November 1, 1968: Operation Rolling Thunder ceases, the death of a Greek democrat, the alphabet at the movies.

1.  Aerial bombardment of North Vietnam by the United States was stopped at 21:00.   Also ceased was naval and ground bombardment into North Vietnamese territory.

Naval air strike in North Vietnam.  Note downed bridge.

2.  The Motion Picture Association of America's moving rating system, which at that time provided letter ratings of G, M, R or X, went into effect.

3.  Former Greek Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou, recently arrested from house arrest which was imposed upon him following a 1967 military coup, died following surgery for a perforated ulcer.  He had been Prime Minister of Greece three times, including during part of World War Two (in exile) and had been an important Greek political figure dating back to World War One, where he was in the pro Allied, anti Monarchy, camp.

And fifty years later, in France (on May 13, 1968) . . .

French labor unions called a general strike in support of the students of the Sorbonne.  Of course, French labor unions will call a strike on about any occasion, but this was a serious matter. . . even if it did have the effect of making the weekend a three day one.

It wasn't a day off for diplomats. The peace talks between North and South Vietnam, and the United States, commenced in Paris.