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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
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
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.
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Best Motion Picture
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The Caine Mutiny,
Stanley Kramer, producer (Columbia)
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Best Actor
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Humphrey Bogart, The Caine Mutiny
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Best Actress
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Dorothy Dandridge, Carmen Jones
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