The Mayflower II, a replica of the 1620 pilgrim vessel, leaves England under the command of Alan Villiers. The voyage to Plymouth, Massachusetts takes 53 days — 14 less than the original trip. Elsewhere that year:

_ A Senate committee investigates labor racketeering. The AFL-CIO finds Dave Beck guilty of misuse of union funds and expels both him and the Teamsters union. James R. Hoffa succeeds Beck as President of the Teamsters.

_ Jerome Robbins directs West Side Story, a show which blends music, dancing and acting into a unified art form.