United States and American History: Early 1967

About the history of the United States in 1967, Adam Clayton Powell's biography, Anti-Vietnam sentiment rises, CIA funds groups it shouldn't, Muhammad Ali arrested for refusing to fight.

1967

--The Pentagon announced that 5,008 Americans died in Vietnam in 1966. U.S. troop strength stood at 380,000.

Jan. 10 Black congressman Adam Clayton Powell was barred from taking his seat in the House and stripped of his chairmanship of the Education and Labor Committee because he supposedly misused congressional travel funds and was under indictment for contempt-of-court in New York. On March 1, the House voted to exclude Powell, the 1st time in 46 years it had taken such action. Powell called it "lynching Northern style." On April 11, Powell won a special election in his Harlem district by almost 7 to 1 despite his remaining in the Bahamas to avoid arrest. Powell finally got his seat back, without seniority, January, 1969, after winning another election.

Feb. Opposition to the Vietnam War broadened as civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke against it, Women's Strike for Peace demonstrated at the Pentagon, 5,000 scientists petitioned for a bombing halt, University of Wisconsin students forced Dow Chemical recruiters off campus, and Sen. Robert Kennedy proposed the U.S. halt bombing and negotiate troop withdrawal.

Feb. 10 Ratification of 25th Amendment. It empowered the President to nominate a new Vice-President subject to the approval of Congress in case of a vacancy in that office and provided that the Vice-President would become acting President when the President suffered a disability.

Feb. 20 The National Gallery of Art paid a record $5-$6 million for a Da Vinci portrait, Ginevra dei Benci.

Mar. 13 Confirming a Ramparts magazine expose, the National Student Association admitted it had received over $3 million from the CIA through dummy foundations. A series of subsequent disclosures revealed that 30 organizations in education, labor, law, journalism, and religion had received secret CIA funding.

Apr. 15 The largest antiwar demonstration to date--100,000 by police estimates, 400,000 according to its organizers--took place in New York City while 50,000 rallied in San Francisco. On April 4, Martin Luther King had proposed that the civil rights and antiwar movements merge and counseled in favor of draft evasion. He called the U.S. Government "the greatest purveyor of violence in the world."

Apr. 22 The 1.6 million member United Auto Workers voted to leave the AFL-CIO, criticizing its lack of organizing effort and democratic leadership.

Apr. 28 Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali was arrested for refusing induction into the Army after having been denied conscientious objector status. Boxing authorities immediately stripped him of his title.

May 13 Demonstrators 70,000 strong marched "supporting our men in Vietnam" in New York City.

June 5 A Chicano group led by Reis Tijerina seized the county courthouse in Tierra Amarilla, N. Mex., and freed 11 prisoners as part of a movement claiming land granted their ancestors by Spain. Tijerina was arrested for kidnapping and assault, but he was acquitted after presenting his own defense in court. Later he served over 2 years in prison for burning a U.S. Forest Service sign.

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