Daily Archives: July 21, 2025

Scopes ‘Monkey Trial’ ends with guilty verdict, fine 100 years ago this hour (July 21 1925)

1920s


Video: 'This Man Was Tried in Tennessee for Teaching Evolution'

(Tuesday, July 21, 1925, 11:27 a.m. EDT) — 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 100 years ago this hour (July 21 1925) →

U.S. President Eisenhower presents ‘Open Skies’ proposal 70 years ago this hour (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, 4:00-6:10 pm. 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).

U.S. President Truman briefed on atomic bomb test 80 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 2:02:36). Continue reading U.S. President Truman briefed on atomic bomb test 80 years ago this hour (July 21 1945) →