1940s-1950s
1956
Leading Edge boomers are ten years old; late boomers are 8years away from biIth. President Eisenhower wins re-election.
1957
Russians launch Sputnik I and Sputnik II.
1958
U.S. launches the Explorer I satellite; the first Pizza Hut opens.
1959
Barbie is born; Buddy Holly dies; Castro takes over Cuba.
1960s - 1970s
1960
The soviets shoot down a U.S. spy plane; John Kennedy is elected president; and Chubby Checker introduces the Twist.
1961
The Russians and then the U.S. put aman into space; the Berlin wall goes up.
1962
K-Malt and Wal-Malt open; Russian warheads in Cuba bring the world to the edge of war.
1963
President Kennedy is assassinated; Dr. Martin Luther Kind declares, "I have adream."
1964
President Johnson declares a "war on poverty." But he also plans the huge escalation of amuch larger war to be fought half-way around the world. The Beatles "invade" the U.S.
1965
Civil disturbances over race and the Vietnam war play an increasingly larger role in American society. President Johnson unveils his plans for the "Great Society."
1966
The Supreme Court issues its "Miranda" ruling; U.S. troop strength in southeast Asia reaches 400,000.
1967
The first heart transplant operation is performed; race riots kill dozens in Detroit. "Rolling Stone" magazine rolls off the presses.
1968
Dr. Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy are assassinated; President Johnson declines to run for re-election; Richard Nixon wins the presidency.
1969
The U.S. lands aman on the moon; teens celebrate at Woodstock, then demonstrate in Washington.
1970
Campus demonstrations close down several colleges; four die at Kent Stc University. The Beatles break up.
1971
The "Pentagon Papers" are published; President Nixon freezes wages and prices. The Supreme Court affirms the legality of bussing to achieve racial desegregation.
1972
President Nixon shocks the world by visiting communist China. Nixon wins re-election in alandslide; but the break-in at the Watergate complex seals his fate.
1973
Aceasefire ends U.S. ground troop involvement in Vietnam. The military draft ends; the Supreme Court legalizes abortion; the noose around the president's neck tightens.
1974
Richard Nixon resigns; President Ford declares, "Our long, national nightmare is over." The youngest of the boomers are nearly teenagers; the oldest are nearly middle aged.
1975
The Greatest" retains his title in "The Thrilla' in Manila"; Saigon falls and the U.S. bails out of Vietnam;12.27.