Important People Of The 1960's
Important People Of The 1960's
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy was born May 29, 1917 in Brookline, Mass.
He attended both Harvard and Stanford, and joined the U.S. Navy in 1941 and served
until 1945. In 1949 Kennedy was elected to the U.S. House of Representitives
and served until 1953. After his term in the house, Kennedy was elected to the Senate.
He served in the Senate from 1953 to 1960. Kennedy then became the youngest President ever
and the 1st catholic president when he was elected in 1961. Kennedy was assasinated on November
22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 15, 1929. His parents were Alberta
and Martin Luther King. His father was the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. Martin was never
poor, but he still felt thw wrath of racism. King earned degrees from Morehouse College in Atlanta and Crozer
Theological Seminary in Pennslyvania. He then went to Boston University, where he earned a doctorate. In 1953
he became pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. He soon became a symbol for equal rights, and began giving
speeches around the country promoting equal rights. King was shot on April 4, 1968 in Atlanta, Georgia, and died
at the age of 39.
The Beatles
The Beatles' first record "Love Me Do" was released in October 1962. By 1964
the Beatles' held the top five spots on the singles recording charts and they
released their first film, "A Hard Days Night". The Beatles' most acclaimed works
were "Revolver" in 1966 and the single-concept album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club
Band". Over time the Beatles developed a huge fan base and still has thousands of fans across the world.
William Westmoreland
William Westmoreland was born in Spartanburg, SC, on March 26, 1914. He
graduated from West Point in 1936 and commanded artillery battalions in Sicily and
North Africa during World War II. He commanded all military elements from Platoon to
Cheif Of Staff. Westmoreland was even the Time Magazine Man Of The Year in 1965.
William Westmoreland also wrote a book called "A Soldier Reports", a unique view
of the Vietnam experience.
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson was born on August 27, 1908 near Stonewall, Texas.
In college, Johnson organized an elite political party that won all of the campus
elections. After WWII he was elected Vice President in 1960. On November 22, 1963
John F. Kennedy was assasinated, and Johnson became president. In 1964 he was elected
to a second term in an election that he won in a land slide. Under Johnson's leadership
leadership, congress passed many laws. One of these gave blacks the right to vote.
In 1969 his term as president ran out, and four years later he died of a heart attack.
