January 1969

Wednesday 01:

Marien Ngouabi formally becomes the President of the Republic of Congo.

Friday 10:

After 147 years, the last issue of the Saturday Evening Post is published.

Sunday 12:

Hard rock band Led Zeppelin release their eponymous first album.

Tuesday 14:

An explosion aboard the USS Enterprise near Hawaii kills 25 people.

Wednesday 15:

The Soviet Union launches Soyuz 5.

Thursday 16:

Czech student Jan Palach commits suicide by self-immolation in Prague, in protest against the Soviets' crushing of the Prague Spring the year before. The Metroliner train begins service between New York and Washington with one round trip per day.

Sunday 19:

Student Jan Palach died after setting himself on fire 3 days ago in Prague's Wenceslas Square to protest the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union in 1968. His funeral turned into another major protest.

Monday 20:

The first pulsar is discovered, in the Crab Nebula.

Tuesday 21:

An experimental underground nuclear reactor at Lucens Vad, Switzerland, released radiation into a cavern, which was then sealed.

Thursday 30:

The Beatles' last public performance, on the roof of Apple Records. The impromptu concert was broken up by the police.