What Happened in 1969

Important Events

  • Feb 4 The Palestine National Congress appoints Yasser Arafat chairman of the PLO
  • Feb 5 US population reaches 200 million
  • Feb 17 Golda Meir sworn in as the first female Prime Minister of Israel
  • Apr 7 The Internet's symbolic birth date: publication of RFC 1
  • Jul 20 Apollo 11 lunar module carrying Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins lands on the surface of the Moon; Aldrin and Armstrong walk on the moon seven hours later
  • Jul 21 Apollo 11: Neil Armstrong becomes the first person to step on the Moon at 2:56:15 AM (GMT)
  • Aug 14 British Army deploys on the streets of Northern Ireland, marking the beginning of Operation Banner
  • Sep 1 Colonel Muammar Gaddafi deposes King Idris in the Libyan revolution
  • Oct 15 Vietnam Moratorium Day; millions nationwide protest the war
  • Nov 15 An estimated 2 million people take part in the Vietnam War Moratorium demonstration across the United States
More Historical Events

1969 in Film & TV

  • Feb 24 "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" film based on novel by Muriel Spark directed by Ronald Neame, starring Maggie Smith (Academy Award Best Actress) premieres in London
  • Mar 28 Greek poet and Nobel Prize laureate Giorgos Seferis makes a famous statement on the BBC World Service opposing the junta in Greece
  • May 11 British comedy troupe Monty Python forms, made up of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin
  • Jun 18 "The Wild Bunch", directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring William Holden and Ernest Borgnine, is released

1969 in Music

  • Jan 12 Debut album of Led Zeppelin released first in the US
  • Jun 20 200,000 attend Newport '69', then largest-ever pop concert in Northridge, California. Jimi Hendrix gets $120,000 to appear.
  • Jul 11 David Bowie releases the single "Space Oddity" 9 days before Apollo 11 lands on the moon
  • Aug 15 Woodstock Music & Art Fair opens in New York State on Max Yasgur's Dairy Farm

1969 in Sport

  • Mar 1 New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle announces his retirement due to persistent knee injuries; finishes 18-season career with 536 home runs and .298 batting average
  • Apr 2 Milwaukee Bucks sign (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lew Alcindor)
  • Jun 8 MLB ledgend Mickey Mantle gives his farewell retirement speech during "Mickey Mantle Day" at Yankee Stadium, 60,096 see #7 retired

Did You Know?

The first automatic teller machine in the United States is installed in Rockville Center, New York.

On September 2, 1969

Famous People Born in 1969

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World Leaders in 1969

Famous People in 1969

Would You Believe?

Brazilian soccer icon Pele scores his 1,000th goal

On November 20, 1969

Famous Weddings

  • Jan 18 Actress Audrey Hepburn marries 2nd husband Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti
  • Feb 16 Country singer Tammy Wynette (26) weds musician George Jones (37)
  • Mar 8 Marriage of 12 year old Marcella Rosciglione in Palermo

Famous Divorces

  • Sep 18 Actor Rod Taylor (39) divorces model Mary Hilem after 5 years of marriage
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Famous Deaths

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