A Look Back at May 22, 1964

I was born on May 22, 1964. Early today, I began thinking…”What was going on my birthday in 1964?” Here is what I found.

What Happened on May 22, 1964?

President Lyndon B. Johnson gave a major speech at the University of Michigan, where he first outlined his vision for the “Great Society” — a set of domestic programs aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice.
The Civil Rights Movement was in full swing. Just months later, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would become law (signed on July 2).
In Mississippi and other southern states, tensions were high, and the Freedom Summer campaign to register Black voters was being organized.

Life in 1964 America

New car: About $3,500 (for a Ford Mustang, which had just debuted).
Gasoline: Around 30 cents per gallon.
Median home price: Around $20,000.
Annual salary for a career firefighter:
- Ranged from $4,500 to $6,000 per year depending on the city.
- Adjusted for inflation, this would be about $45,000 to $60,000 today.
Minimum wage: $1.15/hour.
Postage stamp: 5 cents.

Based on U.S. Social Security data:

“Philip” ranked #55 that year for boys.

The Beatles had just arrived in America and were revolutionizing pop culture. Their Ed Sullivan appearance was in February, and Beatlemania was peaking.
Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) had defeated Sonny Liston in February to become heavyweight boxing champion.
The Warren Commission was in full investigation mode, probing the JFK assassination from November 1963.
The Vietnam War was escalating with increasing U.S. military involvement.
The Ford Mustang had launched in April 1964 and was creating a sensation.

The Beatles dominated the charts: Can’t Buy Me Love, Love Me Do, and Twist and Shout were major hits.
Louis Armstrong’s Hello, Dolly! reached #1, knocking the Beatles off the top.
Motown was rising fast, with acts like The Supremes and The Temptations gaining popularity.

You share your birthday with:

Morrissey (1959) – British singer-songwriter, former lead singer of The Smiths
Naomi Campbell (1970) – Supermodel
Bernie Taupin (1950) – Elton John’s lyricist
Richard Wagner (1813) – German composer (historical birthday)
Johnny Gill (1966) – R&B singer, member of New Edition

1990: North and South Yemen united to form the Republic of Yemen.
1980: Pac-Man was released in arcades in Japan.
1939: Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy signed the “Pact of Steel”.
1843: The first major wagon train on the Oregon Trail departed from Missouri.

In 1964, the average life expectancy in the U.S. was about 70 years.
The first G.I. Joe action figures were released.
The U.S. had 189 million people — compared to over 330 million today.
Movies like Mary Poppins, Goldfinger, and Dr. Strangelove were on screens that year.
The Civil Rights movement and the space race were two defining themes of American life.

Categories: Bio's