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August 20, 1968

August 20, 1968, was a Tuesday. It was 56 years, 3 months, and 25 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Leo.

On This Day

What happened on this date?

Notable events that occurred on August 20, 1968:

  • 500,000 "Warsaw Pact" troops invade Czechoslovakia in order to stop liberalization reforms.
Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on August 20, 1968:

  • United States: "People Got To Be Free" by The Rascals
  • United Kingdom: "Mony Mony" by Tommy James & Shondells

The Billboard Hot 100 on August 20, 1968

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • People Got To Be Free - The Rascals
  • Hello, I Love You - The Doors
  • Classical Gas - Mason Williams
  • Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf
  • Light My Fire - Jose Feliciano
Play the top songs from 1968
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1968. Take a trip back to the days of The The Beatles, Otis Redding, Cliff Richard, Louis Armstrong and The Rascals.
Rosemary's Baby

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Rosemary's Baby".

Facts

This date was 20,570 days ago. Approximately 686 months have passed. It was the 233rd day of 1968, in week 34. The decade was the swinging sixties. People born on this day are currently 56 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. 1968 had 366 days because it was a leap year. 229 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to August 20, 1968

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Tuesday, August 20, 1968. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Leo. The summer of 1968 is coming to an end and fall is just around the corner.

In America, the song "People Got To Be Free" by The Rascals is at the top of the singles charts, while "Mony Mony" by Tommy James & Shondells is the number-one song in the UK. Lyndon Baines Johnson is the President of the United States, and the movie Rosemary's Baby is at the top of the box office. Harold Wilson is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

In fashion, a new "hippie subculture" has emerged, bringing with it laid-back Bohemian styles. Frayed bell-bottom jeans, Jesus sandals, crushed velvet suits, and bright tie-dye t-shirts are all popular items of clothing at the moment. It's 1968, so radio stations are playing hit songs from artists such as The Beatles, Louis Armstrong, Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones, Bobby Goldsboro and Marvin Gaye. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Ramon Novarro, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Judy Garland, and Brian Jones would all still be alive.

On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "The Ed Sullivan Show", "Gunsmoke", "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In", and "Columbo". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Looney Tunes", "Heckle and Jeckle", "The Bugs Bunny Show", and "Aquaman". Popular toys at the moment include Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, Captain Action (action figure), Major Matt Mason (action figure), and Best of the West (action figures).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on August 20, 1968, will have the star sign Leo.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1968 was the year of the Monkey (Yang Water).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 7.
  • Native American Zodiac: August 20, 1968 falls under the Salmon.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of August will have the birthstone Peridot.
  • Birth flower (August): The Gladiolus and the Poppy.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on August 20, 1968.

  • The Volkswagen Beetle.

    The Volkswagen Beetle

    The Volkswagen Beetle was one of the most common cars on the road. Sales of the vehicle increased following the release of the 1968 film The Love Bug (and its subsequent spin-offs).
  • The Vietnam War is becoming costly.

    The Vietnam War is becoming costly

    In 1968, US troop numbers in Vietnam reached their peak. An estimated 536,100 service personnel were now stationed in the country. This was the deadliest and most expensive year for the American military in Vietnam. In 1968 alone, an estimated 16,592 US soldiers lost their lives. By this time, most Americans believed that military involvement in Vietnam was a mistake.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1968?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1968?

    The best NBA players in 1968 were Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Jerry Lucas, Dave Bing and Oscar Robertson.
  • Who were the best football players?

    Who were the best football players?

    In 1968, the best soccer players were George Best, Bobby Charlton, Dragan Džajić, Franz Beckenbauer, Giacinto Facchetti, Luigi Riva, Amancio Amaro, Eusébio, Gianni Rivera, Jimmy Greaves and Pirri.
  • Oliver!

    Oliver!

    "Oliver!" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1968.
  • O. C. Smith - "Little Green Apples"

    O. C. Smith - "Little Green Apples"

    "Little Green Apples" by O. C. Smith won a Grammy for 1968's Song of the Year.
  • 1968 in music.

    1968 in music

    The Billboard Charts in 1968 were dominated by the likes of Paul Mauriat, Otis Redding, Bobby Goldsboro, The Beatles, The Rascals and Herb Alpert.
  • 1968 in movies.

    1968 in movies

    Movies released in 1968 included 2001: A Space Odyssey, Funny Girl, The Love Bug, The Odd Couple, Bullitt, Romeo and Juliet, Oliver!, Coogan's Bluff, Rosemary's Baby, Planet of the Apes, Night of the Living Dead and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
  • The Apollo 8 astronauts.

    The Apollo 8 astronauts

    "The Apollo 8 astronauts" were named Time Person of the Year in 1968 after they became the first humans to successfully leave low Earth orbit.
  • The Hippie movement.

    The Hippie movement

    The hippie counterculture reached its peak during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The movement, which sprung up in opposition to the Vietnam War, was centered around peace, psychedelic music, sexual liberation, bright colors, and drugs such as LSD and marijuana.
  • Lava lamps are all the rage.

    Lava lamps are all the rage

    Sales of lava lamps increased in the late 1960s. It wasn't until the second half of the 1970s that they started to go out of fashion.
  • The afro hairstyle is at its peak in popularity.

