Top News Stories from 1954

World Events

• Nasser becomes premier of Egypt (April 17).
• Geneva Conference is convened to bring peace to Vietnam (April to July). The country is divided at the 17th parallel, pending democratic elections.
• Dien Bien Phu, French military outpost in Vietnam, falls to Viet Minh army (May 7). Background: Vietnam War
• Eight-nation Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty (establishing SEATO) signed at Manila (Sept. 8).
• Paris agreements grant West Germany sovereignty and admittance to NATO and Western European Union (Oct. 23; effective May, 1955).
• Algerian War of Independence against France begins (Oct. 31).

U.S. Events

• Army v. McCarthy inquiry (Apr. 22–June 17); Senate votes in Dec. to condemn Sen. McCarthy for misconduct.
• In Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka the Supreme Court unanimously bans racial segregation in public schools (May 17).

Economics

Sports

World Series

NBA Championship

Stanley Cup

Wimbledon

Kentucky Derby Champion

NCAA Basketball Championship

NCAA Football Champions

World Cup

Entertainment

Events

• The World Series is broadcast in color for the first time.
• The revenue for television broadcasters finally surpasses that of radio broadcasters. Gross revenue for television is $593 million.
• Bill Haley and the Comets begin writing hit songs. As a white band using black-derived forms, they venture into rock 'n' roll.
• Robert Joffrey Ballet debuts.

Movies

• On the Waterfront, Rear Window, The Caine Mutiny, Sabrina, The High and the Mighty

Music

• Pierre Boulez, Le Marteau Sans Maître (The Hammer Without a Master)

Books

• Louise Bogan, Collected Poems, 1923—1953
• William F. Buckley, L. Brent Bozell, McCarthy and His Enemies
• William Golding, Lord of the Flies
• Anaïs Nin, A Spy in the House of Love
• J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Science

• First children receive Dr. Jonas Salk's polio vaccine. Background: Major U.S. Epidemics
• The USS Nautilus, the first atomic submarine, is commissioned at Groton, Connecticut.
• Boeing tests the 707, the first jet-powered transport plane. Background: Famous Firsts in Aviation

Death

• Lionel Barrymore
• Henri Matisse

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