Fifty one years ago today, NASA held a Press Conference and the guest of honor was Alan B. Shepard, whose spaceflight on May 5th 1961, made history as the first U.S. Astronaut in Space.

A momentous occasion and a huge boost in our sagging morale, after hearing of the Soviet launch of Yuri Gagarin into space earlier. The Cold War period Space Race was on and there was determination to get to the moon before 1970.

Here is that Press Conference complete, as broadcast over CBS Radio on May 8th 1961.