On this day

November 20, 1968

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

Historical Context for November 20, 1968

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

Notable Births

1968James Dutton, American astronaut^[†]

James Patrick "Mash" Dutton Jr. is an engineer, former NASA astronaut pilot of the Class of 2004, and a former test pilot in the US Air Force with the rank of colonel.

1968Andrei Kharlov, Russian chess player^[†]

Andrei Vasilyevich Kharlov was a Russian chess grandmaster.

1968Paul Scheuring, American screenwriter and director^[†]

Paul T. Scheuring is an American screenwriter and director of films and television shows. His work includes the 2003 film A Man Apart and the creation of the television drama Prison Break, for which he was also credited as an executive producer and head writer.

1968David Einhorn, American hedge fund manager^[†]

David M. Einhorn is an American investor, hedge fund manager, and amateur poker player. He is the founder and president of Greenlight Capital, a "long-short value-oriented hedge fund".

1968Jeff Tarango, American tennis player^[†]

Jeffrey Gail Tarango is a retired American tennis player. He was a top-ten doubles player and a runner-up at the 1999 French Open men's doubles tournament. He is now the Director of Tennis at the Jack Kramer Club, which is just south of Los Angeles. In 2018, he was the tournament director of a $30,000 men's California championships. At that championships, ATP world-ranked No. 11, Sam Querrey, beat Davis Cup captain Mardy Fish to win this event.

Historical Events

1968A total of 78 miners are killed in an explosion at the Consolidated Coal Company's No. 9 mine in Farmington, West Virginia in the Farmington Mine disaster.^[†]

The Farmington Mine disaster was an explosion that happened at approximately 5:30 a.m. on November 20, 1968, at the Consol No. 9 coal mine north of Farmington and Mannington, West Virginia, United States.

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Headlines from November 20, 1968

Kosygin Is Warned By Gore of Reaction In U.S. to Invasion; Kosygin Is Warned by Senator Of Reaction in U.S. to Invasion

By Henry Kammspecial To the New York Times

Sens Gore and Pell conf, Moscow, with Kosygin; rept warning that events such as Czech invasion could turn Amer pub opinion away from pursuit of improved East-West relations, news conf; Pell calls Kosygin 'decent man bothered by course of events'; Gore says he stressed continuity of policies from Johnson to Nixon Adm; repts Kosygin expressed satisfaction with tone of Nixon reply to Podgorny congratulatory message; implied criticism of Nixon seen in Kosygin remark that relaxation of tension could not be achieved if one power amasses great superiority in mil strength; Sens accompanied in conf by Amb Thompson and by Foreign Relations Com staff member J Lowenstein; Kosygin accompanied by G M Korniyenko

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High Court Limits Right to Ban Rallies; HIGH COURT CURBS BANS ON RALLIES

By Fred P. Grahamspecial To the New York Times

US Sup Ct holds state cts violated freedom of s of Natl States Rights party, white supremacist group, by restraining orgn from holding anti-Negro rallies, Princess Anne, Md, '66, by not allowing hearing for testimony from those who wished to meet; incident recalled

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U.S. FEARS THREAT TO POLARIS CRAFT; Build-up in Mediterranean by Soviet Could Cut Ships' Nuclear Strike Value Threat to Polaris Craft Seen in Soviet Build-Up

By William Beecherspecial To the New York Times

US concerned that USSR naval build-up in Mediterranean is potential threat to Polaris submarines operating there; mil analysts rept that USSR helicopter carrier Moskva practiced submarine detection in recent operations there; intelligence sources suggest USSR may soon try to lay detection devices on floor of 8-mi-wide Strait of Gibraltar, through which US submarines must pass to enter or leave Mediterranean; map; Moskva illus

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Ocean Hill to Experiment With a Nongraded School; OCEAN HILL PLANS NONGRADED STUDY

By Gene Currivan

McCoy announces plan to set up nongraded schools in dist where students can select their own programs and progress according to their own ability, news conf; says program is being supervised by Behavioral Research Labs; Johnson says he is pleased with action

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Aldrich Will Head L.I.U. in Brooklyn; Aldrich Named to Head L.I.U.'s Brooklyn Center

By David Bird

A Aldrich named Bklyn Center pres; will have greater powers than predecessors; comments; recent controversy involving center noted

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G.I. Platoon Wearies of Talks in Paris; U.S. Platoon in Vietnam Weary Of the Diplomats' Moves in Paris

By Joseph B. Treasterspecial To the New York Times

Article on reaction of US troops to Paris peace talks

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President, Presenting 5 Medals, Warns of 'Bitter Days'; Asks Courage Until Peace Is Achieved PRESIDENT WARNS OF 'BITTER DAYS'

By Special to The New York Times

gets medal; illus

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BONN MAPS TAXES TO PROTECT MARK; Emergency Levies Planned on Imports and Exports to Reduce Pressure Bonn Maps Taxes to Protect the Mark

By David Binderspecial To the New York Times

Govt to ask enactment of emergency legis cutting value-added tax on imports and tax rebates on exports in move to ease upward pressure on mark as internatl crisis mounts over speculation against franc; Govt bars outright revaluation of mark; tax move aimed at curbing continuing trade surplus reptd conceived by Econ Min Schiller

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MEDIATORS STUDY CREEDMOOR CRISIS; State and Union Officials Go to Meeting -- Volunteers to Feed III Asked Mediators Study Creedmoor's Crisis

By Damon Stetson

Illus

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JOHNSON, IN CITY, CHALLENGES G.O.P. ON RIGHTS REGORD; Indirectly Criticizes Nixon at Urban League Dinner -- Group Honors President Johnson, in City, Challenges G.O.P. on Rights Record

By Roy Reed

Natl Urban League to set up $100,000 L B Johnson scholarship fund to aid Negro students studying pub affairs

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U.S. ACTS TO EASE RULE ON WELFARE; Plan, Like City's, Would End Case-by-Case Inquiries U.S. ACTS TO EASE RULE ON WELFARE

By Marjorie Hunterspecial To the New York Times

HEW Dept proposes plan to allow relief applicants to become eligible for payments by filing 'statement of need'; would investigate about 10% of those admitted to welfare rolls; dept officials say check in states and localities using system has found percentage of cheating about same as under detailed checking system; hold new system would free soc workers to provide more service to clients

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EUROPE TO HALT MONEY TRADING; TALK SET TODAY; BIG 10 WILL MEET Aim Is to Stem Run on Franc and Pound -- Paris Cuts Budget Major European Markets Are Closed Today Amid the French Monetary Crisis 10 STATES HOLDING A MEETING IN BONN Step Taken to Stem Run on Franc and Pound -- Paris Reduces the Budget

By John L. Hessspecial To the New York Times

major W Eur govts announce closing of financial mkts to halt currency trading; announcement apparently held up until Natl Assembly, at Couve de Murville request, approves cutting $400-million from $31-billion '69 budget; he sees deficit now brought below $2-billion; says action demonstrates Assembly will to enter resolutely on 'road to equilibrium'; promises early action on reform of nationalized industries

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