As the series a small subset of white people likes hurtles toward 1965, it’s time to think about what shape the historical backdrop will take. (All dates are from Wikipedia and, thus, accepted without question.)
March 10: Goldie, a London Zoo golden eagle, is recaptured 12 days after her escape.
Don turns from his newspaper, picks an errant tobacco leaf off his tongue, gazes out his office window, and thinks birds should not be kept in cages. Then, tired, he moves to his couch for a nap.
April 9: Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Gang appear on the cover of Time Magazine.
Cooper calls his man at Time.
April 14: In Cold Blood killers Richard Hickock and Perry Smith, convicted of murdering 4 members of the Herbert Clutter family of Holcomb, Kansas, are executed by hanging at the Kansas State Penitentiary for Men in Lansing, Kansas.
Sally reads “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Glenn puts Betty’s lock of hair in the Draper mailbox.
May 6: A tornado outbreak near the Twin Cities in Minnesota kills 13 and injures 683.
Don turns from his newspaper, looks out his office window and is stung by sadness and regret. He remembers those twins he passed up with Sterling. He puts the issue of “Time” with Charlie Brown in an envelope, addresses it, and adds the parcel to the outgoing mail.
May 22: The first skateboard championship is held.
Peggy ollies, prompting Pete to say, “A thing like that…”
June 19: Houari Boumédienne’s Revolutionary Council ousts Ahmed Ben Bella, in a bloodless coup in Algeria.
Ben Bella shows up at the agency, looking for help with his image. Don is bored, tells him to gather his things and get out.
September 25: The Tom & Jerry cartoon series makes its world broadcast premiere on CBS.
Don sips his scotch, squints at his black-and-white set, then, reminded of cats, lays down on the couch for a nap. Harry integrates Pond’s Cold Cream into the series — almost.
October 3: Fidel Castro announces that Che Guevara has resigned and left the country.
Ernesto lands at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce when he hears there is work to be had on Lucky Strike, which, the revolutionary is surprised and disappointed to learn, is a cigarette brand.
Sample dialogue:
Che: We are overcome by anguish at this illogical moment of humanity.
Draper: What do you do?
October 28: Pope Paul VI announces that the ecumenical council has decided that Jews are not collectively responsible for the killing of Christ.
Upon hearing the news, Sterling says to Pryce, “Then I guess we can trust them with Don. Let’s hire one and then tell Advertising Age.”
November 7: Pillsbury’s world-famous mascot, the Pillsbury Doughboy, is created.
The Lucky Strike client asks “for one of those” and then wiggles his finger into Sterling’s tummy. Don takes a nap.