This+Year+in+History+-+1961

Important Events of 1961

January 17 - Eisenhower allegedly orders assassination of Congo's Lumumba March 9 - 1st animal returned from space, dog named Blackie aboard Sputnik 9 April 17 - 1,400 Cuban exiles land in Bay of Pigs attempt to overthrow Castro May 1 - Pulitzer prize awarded to Harper Lee for To Kill a Mockingbird May 20 - White mob attacks "Freedom Riders" in Montgomery, Alabama August 18 - Construction on Berlin Wall completed September 21 - Antonio Abertondo swims English Channel round trip (44 miles) November 15 - U.N. bans nuclear arms (1961 in History)