1969 Newspaper Headlines Summary
An authentic 1969 newspaper will provide fascinating insights into the key events that shaped this year in history, from the perspectives of those who experienced it at the time. Headlines range from the phenomenal to the inconceivable: the canonical Hippie festival Woodstock took place, which attracted crowds of over 400,000 people, and the same summer saw the notorious Tate murders take place, masterminded by Charles Manson.
It was also the year that Australian media baron Rupert Murdoch bought The News of the World, a newspaper that became a pillar of his media empire for years to come. Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon, achieving a major feat for humanity. Discover which other events of interest took place in 1969 below.
Read a fascinating breakdown of 1969 events in our very own 1969 timeline.
January 1st
Australian media baron Rupert Murdoch purchases the largest selling British Sunday newspaper, The News of the World.
January 20th
Richard Milhous Nixon succeeds Lyndon Baines Johnson as the 37th President of the United States of America.
January 30th
The Beatles give their last public performance, on the roof of Apple Records. The impromptu concert is broken up by the police.
February 9th
The Boeing 747 takes-off on its maiden flight.
March 19th
British paratroopers and marines land on the island of Anguilla.
March 28th
Former United States General and President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, dies after a long illness in the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre in Washington D.C..
April 22nd
Robin Knox-Johnston becomes the first person to sail around the world on his own without stopping.
June 1st
“Give Peace a Chance” is recorded in Montreal during the famous Bed-In for Peace protest by John Lennon. This is the first solo single recorded by a member of The Beatles. The song was released under the name Plastic Ono Band and is still a strong anthem for peace.
July 1st
Prince Charles is invested with the title ’Prince of Wales’ at Caernarfon in a televised ceremony.
July 20th
Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on the Moon.
July 31st
The halfpenny ceases to be legal tender in the United Kingdom.
August 14th
British troops are deployed in Northern Ireland following the three-day Battle of the Bogside.
September 26th
The Beatles release their “Abbey Road” album, receiving critical praise and enormous commercial success.
October 5th
“Monty Python’s Flying Circus” airs on BBC One for the first time.
November 15th
Regular colour television broadcasts begin on BBC One and ITV.
November 19th
Football great Pelé scores his 1,000th goal.
November 25th
John Lennon returns his MBE medal in protest to the British government’s support of the war in Vietnam.
December 30th
The Linwood bank robbery in Scotland leaves two police officers dead.
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