Truman drops hint to Stalin about atomic bomb 80 years ago this hour (July 24 1945)

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


Video: 'Peter Jennings - Hiroshima: Why the Bomb was Dropped (1995)' (July 24, 1945, at 52:15)

(Tuesday, July 24, 1945, 5:15-7:30 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — At some point during a session of the Potsdam Conference tonight, U.S. President Harry S. Truman rose from his chair and walked slowly around the table to have a private word with Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, casually mentioning that “we had a new weapon of unusual destructive force,” Truman later wrote. Continue reading Truman drops hint to Stalin about atomic bomb 80 years ago this hour (July 24 1945) →

848 people die when SS Eastland rolls onto its side in Chicago 110 years ago this hour (July 24 1915)

1910s


Video: 'Grad Student Finds Footage of 1915 Ship Disaster'

(Tuesday, July 24, 1915, 7:28 a.m. CDT; during World War I) — The SS Eastland, a passenger ship carrying more than 2,500 people, rolled onto its side today while docked at the Clark Street Bridge on the Chicago River, killing 844 passengers and four crew members.

‘Learnin’ the Blues’ by Frank Sinatra peaks at #2 in USA 70 years ago today (July 23 1955)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, July 23, 1955) — “Learnin’ the Blues” by Frank Sinatra was the #2 song on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Learnin’ the Blues’ by Frank Sinatra peaks at #2 in USA 70 years ago today (July 23 1955) →

‘Razzle-Dazzle’ by Bill Haley and His Comets peaks at #15 in USA 70 years ago today (July 23 1955)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, July 23, 1955) — “Razzle-Dazzle” by Bill Haley and His Comets peaked at #15 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Razzle-Dazzle’ by Bill Haley and His Comets peaks at #15 in USA 70 years ago today (July 23 1955) →

Former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, 63, dies in Wilton, New York 140 years ago this hour (July 23 1885)

1880s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ulysses S. Grant: U.S President And Victor Of The American Civil War'

(Tuesday, July 23, 1885, 8:06 a.m. local time) — General Ulysses S. Grant, former President of the United States and victorious commander of Union forces in the American Civil War, died today at his cottage retreat upon Mount McGregor, after a long and painful battle with cancer of the throat. He was 63 years of age. Continue reading Former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, 63, dies in Wilton, New York 140 years ago this hour (July 23 1885) →

Henri Pétain, former head of pro-Axis Vichy government, goes on trial for treason 80 years ago this hour (July 23 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Trial of Petain - 1945 | Movietone Moment | 26 Apr 19'

(Monday, July 23, 1945, 9:00 a.m. Central European Summer Time; 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.

Congress votes to restore American citizenship for Robert E. Lee 50 years ago this hour (July 22 1975)

1970s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Robert E. Lee - Mini Biography'

(Tuesday, July 22, 1975, just after 8:30 p.m. EDT) — On the eve of the 90th anniversary of Ulysses S. Grant’s death, 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 would sign the measure on Aug. 5, 1975).

South Carolina mother guilty of murdering two sons 30 years ago this hour (July 22 1995)

1990s


Video: 'Unthinkable: The Susan Smith Story'

(Saturday, July 22, 1995, announced shortly before 8:00 p.m. EDT) — 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.

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).