassy bldg proper; Johnson gets more than 25 repts on battle in embassy compound; meets with Rusk, McNamara, Clifford, Gen Wheeler, W W Rostow, has briefings for Sen Dirksen and Repr Ford; Adm officials accuse enemy of 'callous' violation of Tet cease-fire

None0 words
Continue reading...
Share

Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of January 31, 1968, covering January 31, 1968.

  1. 1
    Album cover for Magical Mystery Tour (Soundtrack) by The Beatles

    Magical Mystery Tour (Soundtrack)

    The Beatles

    Last week
    1
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    7
  2. 2
    Album cover for Their Satanic Majesties Request by The Rolling Stones

    Their Satanic Majesties Request

    The Rolling Stones

    Last week
    2
    Peak
    2
    Weeks
    7
  3. 3
    Album cover for Diana Ross And The Supremes Greatest Hits by Diana Ross & The Supremes

    Diana Ross And The Supremes Greatest Hits

    Diana Ross & The Supremes

    Last week
    4
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    19
  4. 4
    Album cover for Pisces; Aquarius; Capricorn; And Jones Ltd. by The Monkees

    Pisces; Aquarius; Capricorn; And Jones Ltd.

    The Monkees

    Last week
    3
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    11
  5. 5
    Album cover for Herb Alpert's Ninth by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass

    Herb Alpert's Ninth

    Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass

    Last week
    5
    Peak
    5
    Weeks
    7

Notable Births

John Collins (footballer, born 1968)

1968John Collins, Scottish footballer and manager[†]

John Angus Paul Collins is a Scottish professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder.

Matt King (comedian)

1968Matt King, English actor, producer, and screenwriter[†]

Matt King is an English actor, DJ and comedian. He is best known for his role as Super Hans in the British sitcom Peep Show.

1968Ulrica Messing, Swedish politician, 2nd Swedish Minister for Infrastructure[†]

Ulrica Messing is a Swedish politician and civil servant who has served as Governor of Blekinge County since 2021. A member of the Social Democratic Party, she previously served as Minister for Infrastructure from 2000 to 2006.

1968Patrick Stevens, Belgian sprinter[†]

Patrick Stevens is a retired sprinter from Belgium. He won the bronze medal in the 200 metres at the 1994 European Championships in Helsinki and a silver medal in the 200 m at the 2000 European Indoor Championships. He earned selection for four consecutive Olympic Games for his native country, although he was unable to compete at Sydney 2000 due to injury. His best result was seventh in the famous Michael Johnson 1996 200m WR final in Atlanta. He has also competed in four World Championships, between 1993 and 1999, finishing eighth in the 1997 200 m final.

Historical Events

Vietnam War

1968Vietnam War: Viet Cong guerrillas attack the United States embassy in Saigon, and other attacks, in the early morning hours, later grouped together as the Tet Offensive.[†]

The Vietnam War was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam and their allies. North Vietnam was supported by the Soviet Union and China, while South Vietnam was supported by the United States and other anti-communist nations. The conflict was the second of the Indochina wars and a proxy war of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and US. The Vietnam War was one of the postcolonial wars of national liberation, a theater in the Cold War, and a civil war, with civil warfare a defining feature from the outset. Direct US military involvement escalated from 1965 until its withdrawal in 1973. The fighting spilled into the Laotian and Cambodian Civil Wars, which ended with all three countries becoming communist in 1975.

Historical Context for January 31, 1968

In 1968, the world population was approximately 3,545,187,251 people[†]