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The John Batchelor Show

S8 Ep342: Guest: Brenda Wineapple. The trial ended abruptly with a guilty verdict, denying Bryan his closing speech; he died days later, likely due to heat, stress, and diabetes. John Scopes eventually became a geologist and lived a reclusive life, refusing to exp

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor

Arts, News, Books, Society & Culture

4.62.7K Ratings

🗓️ 20 January 2026

⏱️ 10 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Guest: Brenda Wineapple. The trial ended abruptly with a guilty verdict, denying Bryan his closing speech; he died days later, likely due to heat, stress, and diabetes. John Scopes eventually became a geologist and lived a reclusive life, refusing to exploit his fame. Darrow's later career fluctuated, including a controversial defense in the racially charged Massie trial in Hawaii, before his death in 1938, leaving behind a complex legacy beyond the "Inherit the Wind" narrative.
1925 BRYAN'S FUNERAL AT ARLINGTON

Transcript

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0:00.0

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withdrawals or fund switches are made. Capital at risk terms apply. I'm John Batchel with Brenda Wineapple, very generous to talk about her new book, Keeping the Faith, God, Democracy, and the trial that riveted a nation.

0:54.2

The trial ends on the 21st, and on the 26th, Mary Brian, his wife who's arthritic and in a

1:01.6

wheelchair, sends one of their aides to wake Brian, who's taking a nap after midday meal.

1:09.0

And Brenda, this is a very sad turn. I know in inherit the wind,

1:14.3

it was not filled in. You just were led to understand that Brian dies soon afterwards.

1:20.6

However, there is the suggestion in your reporting that with his death and he died, they believe

1:26.8

of a stroke, but that diabetes clue you provide

1:30.2

was an indication that he'd not been properly caring for himself for some time. There is a

1:35.4

suggestion that Darrow's triumph became a way of speaking against him. Was that popular to say

1:43.1

that Darrow had driven Brian into his grave?

1:47.2

You know, if you're a Brian supporter or you're horrified by the humiliation that Darrow inflicted on Brian,

1:57.6

you're likely to say that Darrow caused Brian's death. But I think there are more

2:05.2

physiological reasons. For one thing, as you mentioned, it was brutally hot. And Brian was on the

2:15.8

witness stand outdoors in the July heat.

2:19.4

Second of all, as we saw, he piled potatoes and corn onto his plate.

2:27.3

He was a diabetic, and his diabetes was probably not in control,

...

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