Request to Recover Passport
In February 1961, Oswald asked the American Embassy to return his passport and said that he wanted to return to the United States.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1961 in United States of America — Page 2
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.
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February
March
Peace
Announces the Peace Corps has been created
Peace Corps
Announces the Peace Corps has been created
Interagency Cuba Plan Review
Mann hosts an interagency review of the Joint Staff draft plan for operations against Cuba.
Holy Loch
The United States Navy begins regular Polaris submarine operations from Holy Loch in Scotland
Revolutionary Council Announcement Delayed
Mann asks that formation of the Cuban Revolutionary Council not be announced until after the Mexico City peace conference.
Director
Appointed Director of the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
Appointed Director of the Peace Corps
Trinidad Plan Plausible Denial Objection
Mann argues that the Trinidad concept makes outside sponsorship too visible and presses for a more deniable landing site.
Trinidad Plan Political Review
Bundy joins the presidential review of the Trinidad plan as Kennedy demands a less overt American appearance.
Trinidad Site Rejected
Kennedy demands a less conspicuous landing site than Trinidad.
White House Trinidad Discussion
Berle participates in the White House discussion of the Trinidad invasion concept and its political risks.
Presidential Briefing on Revised Plan
Bundy meets CIA and military officials and then briefs Kennedy on the revised invasion planning.
Revised Zapata Plan Prepared
Bissell works with CIA planners to prepare a revised military plan meeting White House political restrictions.
Marriage
1st introduced to Lee Harvey Oswald
Meeting Marina Prusakova
Oswald met Marina Prusakova at a trade-union dance in Minsk around March 17, 1961, and began seeing her soon afterward.
Independence of Laos
"the security of South East Asia will be endagered if Laos loses its independence"
Independence of United States of America
"the security of South East Asia will be endagered if Laos loses its independence"
Recognition of Independence
"the security of South East Asia will be endagered if Laos loses its independence"
Landing Phase
Departs Stock Island aboard Blagar to help direct the landing phase of the invasion
Landing Phase
Departs Stock Island aboard Barbara J to help direct the landing phase of the invasion
Cuban Revolutionary Council (CRC)
CIA helps Cuban exiles create the Cuban Revolutionary Council.
Exile Leadership Negotiations
Hunt continued negotiations among rival Cuban exile leaders as the CIA tried to present a unified political alternative to Fidel Castro.
Restored to Active Army List
President Kennedy restores Eisenhower to the active list of the Regular Army with the rank of General of the Army.
April
Movement to Nicaragua Delayed
Bissell coordinates a twenty-four-hour delay in moving the strike force from Guatemala toward Nicaragua.
Puerto Cabezas Preparations
Arrives at Puerto Cabezas and prepares small boats for the invasion force
Puerto Cabezas Preparations
Arrives at Puerto Cabezas and helps prepare landing craft for the invasion force
Propaganda Plan Briefed
Braddock receives a briefing on propaganda arrangements intended to accompany the invasion.
Strike and Diversion Plans Briefed
Bissell receives a war-room briefing on the main strike force and the separate Diaz diversion.
Briefing of Landing Force
The CIA-chartered invasion fleet moves toward Cuba before the landing.
Briefing of Landing Force
Receives final briefings on the Barbara J role in the landing plan
Radio Moscow Predicts Invasion
A Radio Moscow broadcast predicts an imminent CIA-supported invasion of Cuba.
Radio Moscow Warning Received
Kennedy advisers note a Soviet broadcast predicting an imminent invasion of Cuba.
Air Strike Advisers Support Mission
Goodwin supports exile B-26 crews during the opening air operation.
Ambassador Misled by Cover Story
Stevenson discovers that intelligence officials supplied him with inaccurate information.
Bay of Pigs Air Operations
Volunteers as an Alabama Air National Guard aircrew member supporting the exile air force.
Bay of Pigs Air Operations
Volunteers as an Alabama Air National Guard pilot supporting Bay of Pigs air operations.
Bay of Pigs Air Operations
Volunteers as an Alabama Air National Guard aircrew member supporting the Bay of Pigs operation.
Bay of Pigs Air Strike
Commands a formation of B-26 bombers during the pre-invasion air strike.
Cover Story Exposed to Stevenson
Stevenson later learns that the official account of the air strikes was false.
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.