On this day
Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.
In 1968, the world population was approximately 3,545,187,251 people[†]
1968Helena Christensen, Danish model and actress[†]
Helena Christensen is a Danish fashion model. She is a former Victoria's Secret Angel, co-founder and original creative director for Nylon magazine, and she is a supporter of funding for breast cancer organizations and other philanthropic charities.
1968Jim Dowd, American ice hockey player[†]
James Thomas Dowd is an American former professional ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for ten different teams over the course of 17 NHL seasons. Dowd, who won the 1995 Stanley Cup with his hometown New Jersey Devils, was the second New Jersey high school hockey player to make it to the NHL. He is also a frequent guest on NHL Live.
1968Apollo program: Apollo 8 performs the first successful Trans-Earth injection (TEI) maneuver, sending the crew and spacecraft on a trajectory back to Earth from Lunar orbit.[†]
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.
1968Kilvenmani massacre: Forty-four Dalits (untouchables) are burnt to death in Kizhavenmani village, Tamil Nadu, a retaliation for a campaign for higher wages by Dalit laborers.[†]
The Kilvenmani massacre was an incident in Kizhavenmani village, Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu state in India on 25 December 1968 in which a group of around 44 people, the families of striking Dalit village labourers, were murdered by a gang, allegedly led by their landlords. The chief accused was Gopalakrishnan Naidu.
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O'Rourke repts city runs out of vaccine, says he appeals to mfrs for more; warns people may die because of lack of heat; appeals for fuel deliveries, even during Xmas; Mayor Lindsay makes similar appeal; NY Blood Program repts critical blood shortage
Amer mil command repts at least 80 'incidents' involving mil contact since beginning of allied cease-fire; 1 Amer killed, 38 wounded; at least 22 enemy killed; details on incidents; civilian casualties noted; map
HOUSTON, Wednesday, Dec. 25 -- The three astronauts of Apollo 8 yesterday became the first men to orbit the moon. Early today, after flying 10 times around that desolate realm of dream and scientific mystery, they started their return to earth.
Pope celebrates Christmas midnight mass for 15,000 at steel mill, Taranto Italy; is cheered by crowds en route from airport; meets briefly with San Giorgio Ionico and Taranto mayors; blesses invalids at Taranto cathedral; local authorities take extraordinary security precautions because of repts that partisans of ousted Florentine priest might demonstrate; minor incident reptd; map
crewmen arrive, Miramar Naval Air Station, San Diego; greeted by relatives; illus; Hodges's flag-draped coffin carried from transport in mil ceremony; Bucher describes N Korea as a land 'devoid of humanity, devoted to enslavement of men's minds', televized statement; Lt Murphy, exec officer, describes prison conditions, sketches typical day; denies there was any attempt at brainwashing, indicates force was used for specific purposes; Rosenberg reiterates praise for crew and fact that coming probe will be routine; says all crew members are suffering from malnutrition, some are in some kind of shock; newsmen argue with him over 'lid' being put on information; note Navy officers seemed to have cautioned Bucher against too much discussion; crewmen and families taken to nearby Naval Hosp where they will be housed; Bucher and wife illus
article on implications of Apollo 8 space flight and man's changing view of earth and universe
Allegheny: 23 killed as Convair 580 with 45 aboard crashes, Bradford, Pa, on Detroit-Washington flight; map
astronauts rept seeing many newly formed craters; are 1st men to view lunar sunrise; rept that several features look volcanic; hold some of landmarks are not in charted locations; analysis of orbital flight shows that spacecraft occasionally wobbled slightly in path, confirming earlier indications that interior of moon is 'lumpy'
Mr Clay's tribute to