On this day

December 21, 1968

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

Historical Context for December 21, 1968

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

Notable Deaths

1968Vittorio Pozzo, Italian footballer, coach, and manager (born 1886)^[†]

Vittorio Pozzo was an Italian football player, manager and journalist.

Historical Events

1968Apollo program: Apollo 8 is launched from the Kennedy Space Center, placing its crew on a lunar trajectory for the first visit to another celestial body by humans.^[†]

The Apollo program, also known as Project Apollo, was the United States human spaceflight program led by NASA, which landed the first humans on the Moon in 1969. Apollo followed Project Mercury that put the first Americans in space. It was conceived in 1960 as a three-person spacecraft during President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration. Apollo was later dedicated to President John F. Kennedy's national goal for the 1960s of "landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth" in an address to Congress on May 25, 1961. It was the third American human spaceflight program to fly, preceded by Project Gemini conceived in 1961 to extend spaceflight capability in support of Apollo.

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Headlines from December 21, 1968

Pope Voices Pessimism in Christmas Message; He Mourns Decline in Values but Sees Hope for Man in Renewal of Christianity Pope Pessimistic in Christmas Talk

By Robert C. Dotyspecial To the New York Times

Pope, in Xmas message, is pessimistic over temporal prospects of man

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Youth Corps Thefts Stir Insurance Fight; Youth Agency and Insurer in Clash

By Richard Severo

US Fidelity and Bonding Co bars ins for estimated $2-million lost by adm through Neighborhood Youth Corps thefts and embezzlement, lr to adm; charges adm knew of irregularities when agreement was signed July 17; has returned premium plus interest earned from July ($5,265) but adm attys returned check to co holding bond is still in effect; co, on Dec 5, sent another lr confirming its stand; adm's antipoverty agencies have trouble getting bonding ins

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U.S. ENDS ITS CURB ON SOVIET ARTISTS; Moscow Symphony to Visit -- Ban Imposed Following Czechoslovak Invasion U.S. and Soviet Will Resume Cultural Exchanges

By Bernard Gwertzmanspecial To the New York Times

Moscow State Symphony Orch: Orch enabled to make tour of US, beginning in Feb, after US lifts ban on official cultural exchs, imposed after invasion of Czech; orch being presented by S Hurok; tour itinerary

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NIXON PICKS YOST AS U.N. DELEGATE IN SURPRISE MOVE; Retired Career Diplomat Is Named After Talks With Shriver Break Down NIXON PICKS YOST AS U.N. DELEGATE

By R. W. Apple Jr

Nixon announces Shriver will remain in Paris as Amb in his Adm

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OIL TO BE RUSHED TO SERIOUSLY ILL; Emergency Fuel Deliveries Planned for Apartments OIL TO BE RUSHED TO SERIOUSLY ILL

By Damon Stetson

city sets up emergency procedure to facilitate fuel oil deliveries to heatless apt bldgs where there are occupants who are seriously ill; Costello announces plan; Comr Gersten repts deliveries to hosps arc now running smoothly; shortages of oil continue despite tentative accord; Costello says city has received rept of 2,300 apts in which there are 40,000 who are seriously sick and without heat; O'Rourke puts Health Dept staff on 24-hr alert to speed inspections and certifications; Teamsters local pres McGuire warns strike is not over yet

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'Mafia Pressure' Charge Sworn To by Jersey Aide; Jersey Aide Swears To 'Mafia Pressure' Charge

By Ronald Sullivanspecial To the New York Times

Illus

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DE SAPIO INDICTED BY U.S. IN A PLOT TO BRIBE MARCUS; Accused Also of Conspiring to Shake Down Con Edison for Construction Jobs CORALLO IS NAMED, TOO A Co-defendant With Fried -- Charges 'Entirely False,' Ex-Tammany Head Says Named With De Sapio in U.S. Court DE SAPIO INDICTED ON BRIBE CHARGE

By Edward Ranzal

DeSapio indicted by Fed grand jury; charged with conspiring to bribe Marcus and to shake down Consol Edison for construction contracts; pleads not guilty; released without bail; Corallo and Fried named in indictment; Morgenthau says case was studied for yr, that Hogan's office and Consol Edison cooperated; Luce comments; Morgenthau explains timing of indictment, noting term of grand jury has ended; indictment says Fried introduced DeSapio to Itkin, that Itkin met later with Corallo and Marcus; allegedly in return for bribes, Marcus was charged with secretly misusing power of office to get contracts for Fried; this assertedly was accomplished by DeSapio and Fried telling co officials that unless Fried got contracts Marcus would bar needed permits and generally make operations difficult for co; Consol Edison allegedly entered into contracts with Fried and paid him in form of divds, salary and comms; alleged conspiracy started Nov 10 '67, when DeSapio met with S Baron, pub relations consultant for co, and M Ulrich, vp for pub relations, and when Fried met with Hadden later; on Nov 22 '67 Marcus allegedly sent lr to Consol Edison that was said to have been permit for work; no explanation given for source of $ 5,000 DeSapio assertedly gave Itkin; DeSapio, Fried, Corallo, Morgenthau illus

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