• Berlin - 1961, East Germany erected the Berlin Wall August 13, 1961.
• Cuba - The US government severed diplomatic ties with Cuba.
• Trivial Tidbit - 1961 was the last year where the date appeared the same up side down or right side up until 6119 .
• Space - Russian Yuri Gagarin became the first man go beyond the earths atmosphere. He orbited the earth in 108 minutes and returned safely to earth.
• Bay of Pigs - the US backed rebel invasion of the Bay of Pigs in Cuba failed to overthrow communist dictator Fidel Castro.
• Baseball - Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's home run record by hitting his 61st home run.
Notable Deaths -
Gary Cooper, 1901-1961, a Hollywood film legend and great American hero, died from complications of cancer at home one week after his 60th birthday.
Ernest Hemingway, 1899-1961, Great American writer and adventurer, suffer from severe paranoia later in life. His torment ended on July 2, 1961, when he committed suicide.
