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News and Events of 1954

Year by Year: 1900-2012 View a 1954 calendar

World Events

World Statistics

Population: 2.728 billion
population by decade

Nobel Peace Prize:
Office of U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees

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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).

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U.S. Events

U.S. Statistics

President: Dwight D. Eisenhower
Vice President: Richard M. Nixon
Population: 163,025,854
Life expectancy: 69.6 years
Homicide Rate (per 100,000): 4.8

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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).

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Economics

US GDP (1998 dollars):   $381.3 billion
Federal spending:   $70.86 billion
Federal debt:   $270.8 billion
Consumer Price Index:   26.9
Unemployment:   2.9%
Cost of a first-class stamp:   $0.03

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Sports

Sports Links

Pro Football Summary

Pro Basketball Summary

Pro Baseball Summary

World Series

NY Giants d. Cleveland (4-0)

NBA Championship

Minneapolis Lakers d. Syracuse (4-3)

Stanley Cup

Detroit d. Montreal (4-3)

Wimbledon

Women: Maureen Connolly d. L. Brough (6-2 7-5)
Men: Jaroslav Drobny d. K. Rosewall (13-11 4-6 6-2 9-7)

Kentucky Derby Champion

Determine

NCAA Basketball Championship

La Salle d. Bradley (92-76)

NCAA Football Champions

Ohio St. (AP, INS) (10-0-0) & UCLA (UP, FW) (9-0-0)

World Cup

W. Germany d. Hungary (3-2)

Entertainment

Entertainment Awards

Pulitzer Prizes
Music: Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, Quincy Porter
Drama: The Teahouse of the August Moon, John Patrick

Oscars awarded in 1954
Academy Award, Best Picture: From Here to Eternity, Buddy Adler, producer (Columbia)

Nobel Prize for Literature: Ernest Hemingway (US)

1954 Emmy Awards

1954 Tony Awards

Miss America: Evelyn Margaret Ay (PA)

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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

Nobel Prizes in Science

Chemistry: Linus C. Pauling (US), for study of forces holding together protein and other molecules

Physics: Max Born (UK), for work in quantum mechanics; and Walther Bothe (Germany), for work in cosmic radiation

Physiology or Medicine: John F. Enders, Thomas H. Weller, and Frederick C. Robbins (all US), for work with cultivation of polio virus

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