Ella German Marriage Proposal
After spending New Year's Day with Ella German's family, Lee proposed marriage to her the following evening and was rejected.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1961 in United States of America
Explore 334 historical events and records for United States of America in 1961.
Historical records for United States of America in 1961
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 334 unique records.
334Unique records
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January
Soviet Citizenship Reconsideration
On January 4, 1961, Oswald told Soviet officials that he no longer wanted Soviet citizenship and requested only an extension of his residence permit.
White House Conference on Aging
The White House Conference on Aging opens as the administration addresses policy for an expanding elderly population.
Defense Liaison Problems Reviewed
Cabell is briefed on unresolved Defense Department support problems affecting the Cuban project.
Senate Foreign Relations Briefing
Dulles briefs a closed Senate Foreign Relations Committee session on the Cuban exile programme.
Farewell Address Military-Industrial Complex
Delivers his Farewell Address, warning of the potential influence of the military-industrial complex and emphasizing balanced national policy.
Pre-Inauguration CIA Briefing
Rusk receives a CIA briefing on the basic Cuban covert-action plan before taking office.
AEC Chairmanship Concludes
McCone completed his service as Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission at the end of the Eisenhower administration.
Inauguration
Inaugurated President of the USA, 35th President, youngest ever President
Inherited Invasion Plan
Kennedy enters office with the CIA Cuban invasion project already well advanced.
Retirement to Gettysburg
Leaves the presidency and retires to his farm near the Gettysburg battlefield.
New Administration Project Endorsement
Barnes reports that senior Kennedy administration officials generally endorse continuation of preparations.
New York Arrival
Arrives in New York and enters the Greenwich Village folk scene.
Senior Tactical Briefing Preparation
Cabell joins preparations for the presidential meeting on the strike-force plan and military coordination.
Covert Activities Continued
Kennedy directs continuation of propaganda, political action, sabotage, infiltration and overflight activities while military review proceeds.
Diplomatic Objections Raised
Bowles argues that the operation threatens United States diplomatic credibility.
Invasion of Cuba
Kennedy is briefed on a plan, code-named Operation Pluto, for a ship-borne invasion force to land near Trinidad, Cuba.
Military Plan Reviewed
McNamara examines the military assumptions behind the proposed exile invasion.
Operation Pluto
Kennedy is briefed on Operation Pluto, an invasion plan proposing a landing near Trinidad, Cuba.
Peace
Announces plans for a corps of volunteers to improve conditions in undeveloped nations
Plausible Deniability Warning
Schlesinger warns that United States responsibility for an invasion would become evident.
State Department Objections
Bowles raises objections to the invasion plan within the State Department.
Trinidad Landing Plan Reviewed
Kennedy reviews a proposed landing near Trinidad at the Escambray Mountains.
Trinidad Plan Briefing
Kennedy reviews the proposed landing near Trinidad and the Escambray Mountains.
Trinidad Plan Defense Briefing
McNamara receives a briefing on the proposed Trinidad invasion plan.
Trinidad Plan Reviewed
Rusk participates in the new administration review of the Trinidad landing proposal.
Trinidad Plan State Department Briefing
Rusk receives a briefing on the proposed Trinidad landing.
Warning against Covert Invasion
Schlesinger warns that the invasion could seriously damage United States credibility.
Strike Plan Briefed to Senior Officers
Hawkins gives senior CIA and military officers a detailed briefing on the proposed Cuban strike plan.
Joint Staff Strike Plan Briefing
Gray receives a detailed briefing on the planned exile strike force and its operational concept.
United States Policy against Castro
Kennedy inherits a policy intended to remove Castro and reduce Soviet influence in Cuba.
February
JCS Favorable Strike Evaluation
Lemnitzer forwards the Joint Chiefs' favorable evaluation of the proposed exile strike plan to the CIA.
Cautious Cuba Approach Urged
Mann urges officials to proceed cautiously while the administration considers the proposed invasion force.
Strike Force Alternatives Requested
Berle requests a paper assessing the consequences of disbanding the exile strike force and possible alternatives.
Revolutionary Council Formation Discussed
Bissell discusses creation of a Cuban Revolutionary Council to provide political leadership for the anti-Castro operation.
Apollo Program
Becomes NASA administrator during Apollo expansion.
Civilian Military Relations Reviewed
Bissell reviews Cuban civilian-military relations and links between exile political leaders, the strike force and Joint Chiefs staff.
Invasion of Cuba
Kennedy asked Asks advisers whether the toppling of Castro might be related to weapon shipments and if it was possible to claim the real targets were modern fighter aircraft and rockets which endangered Americas securit
Cuban Revolutionary Council Planning
Hunt helped prepare the exile political structure that evolved into the Cuban Revolutionary Council before the Bay of Pigs invasion.
Joint Chiefs Assessment
Lemnitzer coordinates military review of the CIA invasion proposal.
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.