"Preview: Author Brenda Wineapple describes Darrow's surprise decision to call Bryan to the stand, and Bryan's daring acceptance of the challenge. More tonight."
The John Batchelor Show
John Batchelor
4.5 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 5 November 2024
⏱️ 2 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
1920 William Jennings Bryan
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is John Batchel, continuing conversation with Brenda Wineapple, Keeping the Faith, |
| 0:06.8 | her new book, The Scopes Trial, 1925, God, Democracy, and the trial that riveted a nation. |
| 0:12.8 | It was Darrow's idea to ask Brian to take the witness stand. |
| 0:20.0 | It was extremely bold of Brian to say yes. |
| 0:24.7 | And the drama, building upon the drama in the heat of Dayton, Tennessee, |
| 0:30.0 | Brenda characterizes it perfectly. |
| 0:32.8 | They've made a movie about this, but nothing could match the original. |
| 0:38.1 | Brenda Wineapple on Derara's Dare and Brian's Dare. |
| 0:43.5 | Much more of this tonight. |
| 0:45.5 | That idea is a shocking legal maneuver that may or may not be legitimate, but it certainly was as a trial. |
| 0:58.9 | Since Brian had said he was an expert on the Bible, Darrow and Hayes decided to put William |
| 1:07.9 | Jennings Bryan on the witness stand and interrogate him. |
| 1:13.2 | Very unusual for a defense lawyer to put the prosecution lawyer on the stand. |
| 1:20.6 | It was shocking, but Judge Ralston went along with it because he, who was very enamored of Brian, wanted to hear what this three-time presidential candidate and important figure had to say. |
| 1:40.0 | The prosecution team who worked with Brian were horrified. |
| 1:44.7 | They did not want him on the stand, but Brian was excited, and he was willing to go on the stand |
| 1:51.0 | because he thought this would give him an opportunity, a forum to tell the world his ideas. |
| 1:59.8 | So he, in the middle of this July, he waved, blisteringly hot, gets on the makeshift, |
| 2:07.9 | wouldn't stand outside in front of the courtroom while boys are selling soda pop, and Darrow goes after him. |
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