Real Time 1960s

Oct. 14, 1963 - Dr. Martin Luther King, bitterly denouncing Birmingham’s rejection of his desegregation demands, threatened tonight to lead demonstrations of “more numbers than any man can count” in the Alabama city. “We will demonstrate until they integrate,” he told a rally of more than 1,000 Negroes. He did not say when such protests, which brought around 2,500 arrests last spring, would begin. Dr. King spoke several hours after Birmingham Mayor Albert Boutwell said that solution of the city’s racial problems “will never be done in response to threats or deadlines from anyone.” Boutwell referred to a “demand” by Dr. King that the city hire 25 Negro policemen within a two-week period ending next Monday or face new racial demonstrations. In his remarks tonight, Dr. King asserted that he had made a “request,” not a demand. Boutwell’s executive assistant, W.C. Hamilton, said civil service regulations requiring a six-week clearance check for new employees would make it “impossible” to meet Dr. King’s deadline without an act of the legislature. Boutwell said an “intensive and completely impartial survey” was being made to determine the best kind of police force for Birmingham, and he would not permit “other interests to intervene or defeat” that study. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 15, 1963 - Here is President Kennedy’s toast to Seán Lemass, Prime Minister of Ireland, during a dinner held this evening in the White House State Dining Room. In his speech, President Kennedy discusses the international significance of Ireland’s struggle for independence. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 16, 1963 - The Beatles chatted today with Peter Woods about the official announcement that the Beatles would play for the Royal Variety Show on Nov. 4. The Beatles popularity in Britain is reaching new heights, and this announcement seems to solidify the notion that the Beatles are more than just one-hit wonders. This interview was recorded at the Playhouse Theatre in London and was broadcast on BBC Radio's evening news bulletin. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 16, 1963 - Here is President Kennedy’s statement recorded today discussing the notable efforts and contributions of Texas Senator Ralph Yarborough. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 19, 1963 - President Kennedy today cautioned Americans that, despite new rays of hope for world peace, “we still live in the shadow of war.” But, the President added, even if efforts to improve cold war relations fail, there is no reason to regret having made them. Basic American-Soviet differences “will give rise to further crises, large and small,” he said, but the quest for peace must continue. The Chief Executive, who flew from Washington to the University of Maine at Orono this morning, spoke to 14,000 in the university’s pine-rimmed stadium and argued anew that the U.S. can work for peace without letting down its defenses. “While maintaining our readiness for war, let us exhaust every avenue of peace,” he said. “Let us always make clear both our willingness to talk, if talk will help, and our readiness to fight, if fight we must. For without making such an effort, we could not maintain the leadership and respect of the free world. In times such as these, there is nothing inconsistent about signing an atmospheric nuclear test ban, on the one hand, and testing underground on the other; about being willing to sell to the Soviets our surplus wheat while refusing to sell strategic items; about probing their interest in a joint lunar landing while making every major effort to master this new environment; or about exploring possibilities of disarmament while maintaining our stockpile of armaments.” It was a direct slap at the “total victory” concepts of Senator Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.), front-running candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination in 1964. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 19, 1963 - After attending the first half of the Harvard-Columbia game at Harvard Stadium this afternoon, President Kennedy went to Hollywood Cemetery in suburban Brookline to visit the grave of his infant son, Patrick Bouvier, who died last August a few days after a premature birth. Tonight, joining his brother, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, at a $100-a-plate fundraising dinner at the Commonwealth Armory, the President predicted the 88th Congress will do more for civil rights than any Congress since Reconstruction and “will go down as one of the great Congresses of modern times.” The President came closest to hitting at Senator Barry Goldwater when he said, “As for the ‘conservatives,’ let them help conserve our clean water and our clean air and parks and forests and seashores and natural resources.” Most of those who attended the gala event, where more than $750,000 was raised for the Democratic National Committee, considered the President’s brief address as all but launching his 1964 campaign for re-election. “Walking around this room,” Mr. Kennedy said, looking around the mammoth armory where Democrats from all over the region had gathered,” I see veterans of recent campaigns, and I know that soon I will be a veteran, and it now looks as though my last campaign is coming up.” Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 20, 1963 - Here are some highlights of today's game between the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears at Kezar Stadium. The 49ers upset the Bears in the NFL contest, 20-14. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 20, 1963 - Here are some highlights of today's game between the Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills at Jeppesen Stadium. The Oilers won the AFL contest, 28-14. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 20, 1963 - Here are some highlights of today's game between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys at Yankee Stadium. The Giants won the NFL contest, 37-21. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 20, 1963 - Here are some highlights of today's game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Rams won the NFL contest, 27-24. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 8, 1963 - Here are President Kennedy’s remarks today to the Business and Special Gifts Committee of the National Cultural Center in the White House State Dining Room. In his speech, President Kennedy explains the necessity to promote American arts and culture, noting that the proposed Center will unite the nation’s citizens, encourage artistic growth, and serve as a symbol of American culture to international visitors. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 9, 1963 - At today's press conference, President said it was “wholly untrue” that the CIA had pursued policies in South Vietnam that were in conflict with basic U.S. policies. He said top-level policies on Vietnam were now fully agreed upon by all departments concerned. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 9, 1963 - At today's press conference, President Kennedy forecast a close fight in next year’s Presidential election and indicated his strong belief that Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona would be the Republican nominee. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 9, 1963 - At today's press conference, President Kennedy was asked to list the prime assets and liabilities of his Administration with regard to the 1964 election. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 10, 1963 - Here is a film of President Kennedy’s remarks today in the White House Rose Garden at the presentation of the Robert J. Collier Trophy for 1962 to the original team of U.S. astronauts: Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter, Major L. Gordon Cooper, Jr., Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr., Major Virgil I. Grissom, Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., and Major Donald K. Slayton. In his speech, President Kennedy discusses the international significance of Project Mercury. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 11, 1963 - Here are President Kennedy’s remarks today in the White House Flower Garden at an unveiling ceremony for a commemorative stamp honoring former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. In his speech, President Kennedy discusses Eleanor Roosevelt’s contributions to social reform issues, specifically noting her involvement in creating the United Nation’s Declaration of Human Rights. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 11, 1963 - Here are President Kennedy’s remarks today in the White House East Room at the presentation of the final report of the President’s Commission on the Status of Women. In his speech, President Kennedy discusses the necessity for the U.S. to become a nation where women have the opportunity to utilize their full array of abilities and make significant contributions to society. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 12, 1963 - Here are President Kennedy’s remarks today at the White House Columbus Day celebration held in the White House Flower Garden. In his speech, President Kennedy discusses the numerous contributions to society made by Americans of Italian descent and compares Columbus’s voyage to modern space exploration efforts. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 13, 1963 - Here are some highlights of today's game between the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears at L.A. Memorial Coliseum. The Bears won the NFL contest, 52-14. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 5, 1963 - The National Hockey League All-Stars battled from behind three times to earn a 3-3 tie tonight with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 17th annual preseason clash. Big Frank Mahovlich, who suited up for the Leafs although he was the left winger on the All-Star team, twice gave Toronto the lead in the first period, but the All-Star team fought back with power play goals by Henri Richard of Montreal and Bobby Hull of Chicago. In the final frame, Ed Litzenberger once again sent the Leafs into a lead. But Detroit's Marcel Pronovost again tied it for the Stars 27 seconds later. Both teams went all out in the closing minutes to break the deadlock, but standout goaltending by Don Simmons and Terry Sawchuk earned the first standoff in All-Star game history. