Announcer: As if the Middle East war wasn’t enough for one year in that part of the world, the Greeks and Turks almost started another. Their dispute concerned the independent Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Half the size of New Jersey, this island country agreed to avert war just as war seemed eminent. The problem, the Greeks and Turks living on Cyprus just don’t get along.
Greece had more than its share of headlines this year. A military junta seized control of that country in a coup on April 21st. The coup came quickly and it surprised many people, including this American woman who was in Athens.
Unknown Speaker: "I got up early this morning to go to the store to get oranges and eggs for breakfast, and I got to the corner of the street; this was about 8:30, a soldier presented arms, and told me to go home. So I said, 'I want to go to the store.' He said, 'It's closed.' He couldn't speak English but he called someone who spoke a little. I said, 'Is this a demonstration of some kind?' He said, 'Perhaps something like that.' So I went home and we had cereal for breakfast."
Announcer: The coup stemmed from a general feud among the political factions in Greece. The Junta set up a committee to rewrite the constitution and made it clear they were not about to give up their power.
President Charles de Gaulle of France visited Canada in Expo '67 during the summer. He was something less than a hit with the Canadian Government when he uttered these words in Montreal.
Charles de Gaulle: "(French.)"
Those words, encouraging a sovereign state of Quebec in Canada, led to a quicker trip home for Le Grand Charles than he had planned.
For Russia, 1967 was an anniversary year. They celebrated the 10th anniversary of Sputnik, and it marked their golden anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution.
As usual, their celebrations included a parade of their newest military machinery. But 1967 wasn’t all celebration, because they publicly supported the Arabs. Their defeat in the Middle East was considered a blow to the Russians as well.
Another stunning let down to their prestige came in 1967 when this voice was heard on American radio and television.
Svetlana Alliluyeva: "Many people are surprised by -- for instance, my mother was not very tender with me, but my father was described as rather --"
Announcer: That was Svetlana Alliluyeva, the daughter of Joseph Stalin. Svetlana was acclaimed Woman of the Year in a poll taken by UPI of newspaper editors and publishers. Her defection from Russia was the most starling since the Iron Curtain went up over 20 years ago. Coming up on 1967 In Review, this story:
Speaker: "Michigan State police has just asked some of the men to quit firing because they are firing right over our head. As we are now all pinned down on the South side of the drive."
