Remembering the 60s - 1961 Americana Quiz

Answer: Bay of Pigs

The U.S. failed to provide air cover for the CIA-sponsored invasion, and it was a disaster for the anti-Castro Cubans attempting to retake their homeland. Kennedy took full responsibility for the fiasco even though the original plan was developed under President Eisenhower. In exchange for 500 bulldozers, the U.S. was able to arrange the release of prisoners held in Cuba.

Answer: Jim McKay

For his achievements in hosting and announcing many Olympic Games, McKay was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1988. He popularized the phrase, "The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat".

Answer: The Beach Boys

On New Year's Eve, 1961 the band appeared at the Long Beach Municipal Stadium in their first important concert. It was a memorial to the late Richie Valens, and they were paid $300. Despite the British 'invasion' of the early 1960s, the Beach Boys' 'surf sound' kept them one of the most popular American bands for the entire decade.

Answer: Valium

Valium was not approved for the public by the FDA until 1963. Drug research chemist, Leo Sternbach, developed the drug that became the country's most widely prescribed drug from 1969 to 1982.

Answer: Big Bad John

Perhaps Jimmy Dean is better know today for his sausage products, but in 1961 his hit, "Big Bad John" topped the pop, country, and adult contemporary charts.

Answer: Sargent Shriver

By executive order, JFK established the Peace Corps and named his brother-in-law, Sargent Shriver, as its first Director. Thousands of bright, young Americans rushed to take the qualification exams. Shriver went on to be the 1972 Democratic vice-presidential running mate of George McGovern.

Answer: The New Frontier

Tragically, "Camelot" and "The New Frontier" lasted slightly more than 1,000 days, and were ended by an assassin's bullet in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. Lyndon Johnson succeeded as president and initiated "The Great Society". "The New Deal" was Franklin Roosevelt's plan to end the Great Depression, and "The Fair Deal" was a nickname for Harry Truman's administration.

Answer: Roger Maris

Some baseball 'experts' wanted an asterisk placed next to Maris' name in the record books. This was because Maris had broken the record over a 162 game season, and in Ruth's time, the season consisted of only 154 games.

Answer: The Berlin Wall

After World War II, Berlin was divided among the Allied victors. The Soviet Union obtained the eastern part of the city, while West Berlin was under the control of the other allies. Located deep inside the former East Germany, West Berlin was a Western 'island' in the former East Germany.

It provided a gap in the Iron Curtain, through which East Germans could flee (or migrate) to the politically and economically vastly more attractive West Germany. The East German government had tried for years to stop the flow of refugees, and in August, 1961 the East Berlin was cut off from West Berlin by the East German government (acting with with Soviet backing).

Initially, the physical division consisted mainly of closely guarded barbed wire fences and entanglements but these were soon replaced by the concrete Wall.

Answer: Build fallout shelters

As the Cold War intensified, President Kennedy was not satisfied with America's civil defense preparedness, and advised the public to take precautions. By Executive Order, he assigned "Civil Defense" to the Secretary of Defense, and initiated a nationwide, government funded, shelter program.