Real Time 1960s

Dec. 8, 1963 - Here is a clip from today's game between the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers at Wrigley Field. The Bears won the NFL contest, 27-7. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 8, 1963 - Here is a clip from today's game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers at the Cotton Bowl. The Steelers won the NFL contest, 34-19. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 8, 1963 - Here is a clip from today's game between the Baltimore Colts and Minnesota Vikings at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. The Colts won the NFL contest, 41-10. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 7, 1963 - Heavyweight challenger Cassius Clay was a guest tonight on The Jerry Lewis Show. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 7, 1963 - Here is a clip from today's game between the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Packers won the NFL contest, 31-14. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 7, 1963 - The Toronto Maple Leafs blanked the Chicago Black Hawks, 3-0, tonight at Maple Leaf Gardens to shatter an unbeaten Chicago streak that had carried through nine games. The wild game was held up for 20 minutes late in the final period when a brawl broke out between the two teams and resulted in seven major penalties, six misconducts, and three game misconducts. The melee erupted shortly after Chicago's Reg Fleming was given a minor penalty for tripping. He was in the box when the Leafs' Bob Baun skated over, and the battle was on. Players, team officials, and spectators joined in the action. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 6, 1963 - Here is a 5-minute excerpt from this evening's edition of NBC Nightly News. It deals with the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination, and it also includes a statement by the new First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, on the lasting impression left by Jacqueline Kennedy on the White House. Mrs. Kennedy left the White House today after a quiet goodbye to the household staff and moved into a home in the Georgetown section of the capital. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 5, 1963 - Governor John Connally, weak but ruddy-faced and smiling, left Parkland Hospital today for his home in Austin, Tex., where he will continue his recuperation from gunshot wounds sustained on Nov. 22, when President Kennedy was assassinated. Governor Connally, who was riding in the open-topped limousine with President Kennedy, was felled by a bullet that pierced his back, chest, right wrist, and thigh. The Governor said he understood his shattered wrist might stay in its cast at least 90 days. “It will be at least six months before it can be determined if I can have the full use of the hand and wrist,” he added. In response to a question, the Governor said he hoped a Texas court of inquiry, to be convened to study the assassination and subsequent events, would “shed great light” on the tragedy. Before he left Parkland, the hospital personnel applauded the Governor and his wife, Nellie. One final question concerned the strength of extremist groups in Texas. “I think they are flourishing because of a lack of articulation by the people of reason, the people of sound views, people of moderation,” he said. The man whom the police accused of murdering the President, Lee Harvey Oswald, was a self-professed Marxist. Texas — Dallas in particular — has gained the reputation of being a center of right-wing thought and action. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

"A Boy Named Charlie Brown" is an unaired television documentary film from 1963 about Charles M. Schulz and his Peanuts comic strip. The film was produced by Lee Mendelson with some animated scenes by Bill Melendez and music by Vince Guaraldi. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 2, 1963 - Sonny Liston was interviewed today by Max Goldberg on the television program "On the Spot." Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

In 1963, The Bee Gees performed Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" on Australian television. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 3, 1963 - The reduction of United States forces in South Vietnam began today. Three planeloads of men flew across the Pacific on their way home. The operation is intended to send 1,000 troops home for Christmas. A total of 220 servicemen — many of whom had seen their first combat in South Vietnam’s grinding war against Communist guerrillas — happily climbed aboard three Air Force C-135 jets bound for Hawaii, the first stop on their journey home. They received thanks and farewells from Gen. Paul D. Harkins, commander of the U.S. forces in Vietnam, and Gen. Tran Van Don, Vietnam’s Defense Minister. Although some of these men are being replaced, other jobs are being abolished, and the over-all strength of U.S. forces in Vietnam is being cut from 16,500 to 15,500. U.S. officials emphasized that the cutback did not signal any reduction of the American commitment to the war in Vietnam or indicate that the war situation had improved. Sgt. Matthew I. Wiley, on his way home to Columbus, Ga., today called combat operations in which he had participated “one heck of an experience.” “You actually have to be out with these people [South Vietnamese foot soldiers] to understand them,” he said. “They really surprise you — what they’ve gone through and what they’re still going through and what spirit they have.” Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 2, 1963 - The United States called on the Soviet Union today for a first small step toward joint exploration of the Moon. In a policy statement, the first on space from President Johnson's Administration, Adlai Stevenson said he was authorized to renew the offer for a joint lunar expedition that President Kennedy propose at the U.N. last September. "If giant steps cannot be taken at once, we hope that shorter ones can," Mr. Stevenson, U.S. delegate to the U.N., told the Political Committee of the General Assembly in opening the space debate. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 3, 1963 - Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy, wearing the same simple black suit which she wore during the funeral services for her husband last week, looked on today as a Secret Service agent, Clinton J. Hill, received the Treasury Department’s highest award for “exceptional bravery” in the assassination attack on President Kennedy. With other members of the Kennedy family, she came to watch Secretary of the Treasury Douglas Dillon present a gold medal and citation to the agent. Mr. Hill made no comment but shook hands with Mr. Dillon after accepting the award. Mr. Dillon said Mr. Hill’s actions added luster to the “great tradition of courage and heroism” of the Secret Service, which comes under his department. The citation said Mr. Hill had been standing on the running board of a Secret Service car just behind the Presidential limousine when the assassin fired his first shot in Dallas on Nov. 22. With the bullets still being fired, the citation noted, Mr. Hill “climbed on the rear of the President’s rapidly moving limousine and shielded the President and Mrs. Kennedy with his own body.” Mr. Hill, 31 years old, served three years in the Army’s Counter Intelligence Corps. He joined the Secret Service in September 1958 and was transferred to the White House detail in the Eisenhower Administration. About 75 persons, many of them fellow agents, witnessed today’s ceremony and applauded Mr. Hill, who has been assigned to remain on duty with Mrs. Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy plans to move out of the White House Friday, when she is expected to move into the Georgetown home of W. Averell Harriman. No date has as yet been set for President Johnson and his family to move into the White House. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 2, 1963 - White House Press Secretary Pierre Salinger today conveyed Mrs. Kennedy's thanks to the general public for the messages of support she has received since President Kennedy's assassination. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 1, 1963 - Here are some highlights of today's game between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The result of the NFL contest was a tie, 17-17. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 1, 1963 - Here are some highlights of today's game between the Boston Patriots and Buffalo Bills at Fenway Park in Boston. The Patriots won the AFL contest, 17-7. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Dec. 1, 1963 - Here is a highlight from today's game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. The Rams won the NFL contest, 21-17. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

