World Statistics
Population: 2.728 billion
Nobel Peace Prize:
Office of U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees
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).
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).
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
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
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
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. Brazil (3-2)
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)
Miss America: Evelyn Margaret Ay (PA)
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.
The USS Nautilus, the first atomic submarine, is commissioned at
Groton, Connecticut.
Boeing tests the 707, the first jet-powered transport plane.
Deaths
Lionel Barrymore
Henri Matisse