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 5, 1963 - Those incredible Dodgers moved to within one stride of nailing down the World Series today as they brought down the proud Yankees for the third straight time before a roaring crowd of 55,912, the largest attendance ever in Dodger Stadium. With Don Drysdale outpitching the Yanks’ youthful Jim Bouton in a gripping duel, Walter Alston’s National League champions won this one, 1-0. This gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead in games. They could wrap up the Series tomorrow behind the pitching of the brilliant Sandy Koufax, who set a Series record of 15 strikeouts in last Wednesday’s opener in New York. Whitey Ford is the last hope of Ralph Houk’s reeling Yanks to escape a four-game sweep. Never in the history of World Series play have the Yankees lost in four games. Three singles were all the towering, right-handed Drysdale allowed the Yankees. The 24-year-old Bouton, making his first Series appearance, yielded only four hits, all singles. Two tough breaks in the first inning sealed Bouton’s downfall. A walk, a wild pitch, and a sharp grounder that took a bad hop for a hit just as the Yankee second baseman, Bobby Richardson, was set to field it produced the run that decided the issue. However, it took some tremendous pitching by Drysdale to make that run stand up. He struck out nine men in doing so. Big Don was the man of the hour as he relived his biggest moment for the benefit of hundreds of reporters. “I don’t know if this was the best I’ve ever pitched,” he grinned, “but I had real good stuff and I was able to put almost every pitch right where I wanted it to go. These Yankees are tremendous. I have a lot of respect for them, and I knew I would have to be good — and lucky. Those left-handed hitters are tough. I wasn’t sure about that last ball [Joe Pepitone’s fly that ended the game]. I didn’t know how far it was going to go when he hit it. Then I saw Ronnie getting under it by the fence, and I knew it wasn’t going out.” The 360-foot drive was easily the longest of the day for the Yankees. Alston said he would have neither Drysdale or Podres in the bullpen for the possible clincher. “We’ll have Perranoski and Miller there. I believe it’s Houk who will have to have his entire staff ready.” Podres echoed the club’s feeling when he said: “I’ll be happy if I don’t have to pitch again. I’d like to make other plans for Monday.” Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Sept. 28, 1963 - Here are some highlights of today's game between the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders at War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo. The Bills won the AFL contest, 12-0. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 6, 1963 - The Dodgers brought the long reign of the high and mighty Yankees to a dramatic end today. Behind another superb pitching effort by their brilliant left-hander, Sandy Koufax, the Dodgers downed the perennial American League champions, 2-1. That gave Walter Alston’s National League champions a stunning four-game sweep of the World Series before a deliriously happy crowd of 55,912 in Dodger Stadium. The Yankees’ indomitable Whitey Ford, fighting desperately to keep the Bombers alive, pitched perhaps an even greater game than his adversary, who had defeated him so easily in the first game. Whitey allowed only two hits to six by Koufax. But in the seventh inning, minutes after Mickey Mantle had hit a homer that matched a tremendous clout by Frank Howard in the fifth and made the score 1-1, a ghastly error by the usually flawlessly fielding Yanks plunged the Bombers to their most humiliating World Series defeat. Jim Gilliam, first up for the Dodgers in the seventh, bounced a “Baltimore chop” off the plate and down the third-base line. For a moment, it appeared the ball might sail over Clete Boyer’s head. But Boyer made a leaping catch and fired the ball across the infield to first base. The ball went right through Joe Pepitone, the crack young first baseman, for an error. It appeared Pepitone had lost sight of it in the glaring sun. Before the ball could be retrieved in a corner of right field, Gilliam had raced to third base. Willie Davis followed with a towering fly deep in center field, where it was caught by Mickey Mantle. Mantle fired the ball faultlessly toward the plate, but there was no chance of heading off Gilliam as he went winging home on the sacrifice fly. Once again, Koufax refused to let the lead slip away. So, to Walter Alston goes the distinction of having piloted the Dodgers to their only 3 championships — in 1955, 1959, and 1963. “This makes up for everything,” said Alston, who a year ago took the brunt of the abuse showered on the Dodgers when they blew the National League pennant in the final week. The three Los Angeles hurlers humiliated the bombless Bombers by limiting them to four runs in 36 innings. The Yankees never held a lead. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 6, 1963 - Here are some highlights of today's game between the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Colts at Wrigley Field. The Bears won the NFL contest, 10-3. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Oct. 6, 1963 - Here are some highlights of today's game between the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams at City Stadium in Green Bay. The Packers won the NFL contest, 42-10. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s