Real Time 1960s

May 7, 1964 - Lucille Ball and her husband Gary Morton were celebrity guests tonight on "Password," the CBS game show. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

May 8, 1964 - President Johnson cleared the way today for J. Edgar Hoover to remain as director of the FBI. Hoover will reach the compulsory retirement age, 70, on Jan. 1. Minutes before meeting with Hoover in the White House Rose Garden this afternoon, Johnson signed an executive order exempting him from the Federal retirement law for “an indefinite period of time.” Johnson said he signed the order because the nation needed Hoover. “I know you wouldn’t think of breaking the law,” the President told Hoover, who stood ramrod straight beside him. The brief ceremony, attended by a few Congressional leaders, was held shortly after Johnson returned from a two-day tour of poverty areas in Appalachia. The President described Hoover as a “household word, a hero to millions of citizens, and an anathema to evil men.” Although Hoover did not say he would remain on the job after Jan. 1, he is expected to stay. He has been director of the FBI since May 10, 1924 — for 40 years as of next Sunday. He has served under nine Presidents, from Calvin Coolidge to Lyndon Johnson, and has built up what some regard as the greatest criminal investigative body in the world. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

May 8, 1964 - Harry S. Truman turned 80 today and celebrated the occasion with characteristic verve and vinegar. The former President drew cheers and praise wherever he went, and he was on the go from early morning until evening.The most memorable event — “one of the greatest things that has happened to me in my lifetime” — was his return to the scene of what he has called his happiest years in politics, the Senate chamber.He sat at a front-row desk and heard himself eulogized by no fewer than 25 Senators of both parties. There was a standing ovation for him, one of several during his visit to the Capitol, as the presiding officer recognized him to make a speech in his own right. Choking with emotion, he was momentarily at a loss for words.It was the first time the Senate had used a rule, adopted last year, that permits former Presidents to address it while it is formally in session. “I’m so overcome,” Truman told the Senate today, “that I can’t take advantage of this rule right now. You can wish me many more happy birthdays, but I’ll never have another one like this.” Later, the Washington press corps sang “Happy Birthday” to the former President as a huge cake with candles was set before him at a luncheon in his honor at the National Press Club.As it turned out, he was in excellent form as he made a brief talk without text or notes and briskly answered questions.The way to get along with reporters, he said, was to “cuss ‘em out every time you get a chance.” But, he said, “my wife says I’ve thrown enough bricks and it’s about time for me to make a few friends.”Of the late General Douglas MacArthur, whom he relieved of his Far Eastern commands in 1951, Truman said: “He disobeyed orders of the commander in chief, whom he did not respect, and he got what was coming to him.”On the trustworthiness of the Soviet Government: “Russians never kept an agreement, and I don’t think they ever will.”On the current contest for the Republican Presidential nomination: “I don’t give a damn who they nominate. We can beat the hell out of him.”On how he would handle Governor George Wallace of Alabama: “I wouldn’t handle him at all because he will take care of himself. You don’t have to handle a man who is always wrong.”Later, President Johnson was a surprise visitor at a private dinner given for Truman in the State Room of the Mayflower Hotel. The President apologized for having only a few minutes to remain because of a previous dinner engagement. But he said he could not remain idling at the White House, knowing about all the compliments that were to be paid the former President without putting in a “word of my own” about “the man whose very actions as President became the bedrock of our foreign policy.”Tomorrow, Truman will be guest of honor at a luncheon given by members of the Supreme Court before leaving for a visit to New York. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

