I'm John Batchel, visiting with Brenda Wineapple, her new book, Keeping the Faith, is the story of

the Scopes trial in 1925, but also it's the story of America in transition from the 19th century

to the technology and the tragedy of the 2020th century. In 1925, when they gather in Dayton, Tennessee

for a trial of a young man who's volunteered knowing everybody knows he's guilty of doing what they know to be a law that's probably that very likely is unconstitutional.

The law passed by the Tennessee legislature and Senate.

They were all gathered there knowing that these men are

larger than anything that could be resolved in this trial. One side is Darrow. We've talked a little

a bit about how famous he is. Now William Jennings Bryan, the boy orator of the Platte River,

coming out of Nebraska. He served as a member of Congress. And then in 19, in 1896, he took the stage at the Chicago Convention for the Democratic Party.

And they were looking for a nominee to run against William McKinley, who was the Republican nominee.

And he took the stage and made a speech that still echoes.

What was the cross of gold speech to Brian? Why did he do that?

William Jennings, Brian, a young man, came to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention in 1896, and he riveted the people there.

He got up on the platform, and he gave, as you mentioned, what was called the Cross of Gold

Speech. And it was considered then and later one of the best examples of political oratory in the country.

And what he basically said was that we will not be crucified on a cross of gold.

The cross of gold is represented to or represented to him, the plutocrats, the fat cats, the monopolists, the robber barons that were bleeding the country dry, 1896.

There was a recession, and Brian stood up to speak for the farmers, the men and women in the plains, the people whom he felt had been forgotten.

And he became their champion.

And this young man, this boy orator, who as he was called,

was then the nominee at the Democratic Convention.

And he went on to run for president.

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