Here’s some of what was going on in the outside world while we started off at NAVOCS.
Night of the Living Dead had its premiere in Pittsburgh, Penn., on October 1. Romeo and Juliet, directed by Franco Zeffirelli and starring Olivia Hussey, debuted in the US on October 8. Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen and containing what many people consider “the most famous car chase in American cinematic history,” was first shown on October 17. Here’s video of the part of the chase inside San Francisco.
Presidential candidate George Wallace (American Independent Party) introduced his running mate for Vice President, retired Air Force General Curtis LeMay, on October 3.
“Operation Sealords,” in which American and South Vietnamese forces sought to disrupt enemy supply lines in the Mekong Delta, began on October 8.
On October 10, the Detroit Tigers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-1, to win the World Series in the seventh game. The Tigers came back from a 3-1 deficit in games and won the last three games to take the title.
“The first major firearms control act passed by Congress in 30 years,” previously approved in the Senate, was passed by the House on October 10.
Apollo 7, the first American space flight with three astronauts, launched on October 11. First mission to have all crew members with the common cold, it returned to earth on October 22.
Opening ceremonies of the XIX Olympic Games took place in Mexico City, Mexico, on October 12. While known as the Summer Olympics, the games were the second in succession to take place in the fall. On October 14, American sprinter Jim Hines became the first person to run 100 meters under 10 seconds, setting a world record of 9.95 seconds. Two days later, on the 16th, Americans Tommy Smith and John Carlos held up black-gloved fists during the playing of the National Anthem following the 400-meter race. American Bob Beamon, on October 18, broke the world record in the long jump by nearly two feet. His jump of 29 feet, 2 1/2 inches, stood as the record for 23 years and is still the second-longest jump in history. American Dick Fosbury introduced the “Fosbury flop” technique of high-jumping to the world on October 20 as he won a gold medal and set an Olympic record of 7 feet, 4 1/2 inches.
Jacqueline Kennedy, widow of assassinated US President John F. Kennedy, married Aristotle Onassis on the Greek island of Skorpios on October 20.
Led Zeppelin, formerly The New Yardbirds, gave their first live concert with their new name and new band members on October 25 in England.
On the last day of the month, and five days before the US elections, President Lyndon Johnson announced a stop to “all air, naval, and artillery bombardment of North Vietnam.”