In Indianapolis, a massive explosion kills at least 62 people; in Philadelphia, President Kennedy is met by protestors; in South Vietnam, three Americans are captured; demonstrators assault Chief Justice Warren; Madame Nhu is snubbed in Los Angeles; Sandy Koufax wins another big award. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 25, 1963 - On this segment of NBC's "Today" show, Hugh Downs and Martin Agronsky cover the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald and President Kennedy's funeral ceremonies. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 22, 1963 - Dallas resident Ted Callaway recounts the shotgun murder of Officer J.D. Tippit, which he witnessed. He later picked Lee Harvey Oswald out of a lineup as the shooter. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

The South Vietnamese crisis deepens; police go on the attack at a voter registration drive in Alabama; President Kennedy talks 1964; the nuclear test ban treaty is signed; the Valachi Hearings are criticized; the Dodgers are set for a big payday. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Support this project at https://www.patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 29, 1963 - Attorney Tom Howard, attorney for Jack Ruby, said he may seek a change of venue for Ruby's upcoming trial. Ruby has been charged with murdering Lee Harvey Oswald, accused assassin of President Kennedy. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 28, 1963 - President Johnson tonight renamed Cape Canaveral Cape Kennedy in honor of his slain predecessor. He also gave the name John F. Kennedy to the Florida missile-space center. The President made the announcement during a Thanksgiving Day television address to the nation in which he asked Americans for “your help, your strength, your prayers that God may guard this Republic and guide my every labor.” It was Johnson’s first address delivered directly to the American people since becoming President. He asked that America’s determination be “that from this midnight of tragedy” of Kennedy’s assassination “we shall move toward a new American greatness.” Speaking from the Oval Office of the White House, Johnson said that he had ordered that “Station No. 1, the Atlantic Missile Range, will hereafter be known as the John F. Kennedy Space Center.” He also said that Cape Canaveral “shall hereafter be known as Cape Kennedy.” One of President Kennedy’s main goals had been to make the U.S. preeminent in space. One of his last trips took him to the space center. President Johnson paid tribute to Mrs. Kennedy and to the Kennedy children, Caroline and John Jr., and to all of the Kennedy family. “All of us have lived through seven days we will never forget,” he said. “The great leader is dead. The great nation must move on. Yesterday is not ours to recover. I am resolved we shall win the tomorrows before us…We live in peace. The good will of the world pours out upon us. Our citizenry is strong. The deed that was meant to tear us apart has bound us together.” Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Nov. 27, 1963 - Dr. Malcolm Perry, who operated on both President Kennedy and his accused assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, said today there had never been a chance to save the President but that Oswald nearly survived. Dr. Perry, 34 years old, vacationing in the Rio Grande Valley, said Oswald’s bleeding had been controlled and blood pressure restored to normal when his heart suddenly stopped beating. “We were very close to saving him,” he said. He said the bullet fired by Jack Ruby had entered Oswald’s body on the left side and punctured his spleen, pancreas, stomach, aorta, vena cava (a large vein), liver, and right kidney. He said that after Oswald’s heart had stopped beating, “various drugs and an electric defibrillator were used, as well as the heart massage, in an attempt to restore the beat.” Dr. Perry said he had been eating lunch in the hospital Friday when he was called to the emergency room to treat the President. He said his first thought when Mr. Kennedy was wheeled in was that the President was a larger man than he had imagined. Dr. Perry performed a tracheotomy — he opened the throat and inserted a tube to prevent fluid from keeping air from the lungs. Another surgeon inserted a tube into the President’s chest to keep the lung from collapsing. “My initial impression was that he had a mortal wound,” Dr. Perry said. He said he believed the President had two wounds — a massive one in the head and a small circular wound in the neck. Dr. Perry said his role was “just a small part of an awful tragedy.” “It could have been any one of 50 doctors doing it. It just happened to be me,” he said. “It is something we do every day. It is always a team effort. The enormity of it did not hit me until I was out of the operating room and sitting down resting. I realized then what had happened and must have sat there quietly for 15 minutes.” Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s