Apr 4
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated
Martin Luther King Jr. was shot on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. He was 39. Riots erupted in over 100 cities. America lost its greatest voice for nonviolence.
assassination
🇺🇸United States · 60s
The Year Everything Changed
MLK and RFK assassinated, Apollo 8 orbits the Moon, and America fractures.
What happened
5 milestones of 1968
Jun 5
Robert F. Kennedy Assassinated
Robert Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles minutes after winning the California primary. He died the next day. Two assassinations in two months shattered the nation.
assassination
Jan 30
Tet Offensive
North Vietnamese forces launched surprise attacks on over 100 South Vietnamese cities during the Tet holiday. Militarily repelled, but the TV footage of fighting in the US Embassy compound destroyed public support for the war.
war
Dec 24
Apollo 8 Orbits the Moon
Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders became the first humans to orbit the Moon. On Christmas Eve, they read from Genesis while showing Earth rising over the lunar horizon. The 'Earthrise' photo changed how we see our planet.
Aug 26-29
Chicago Democratic Convention Riots
Police beat anti-war protesters on live television outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. 'The whole world is watching,' the crowds chanted. It was.
civil unrest
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick — Kubrick reimagined cinema itself. HAL 9000 became the most famous computer in fiction.
Planet of the Apes
Franklin J. Schaffner — 'You maniacs! You blew it up!' Charlton Heston on the beach. That twist ending.
Rosemary's Baby
Roman Polanski — Mia Farrow's paranoia became ours. Horror went psychological.
Night of the Living Dead
George A. Romero — Made for $114,000. Invented the modern zombie film.
Oliver!
Carol Reed — Won Best Picture. Dickens as a lavish musical. 'Please sir, I want some more.'
What was on TV
60 Minutes
1968-present — CBS launched the newsmagazine that would become the most successful show in TV history.
Laugh-In
1968-1973 — 'Sock it to me!' Fast, irreverent, and wildly popular.
Hawaii Five-O
1968-1980 — 'Book 'em, Danno.' The cop show set in paradise.
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood
1968-2001 — Fred Rogers started national broadcasts. Kindness on PBS.
The Andy Griffith Show
1960-1968 — Ended its run as the #1 show. Mayberry signed off.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$1.21
Gallon of gas$0.34
New house (median)$14,950
New car (average)$2,800
Loaf of bread$0.22
Movie ticket$1.31
Inflation: 4.2%
Inflation accelerated to the highest level in a decade. Vietnam spending and Great Society programs strained the budget.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
1968 (USD)
$1.21
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
1968 (USD)
$0.34
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
1968 (USD)
$14,950
→
Today's value ($)
--
New car (average)BLS
1968 (USD)
$2,800
→
Today's value ($)
--
Loaf of breadBLS
1968 (USD)
$0.22
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
1968 (USD)
$1.31
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
Apollo 8 orbits the Moon
Humanity's first voyage to another world. Earthrise changed our perspective forever.
Intel founded
Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore founded Intel. The microprocessor revolution was coming.
747 unveiled
Boeing rolled out the 747 jumbo jet — mass air travel was about to begin.
Computer mouse demonstrated
Doug Engelbart demonstrated the mouse, hypertext, and video conferencing — 'The Mother of All Demos.'
911 emergency number
The first 911 emergency call was made in Haleyville, Alabama.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Afros as Black pride statementDashikis and African printsBell-bottoms and fringe
Slang
Right on— Absolutely, I agree
Bread— Money
Heavy— Serious, profound
Behavior
- Two assassinations in two months traumatized the nation
- The counterculture and establishment were at open war
- Nixon's 'silent majority' elected him to restore order
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