Explorer I First American Satellite
The United States launches Explorer I, its first successful artificial satellite.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1958 in United States of America
Explore 76 historical events and records for United States of America in 1958.
Historical records for United States of America in 1958
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 76 unique records.
76Unique records
1 of 2Page
38Named events on this page
17Named people on this page
13Places on this page
January
February
Advanced Research Projects Agency Established
The Department of Defense establishes ARPA as the administration accelerates advanced research after Sputnik.
March
Return Voyage from Philippines
Lee's unit departed Corregidor aboard the USS Wexford County on March 7, 1958, returning to Atsugi eleven days later.
US Arms Embargo
Restricts arms shipments to Batista's government.
April
First Court Martial
Oswald faced a court-martial on April 11, 1958, for possessing an unregistered privately owned weapon in violation of orders.
First Court Martial Sentence
Lee received a sentence including reduction to private and financial forfeitures following his first Marine court-martial.
June
Bluebird Cafe Incident
A dispute with a Marine sergeant at the Bluebird Cafe led to charges that produced Lee's second court-martial.
Second Court Martial
Oswald was court-martialed a second time on June 27, 1958, after an altercation with a noncommissioned officer.
July
Alaska Statehood Act Signed
Signs the Alaska Statehood Act authorizing admission of Alaska to the Union.
Atomic Energy Commission
McCone became the fourth Chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission, succeeding Lewis Strauss and beginning a term that lasted until January 1961.
Lebanon Marine Deployment
Orders United States Marines into Lebanon at the request of President Camille Chamoun during the Middle East crisis.
NASA Created
Signs legislation creating NASA, the agency that later runs Apollo.
Limited Test Moratorium Proposal
McCone discussed a proposal with Secretary John Foster Dulles for limiting nuclear tests while preserving carefully controlled underground development work.
August
Defense Reorganization Act
Signs legislation strengthening the authority of the Secretary of Defense and improving unified military command arrangements.
Court Martial Confinement Ends
Lee remained confined following his second court-martial until August 13, 1958, after earlier suspended confinement was reinstated.
Second Taiwan Strait Crisis
The shelling of Quemoy and Matsu begins a new Taiwan Strait crisis requiring major American military and diplomatic attention.
September
National Defense Education Act Signed
Signs the National Defense Education Act to expand federal support for science, mathematics, languages and higher education.
Integrated Circuit Demonstration
Demonstrates a working integrated circuit, combining multiple electronic functions on one semiconductor piece.
Mobile Isotope Laboratory Accepted
Accepts a mobile isotope laboratory presented to the IAEA by the United States Atomic Energy Commission.
October
NASA Begins Operations
NASA begins operations, absorbing the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and becoming the civilian space agency.
Lebanon Forces Withdraw
The final United States forces leave Lebanon after the political crisis stabilizes.
United States Nuclear Test Suspension
As AEC chairman, McCone oversaw Commission responsibilities when the United States suspended nuclear weapons testing as Geneva negotiations opened.
United States Nuclear Test Moratorium
The United States joins a voluntary nuclear testing moratorium while negotiations for a comprehensive test ban continue.
November
Government
"Colonialism...brought the great ideas which provided the great ideas for progress"
December
First IAEA Safety Publication
The Agency issues Safety Series No. 1, Safe Handling of Radioisotopes, its first formal publication.
John Birch Society
Founded in 1958 by Robert W. Welch Jr. in Indianapolis, Indiana, named after John Birch, a United States military intelligence officer and Baptist missionary in World War II who was killed in 1945 by supporters of the Communist Party of China
John Birch Society
One of the founder members of the John Birch Society
John Birch Society
Founded in 1958 by Robert W. Welch Jr. in Indianapolis, Indiana, named after John Birch, a United States military intelligence officer and Baptist missionary in World War II who was killed in 1945 by supporters of the Communist Party of China
Test Ban Inspection Safeguards
McCone argued that any nuclear test suspension should rest on a bilateral or multilateral agreement containing effective inspection and verification safeguards.
MACS-9 Assignment
Oswald was assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron 9 at El Toro on December 22, 1958, and worked with a radar crew.
Scientific Advisory Committee Established
The IAEA establishes a standing Scientific Advisory Committee to guide its early scientific and technical programmes.
Other events (month unknown)
26th of July Movement
Biographical accounts state that Sturgis operated a training camp in the Sierra Maestra and instructed members of Castro's rebel forces in guerrilla warfare.
Ambush at Cimarron Pass
Appears in Ambush at Cimarron Pass, one of his final films before Rawhide made him prominent.
BAFTA
Stars in "Some Like It Hot", wins BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor
Big Country
Directs, The Big Country
Brain Race
National Defence Education Act pumps $2B PA into education to win the "brain race"
Breakfast At Tiffanys
Publication of "Breakfast At Tiffanys"
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Stars in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Paul Newman appeares with his wife, Joanne Woodward, in the feature films "The Long, Hot Summer" & "Rally Round the Flag, Boys!"
Corregidor Exercises
While deployed in the Philippines, Lee's Marine unit participated in exercises at Corregidor before returning to Japan.
Early Recordings
Makes early home recordings as a teenager before beginning his professional music career.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.