May 25
1787
The Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia under the leadership of George Washington, in order to establish a new U.S. government.
1925
John Scopes was indicted for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution.
1935
American track star Jesse Owens broke three world records and tied another in a little over an hour.
1965
Muhammad Ali knocked Sonny Liston out cold in the first round, after 1 minute and 56 seconds, for the world heavyweight title.
1968
The Gateway Arch was dedicated in St. Louis.
1969
Midnight Cowboy, the only x-rated film to win a best picture Oscar, was released.
1979
The worst air disaster in U.S. history (excluding the Sept. 11 attacks) occurred when a DC-10 crashed at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, killing over 270 people.
Birthdays
Ralph Waldo Emerson
1803–82, American poet and essayist, born in Boston.
Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky
Inventor (1889)
Gene Tunney
boxer (1897)
Robert Ludlum
novelist (1927)
Beverly Sills
singer (1929)
Frank Oz
puppeteer (1944)
Jamaica Kincaid
writer (1949)