May 6, 1964 - Following are highlights of President Johnson’s news conference today: Guests — Said he thought the reporters’ children should have a press conference too since they had taken so many telephone calls for their parents. It had even been suggested, he said that they should be accredited to the White House. McNamara — Defense Secretary is leaving Friday for West Germany for discussions of mutual defense problems with German officials. Will go from there to South Vietnam with Gen. Earle G. Wheeler, Army Chief of Staff. Maritime — Announced establishment by executive order of a Maritime Advisory Committee to study the national defense, trade, manpower, and labor-relations programs of the maritime industry. Economic — Said he was pleased with record 39-month growth in nation’s economy, including $108 billion expansion in gross national product; corporate profits this year running $9 billion above 1961, and 1.8 billion increase in employment over year ago. Asks business and labor to hold line on prices and wages. Alliance for Progress — Will ask Ambassadors of each member nation to Washington next Monday for review of program and accomplishments. Panama — Gave encouraging report on progress of talks with Panamanian Government. Has directed U.S. Ambassador there and Governor of Panama Canal Zone to form new committee to study means of improving U.S.-Panamanian relations. Extra Session — Said he would “seriously consider” calling Congress into special session after political conventions if necessary to complete major legislative program. Cuba Overflights — Said he knew of no arrangement with Soviet Union giving this country permission to continue surveillance flights over Cuba. Wallace Vote — Said he did not think vote for Governor Wallace of Alabama in Wisconsin and Indiana primaries indicated “any overwhelming endorsement” of the Governor’s record. On the Alabama choice of free electors, said the people of any state had a right to vote for any party or candidate they chose, “without confusion.” Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

May 6, 1964 - Enjoy these interviewers with observers of today’s contest between the New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds at Shea Stadium. The Mets were trounced, 12-4. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

This KPIX-TV documentary covers the life and career of Max Baer, the American professional boxer and world heavyweight champion from June 14, 1934 to June 13, 1935. Two of his fights (a 1933 win over Max Schmeling and a 1935 loss to James J. Braddock) were rated Fight of the Year by The Ring magazine. Baer was also a boxing referee and had occasional roles in film and television. The film features clips from Baer's fights and interviews with contemporaries. This documentary was written and produced by Caryl Coleman and directed by Dick Williams. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

May 1, 1964 - Alabama Governor George Wallace spoke tonight at Ball State Teachers College in Muncie, Indiana. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

May 2, 1964 - Northern Dancer won the 90th running of the Kentucky Derby today at Churchill Downs. The Windfield Farm's colt completed the 1¼ miles in 2 minutes to break the record of 2:00⅖ set by Decidedly in the 1962 Derby. Second in the $156,800 race was Hill Rise, the heavy favorite, who surged to within a neck of Northern Dancer at the wire. Northern Dancer, ridden by Bill Hartack, returned $8.80 for $2 to win among his backers in the crowd of 100,000. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

May 1, 1964 - Don Drysdale pitched a five-hitter and Tommy Davis drove in four runs tonight to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants before 52,773 at Dodger Stadium. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Apr. 26, 1964 - The Rolling Stones were among a galaxy of pop music stars who drew 20,000 screaming fans to the huge Empire Pool at Wembley, England today. The event was staged by the International Publishing Corporation’s New Musical Express (NME). The concerts featured the NME annual poll winners. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

