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July 24
5 moments across history
United States v. Nixon Is Decided
On July 24, 1974, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in United States v. Nixon that President Richard Nixon had to surrender subpoenaed White House recordings. The decision rejected an absolute claim of executive privilege and affirmed that the president is subject to judicial process and the rule of law. Issued amid the Watergate scandal, the ruling led to the release of incriminating tapes and helped precipitate Nixon’s resignation on August 9, 1974.
United States v. Nixon Is Decided
Apollo 11 Returns to Earth
Apollo 11 Returns to Earth
Year: 1969
On July 24, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean after their lunar mission. The return completed the first crewed mission to land humans on the Moon and bring them safely back to Earth. The achievement fulfilled a major U.S. goal in the Cold War-era Space Race and marked a defining milestone in human space exploration.
The Kitchen Debate
The Kitchen Debate
Year: 1959
On July 24, 1959, U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev debated capitalism and communism at the American National Exhibition in Moscow. Their impromptu exchanges, including one beside a model American kitchen, highlighted competing claims about consumer prosperity, technology, and political systems. Known as the Kitchen Debate, the encounter became a major Cold War propaganda moment during a period of intense U.S.–Soviet ideological rivalry.
Treaty of Lausanne Is Signed
Treaty of Lausanne Is Signed
Year: 1923
On July 24, 1923, Turkey and the Allied powers signed the Treaty of Lausanne, formally ending their conflict. It recognized the sovereignty of the Republic of Turkey and established most of the country’s modern borders. The treaty replaced the unratified Treaty of Sèvres and concluded the post–World War I settlement following the Turkish War of Independence.
SS Eastland Disaster
SS Eastland Disaster
Year: 1915
On July 24, 1915, the excursion steamer SS Eastland rolled onto its side while docked in the Chicago River, killing 844 passengers and crew. Many victims were Western Electric employees and their families, making it the deadliest single shipwreck in Great Lakes history. The disaster occurred amid post-Titanic maritime safety reforms, with added lifeboats contributing to the already unstable vessel’s top-heavy condition.