November 1961
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The following events occurred in November 1961:
November 25, 1961: Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise commissioned
November 23, 1961: Thalidomide pulled from market after birth defect warning
November 29, 1961: Enos the chimpanzee (pictured) becomes first American in orbit
November 3, 1961: U Thant unanimously elected UN Secretary General
May 1961
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The following events occurred in May 1961:
November 1961
…Trujillo family departed the Dominican Republic, where the relatives of the late Rafael Trujillo had ruled for 30 years. Rafael had been assassinated on May 30. Three of his brothers (including former president Héctor Trujillo) joined Rafael, Jr., who had left the previous day. The group departed on a chartered…
May 5, 1961: Alan Shepard becomes first American in space
May 14, 1961: Freedom Riders attacked by angry mob near Anniston, Alabama
May 5, 1961: Launch of Freedom 7
May 8, 1961: Shepard receives NASA Distinguished Service Medal