- May 1 1st French underground nuclear experiment in the Sahara
- May 1 France performs underground nuclear test at Ecker Algeria
- May 1 JFK authorizes Area Redevelopment Act (ARA)
- May 2 OAS strikes in Algeria
- May 2 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island
- May 2 WMHT TV channel 17 in Schenectady-Alby-Tro, NY (PBS) 1st broadcast
- May 2 7th European Cup: Benfica beats Real Madrid 5-3 at Amsterdam
- May 3 Express train crashed into wreckage of a commuter train & a freight, killing 163, injuring 400 in Tokyo, Japan
- May 4 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island
- May 5 88th Kentucky Derby: Bill Hartack aboard Decidedly wins in 2:00.4
- May 5 West Side Story soundtrack album goes #1 & stays #1 for 54 weeks which is more than 20 weeks longer than any other album
- May 6 1st nuclear warhead fired from Polaris submarine (Ethan Allen)
- May 6 Antonio Segni elected President of Italy
- May 6 Mary Lena Faulk wins LPGA Peach Blossom Golf Tournament
- May 6 Pathet Lao breaks cease fire and conquer Nam Tha Laos
- May 6 US performs nuclear test at Pacific Ocean
- May 7 Pulitzer prize awarded to Theodore H White (Making of President 1960)
- May 7 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island
- May 8 "Funny Thing Happened" opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 965 performances
- May 8 1st Atlas Centaur Launch
- May 8 London trolley buses (electrically powered buses using overhead supply) go out of service
- May 9 The Beatles sign their 1st contract with EMI Parlophone
- May 9 Laser beam successfully bounced off Moon for 1st time
- May 9 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island
- May 11 Antonio Segni becomes President of Italy
- May 11 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island
- May 11 US sends troops to Thailand
- May 12 Grevelingen dam closes
- May 12 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island
- May 13 Mickey Wright wins LPGA Western Golf Open
- May 14 Ex-present of Yugoslavia Milovan Djilas sentenced to 5 years
- May 14 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island
- May 14 Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan elected second President of India
- May 15 US marines arrive in Laos
- May 17 Marin County withdraws from BART district
- May 19 "Bravo, Giovanni" opens at Broadhurst Theater NYC for 76 performances
- May 19 "John Birch Society" by Chad Mitchell Trio hits #99
- May 19 87th Preakness: John Rotz aboard Greek Money wins in 1:56.2
- May 19 Indonesian paratroopers land in New Guinea
Event of Interest
May 19 Stan Musial breaks Honus Wagner's NL hit record with 3,431
Stan Musial
Honus Wagner
Television Awards
May 22 14th Emmy Awards: Bob Newhart Show, E G Marshall & Shirley Booth win
Shirley Booth
Bob Newhart
Baseball Record
May 22 Roger Maris walks 5 times (record 4 intentionally) in a 9 inning game
Roger Maris
- May 22 Continental Airlines Flight 11 crashes after bombs explode on board
Baseball Record
May 23 Joe Pepitone 2nd Yankee to hit 2 HRs in 1 inning (Joe DiMaggio)
Joe Pepitone
- May 23 OAS leader general Raoul Salan sentenced to life
- May 23 Scott Carpenter orbits Earth 3 times in US Aurora 7
- May 23 15th Cannes Film Festival: "Keeper of Promises" directed by Anselmo Duarte wins the Palme d'Or
- May 24 M Scott Carpenter aboard Aurora 7 launched into Earth orbit
- May 25 Isley Brothers release "Twist & Shout"
- May 25 US performs nuclear test at Christmas Island (atmospheric)
- May 25 US unions AFL-CIO starts campaign for 35-hour work week
- May 26 "All American" closes at Winter Garden Theater NYC after 80 performances
- May 27 Ruth Jessen wins LPGA Dallas Civitan Golf Open
- May 28 Suit alleging de facto school segregation filed in Rochester, NY
- May 28 US stock market drops $20.8 B in 1 day
- May 28 Wide World of Sports with Chris Schenkel premieres on CBS radio
TV Show Appearance
May 29 Barbra Streisand appears on "Garry Moore Show"
Barbra Streisand
- May 29 4th Grammy Awards: Moon River, Peter Nero wins
- May 30 69 killed in bus crash (Ahmedabad India)
- May 30 Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" premieres
- May 30 Indianapolis 500: Rodger Ward wins in 3:33:50.291 (225.780 km/h)
- May 31 "Tell It To Groucho" last airs on CBS-TV
- May 31 The West Indies Federation dissolves.