Monthly Archives: July 2015

Henri Petain, former head of pro-Axis Vichy government, goes on trial 70 years ago today (July 23 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Guilty : The Trial of Petain'

(Monday, July 23, 1945; during World War II) — French Marshal Henri Petain, who had headed the pro-Axis Vichy government during World War II, went on trial today, charged with treason.

Former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant dies in Wilton, New York 130 years ago this hour (July 23 1885)

1880s, U.S. Presidents


Video: '#18 U.S. Grant'

(Tuesday, July 23, 1885, 8:06 a.m. local time) — Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States (1869-1877) and Commanding General of the Union Army during the American Civil War, died today at a cottage on the slopes of Mount McGregor, in Wilton, New York, of throat cancer only days after completing this memoir. He was 63. Continue reading Former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant dies in Wilton, New York 130 years ago this hour (July 23 1885) →

South Carolina mother guilty of murdering two sons 20 years ago today (July 22 1995)

1990s


Video: 'Susan Smith - Child Killer ( Full Crime Documentary )' (July 22, 1995, at 32:27)

(Saturday, July 22, 1995) — Susan Smith was convicted by a jury today in Union, South Carolina, of first-degree murder for drowning her two young sons. Smith was later sentenced to life in prison, and will not be eligible for parole until 2024.

Congress votes to restore American citizenship for Robert E. Lee 40 years ago today (July 22 1975)

1970s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Robert E. Lee - Mini Biography'

(Tuesday, July 22, 1975) — The U.S. House of Representatives joined the Senate today in voting to restore the American citizenship of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee (President Gerald Ford signed the measure on Aug. 5, 1975).

Scopes ‘Monkey Trial’ ends with guilty verdict, fine 90 years ago today (July 21 1925)

1920s


Video: 'Scopes Monkey Trial FULL' (July 21, 1925, at 1:05:34)

(Tuesday, July 21, 1925) — The so-called “Monkey Trial” trial of John Thomas Scopes for teaching Darwin’s Theory of Evolution in Dayton, Tennessee, which defense attorney Clarence Darrow characterized today as “the first case of its kind since we stopped trying people for witchcraft” (three-time Democratic presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan was the special prosecutor in the case) is over. Continue reading Scopes ‘Monkey Trial’ ends with guilty verdict, fine 90 years ago today (July 21 1925) →

President Truman briefed on atomic bomb test 70 years ago this hour (July 21 1945)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'the manhattan project trinity test'

(Saturday, July 21, 1945, 3:45 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman received a description of the July 16, 1945, test of the atomic bomb today while at the Potsdam Conference, becoming fully aware of its awesome power for the first time (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 2:03:26). Continue reading President Truman briefed on atomic bomb test 70 years ago this hour (July 21 1945) →

President Eisenhower presents ‘Open Skies’ proposal 60 years ago today (July 21 1955)

1950s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The 1955 Geneva Conference and Open Skies' (July 21, 1955, at 1:59)

(Thursday, July 21, 1955, afternoon CEST; during the Cold War) — During a summit in Geneva, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower presented his “Open Skies” proposal under which the U.S. and the Soviet Union would trade information on each other’s military facilities and allow aerial reconnaisance (the Soviets rejected the proposal).

‘Like a Rolling Stone’ single by Bob Dylan released in USA 50 years ago today (July 20 1965)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s


Video: 'Like a Rolling Stone'

(Tuesday, July 20, 1965) — The single “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan was released today in the U.S. In 2004 and again in 2011, Rolling Stone placed the song at number one on its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”