In this episode, we review our top-ranked film of 1963, “Hud,” directed by Martin Ritt and featuring an Oscar-nominated performance by Paul Newman and Oscar-winning performances by Patricia Neal and Melvyn Douglas. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Six Americans are killed in Vietnam; Mississippi Freedom Summer is announced; two Senators want U.S. out of Vietnam; Jack Ruby is doomed; Malcolm X speaks out; Cassius Clay has a new name and is rejected by the Army. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Apr. 23, 1964 - At today’s press conference, President Johnson was asked Defense Secretary Robert McNamara as a possible running mate. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Apr. 23, 1964 - At today’s press conference, President Johnson expressed a desire to keep foreign policy from becoming a “knock-down, drag-out” affair between Democrats and Republicans this election year. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Robert McNamara briefs LBJ on Vietnam; Barry Goldwater speaks out; Robert Kennedy goes on the Jack Paar Show; Malcolm X defects from the Nation of Islam; the Celtics set another record; Casey Stengel interviewed. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Apr. 30, 1964 - The Beatles gave two concerts at the Odeon Cinema in Glasgow, Scotland, this evening. Prior to the concerts, they were interviewed at the Roman Camp hotel in Callander, Perthshire, where they had stayed last night, by a BBC Scotland camera crew. The interviewer was Evelyn Elliot, and the report was shown this evening on the BBC 1 news show "Six Ten." Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Apr. 26, 1964 - The Beatles topped the bill at the New Musical Express 1963-64 Annual Poll-Winners' All-Star Concert tonight, playing before an audience of 10,000 at the Empire Pool in Wembley, London. This was the group's first live performance in 15 weeks. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Apr. 26, 1964 - Yankee manager Yogi Berra was the mystery guest on tonight's edition of "What's My Line." Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Apr. 26, 1964 - The Celtics, long the power of the NBA, extended their domination to record proportions tonight at Boston Garden. They gained their sixth consecutive championship with a 105-99 victory over the San Francisco Warriors in the fifth game of the final playoffs and took the series, 4-1. No other major professional team had won its championship more than five times in a row. The Celtics had been tied with the Yankees and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL, who had won the World Series and the Stanley Cup, respectively, five straight times. In a game with many moments of sloppy play, the Celtics had let a big lead slip away and then held on just long enough as time ran out on the Warriors. With 15 seconds to go, Bill Russell dunked a rebound with the authority of a man trying to drive the ball through the floor. That made the score 103-99 for Boston and settled the issue. The crowd of 13,909 went wild with joy. Not waiting for the game to finish, some fans charged to the side court, raised coach Red Auerbach of the Celtics to their shoulders, and tore his jacket in the process. Order of sorts was restored for the last seconds, and then Auerbach and the Celtic players rode the shoulders of happy fans after the final buzzer signaled the Celtics’ seventh NBA crown in the last eight years. Russell did his usual fine job defending against Wilt Chamberlain, giant of this sport of giants. Wilt didn’t score for the first six minutes. Although he produced a 30-point effort, Wilt usually must do better for San Francisco to win. Tom Heinsohn was the scoring hero for the champions with 19 points, but it was Sam Jones who got the Celtics off and winging to a big lead as the second half started. Trailing 100-92 with a couple of minutes to go, San Francisco poured in five straight points to trim the lead to 3. Then it got only 2 points away before Russell slammed the ball through the hoop after Heinsohn had missed a layup. Russell, Heinsohn, K.C. Jones, Frank Ramsey, and Jim Loscutoff have been on all of the championship Boston teams. The road to great success began in the spring of 1957, when Auerbach’s forces won their first NBA title. With the exception of 1958, when the St. Louis Hawks beat the Celtics in a six-game final, Boston has won ever since. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Apr. 25, 1964 - Tom Tresh drove in three runs with a two-run homer and a single today as the New York Yankees downed Baltimore, 4-1, on a four-hitter by Jim Bouton and Steve Hamilton. It was the first victory for Bouton, who was the Yanks' first major holdout in over 15 years this spring until he finally capitulated to threats of a $100-a-day penalty. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Apr. 22, 1964 - President Johnson, facing down unruly civil rights demonstrators who chanted and struggled with police as he spoke, opened the New York World's Fair today with a call to Americans to "move forward to a world in which all men are equal, in which all people are free, in which all of us can live in peace." Mr. Johnson, his face set, looked straight ahead and raised his voice to a near-shout to be heard over the cries of the Negro and white demonstrators. "This pavilion is an effort to convey the spirit of America to all the world," he said. "It tells where we came from, it tells where we are, and it tries to show where we are going." Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Apr. 22, 1964 - The New York World's Fair opened today with a prophecy by President Johnson of peace within this generation. A cold rain cut deeply into attendance and plans for a massive traffic stall-in collapsed. In the late afternoon, trains were running almost empty to the fair. Attendance mounted slowly to a total of 90,025 -- far below the anticipated 250,000 to 500,000 opening-day visitors. Inside the fair, civil rights demonstrators marched by the hundreds. The threat of racial disorders undoubtedly contributed also to the small attendance. There were frequent clashes between police and pickets, and some 290 persons were arrested. Some Negro and white demonstrators -- those arrested were about equally divided -- were lifted from the ground and borne away in police vans. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s

Apr. 20, 1964 - President Johnson disclosed today that he has ordered further "substantial" cuts in production of nuclear war materials and announced that the Soviet Union has promised "simultaneous" similar action. His disclosure was made in a major foreign policy address at the annual luncheon of the Associated Press in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s