1956
Khrushchev's secret speech denounces Stalin
In a closed session of the Soviet Communist Party Congress, Nikita Khrushchev spent four hours listing Stalin's crimes…
Suez Crisis
After Egypt's Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, Britain, France, and Israel secretly agreed on an invasion to seize it back.
Elvis meets Sullivan
Ed Sullivan, after vowing never to have him on, finally booked Elvis Presley for three appearances on his Sunday night variety show.
Hungarian Uprising
Budapest students toppled a giant statue of Stalin and dragged it through the streets.
First transatlantic phone cable
The TAT-1 cable was laid across the Atlantic seabed between Scotland and Newfoundland, allowing thirty-six simultaneous telephone calls between the United…
Jackson Pollock dies drunk
The American abstract painter, who had made pouring and dripping look like the only honest thing left to do with a canvas, drove his convertible into a tree…
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1956?
Saeculum lists 6 events from 1956. The most significant is Khrushchev's secret speech denounces Stalin: In a closed session of the Soviet Communist Party Congress, Nikita Khrushchev spent four hours listing Stalin's crimes.
What era was 1956 part of?
1956 falls within the Modern Era (1901-2000). World wars, cold war, and the splitting of the atom.
Which regions saw notable events in 1956?
The events from 1956 span Europe, Middle East and North America.