    The afro hairstyle is at its peak in popularity

    The afro hairstyle took off during the 1960s and early 1970s. Public figures such as Angela Davis, Pam Grier, Jimi Hendrix, and the Jackson 5 were among those who sported the style.
  • Color TV.

    Color TV

    Although color television was rising in popularity, black-and-white TV sets were still the most popular.
  • The push-button telephone.

    The push-button telephone

    Push-button telephones were beginning to replace the older rotary-style landlines.
  • The miniskirt has taken over.

    The miniskirt has taken over

    In the mid-to-late 1960s, the miniskirt became a favored clothing item among women. The skirt countered the conservatism of the 1950s and early 1960s. As a result, many people at the time saw it as a rebellious fashion statement.
  • The Suzy Homemaker.

    The Suzy Homemaker

    A miniature oven called the "Suzy Homemaker" was a sought-after toy around this time.
  • Fast food is replacing diners and drive-ins.

    Fast food is replacing diners and drive-ins

    The fast food industry was steadily growing, much to the detriment of local diners and drive-in restaurants. Consequently, things such as jukeboxes and carhops also started to decline.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on August 20, 1968.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to August 20, 1968.

  • July 23, 1968: A gun battle breaks out between police officers and a Black Power group in Glenville, Cleveland.
  • July 31, 1968: The first episode of the British sitcom "Dad's Army" is aired on BBC1.
  • August 2, 1968: 270 people die after an earthquake strikes Casiguran in the Philippines.
  • August 16, 1968: Thai singer Suraphol Sombatcharoen is shot dead in Nakhon Pathom.
  • This date: August 20, 1968
  • August 22, 1968: Pope Paul VI becomes the first pope to visit Latin America after he arrives in Bogotá, Colombia.
  • August 24, 1968: A civil rights march is held in Northern Ireland in protest against inequality and discrimination against ethnic Irish Catholics.
  • August 26, 1968: The Beatles release their song "Hey Jude".
  • August 28, 1968: "The whole world is watching": Anti Vietnam War protesters clash with police at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
  • September 8, 1968: Black Panther Party founder Huey Newton is sentenced to 2-15 years in prison for the manslaughter of Oakland police officer John Frey.

1960s fashion

Photographs of 1960s fashion and hairstyles.

1960s fashion

Television shows

TV series on August 20, 1968

People in August 1968 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from August 1968.

Columbo
Columbo
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
I Dream of Jeannie
I Dream of Jeannie
Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island
Steptoe and Son
Steptoe and Son
Bonanza
Bonanza
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
What's My Line?
What's My Line?
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show

Cars in 1968

1968 saw the introduction of cars such as the Audi 100, the Chevrolet Chevy Malibu, the Volkswagen Type 4, the BMW New Six, the Ford Torino, and the AMC Javelin.

Cars in 1968.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on August 20, 1968

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1968:

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
Spider-Man
Spider-Man

Aquaman
Aquaman
The Herculoids
The Herculoids
Birdman and the Galaxy Trio
Birdman and the Galaxy Trio
The Monkees
The Monkees
The New Adventures of Superman
The New Adventures of Superman
The King Kong Show
The King Kong Show
Cool McCool
Cool McCool
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek: The Original Series
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1968

Toys and games that were popular in 1968:

Battleship (game)
Battleship (game)
Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite
Best of the West (action figures)
Best of the West (action figures)
Twister mat
Twister mat
Suzy Homemaker
Suzy Homemaker
Major Matt Mason (action figure)
Major Matt Mason (action figure)
Captain Action (action figure)
Captain Action (action figure)
Operation
Operation
Scalextric
Scalextric
Barrel of Monkeys
Barrel of Monkeys
Motorific (slot car toys)
Motorific (slot car toys)
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots

Were you born on August 20, 1968?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1968.

This is because humans find it difficult to retrieve memories of their early childhood.

If you are looking for some childhood nostalgia, then you should check out August 20, 1974, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on August 20.

Ron Paul

Ron Paul

US politician
Born on August 20, 1935
He turned 33 on this day in 1968.

Slobodan Milošević

Slobodan Milošević

Yugoslav and Serbian politician Deceased
Born on August 20, 1941
He turned 27 on this day in 1968.

Robert Plant

Robert Plant

Musician
Born on August 20, 1948
He turned 20 on this day in 1968.

Phil Lynott

Phil Lynott

Irish musician Deceased
Born on August 20, 1949
He turned 19 on this day in 1968.

Dimebag Darrell

Dimebag Darrell

Musician Deceased
Born on August 20, 1966
He turned 2 on this day in 1968.

Fred Durst

Fred Durst

Singer
Born on August 20, 1970
He was born exactly 2 years after this date.

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato

Singer
Born on August 20, 1992
She was born exactly 24 years after this date.

USA

US President

Lyndon Baines Johnson was the President of the United States on August 20, 1968.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Harold Wilson was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Jack Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on August 20, 1968 was most likely conceived around November 28, 1967.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on August 20, 1968 is close to May 13, 1969.

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Stats for August 20, 1968

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about August 20, 1968:

  • 20,570 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,938 weeks have passed.
  • 1,777,251,600 seconds have passed since August 20, 1968.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,073,460,200 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 917,061,825,600 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 296,208,600 times.
  • You have taken approximately 152,843,638 steps. That's roughly 67,931 miles.
  • 21,327,019 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1968?

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