A closer look at key historic events that took place on July 24:

In 2005, American cyclist Lance Armstrong wins the Tour de France… again

His seventh consecutive Tour de France victory cemented his legacy in cycling history. However, Armstrong’s achievements were later overshadowed by a doping scandal that led to the stripping of his titles and a lifetime ban from professional cycling.

In 1974, The U.S. Supreme Court orders President Richard M. Nixon to hand over the Watergate tapes

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in United States v. Nixon that President Richard Nixon must release the Watergate tapes to government investigators. This landmark decision played a crucial role in the Watergate scandal, leading to Nixon’s resignation on August 8, 1974.

In 1959, the “kitchen debate” takes place

The “kitchen debate” occurred between U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at the American National Exhibition in Moscow on July 24. The impromptu exchanges in a model American kitchen highlighted the ideological differences between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

In 1944, the Majdanek concentration and extermination camp is liberated

Soviet forces liberated the camp near Lublin, Poland. Majdanek was one of the first major concentration camps to be liberated by Allied forces, exposing the horrors of the Holocaust to the world and highlighting the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime.

In 1923, the Treaty of Lausanne is signed

The Treaty ended hostilities between the Allied powers and Turkey following World War I. It defined the borders of modern Turkey and resulted in significant territorial and population exchanges, shaping the geopolitical landscape of the region.

In 1917, Mata Hari’s trial begins

The famous Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan was accused of being a German spy during World War I. She was found guilty of espionage and executed by firing squad on October 15, 1917, becoming one of history’s most famous female spies.

In 1915, the SS Eastland capsizes

The passenger ship capsized in the Chicago River while docked, resulting in the deaths of 844 passengers and crew. The disaster is one of the deadliest maritime tragedies in American history and led to significant changes in maritime safety regulations.

In 1567, Mary, Queen of Scots is deposed

She was forced to abdicate the throne in favor of her one-year-old son, James VI, following a series of political conflicts and personal scandals. Mary’s deposition marked the end of her tumultuous reign and led to her eventual imprisonment and execution in England.