Comeback

Thanks to Postmaster General J. Edward Day, the nickel made the greatest comeback of the decade with the increase of basic First Class Mail postage to 5¢ for a letter. The increase took effect January 7, 1963. Nickel Coke and Dr. Pepper had been things of the past for several years. Machines took 6¢ for a bottle, which were returnable. Bottled soft drinks were generally 6 oz., but 10 oz. were becoming more common.

Air mail postage went up to 8¢. Air mail was discontinued as a separate service in 1975, and separate postage for Par Avion letters was eliminated in 1977.

The Post Office, a cabinet department since 1789, became the United States Postal Service, a quasi-government corporation in 1971.

On New Years Day 1963, LSU defeated Texas in the Cotton Bowl, 13 - 0.