Historical Events
- "Fig Leaves Are Falling" opens at Broadhurst Theater NYC for 4 performances
Historic Event
Australian Rupert Murdoch gains control of the 'News of the World'
- Luis Ferré becomes the first statehooder Governor of Puerto Rico
- Once influential daily sports newspaper, 'Soviet Sport' declares Czech super-star distance runner Emil Zatopek a "public enemy" after he supports democratic wing of the Communist Party at start of the Prague Spring
- Operation Barrier Reef begins in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
- Robert B. Nemiroff's stage drama "To Be Young, Gifted & Black" adaptated from the writings of his late wife of Lorraine Hansberry, starring Ruby Dee, premieres in NYC
- The Beatles begin rehearsals, while being filmed, for the Let It Be project at Twickenham Film Studios, London
Famous Birthdays
Christy Turlington
Christy Turlington, American model (Calvin Klein Eternity), born in San Francisco, California
- Glen Johnson, Jamaican boxer (IBF, IBO and Ring magazine light heavyweight titles 2004-05), born in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica
- Karl-Heinz Grasser, Austrian politician
- Róbert Švehla, Slovak NHL defenceman (Florida Panthers 573 games; Slovakia 44 games), born in Martin, Slovakia
Tommy Morrison
Tommy Morrison, American boxer (WBO heavyweight title 1993) and actor (Rocky V), born in Gravette, Arkansas (d. 2013)
- William Fox-Pitt MBE, English equestrian (Olympic silver team 2004, 12; bronze 2008; World Equestrian Games gold team 2010), born in London, England
Famous Deaths
- George Renevant [Georges de Cheux], French actor (Moulin Rouge, Scotland Yard, Comrade X), dies at 74
1969 Highlights
About January 2, 1969
Day of the Week: Thursday
How Long Ago? 53 years, 5 months and 24 days
Leap Year: No
Generation: Generation X
Chinese Zodiac: Monkey
Star Sign: Capricorn
Music Charts
#1 Song: I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
#1 Song: Lily The Pink - Scaffold