In a This Day in History video, learn that on July 8, 1960, United States pilot Gary Powers was charged with espionage by the Soviet Union. At the height of the Cold War, Powers was cruising over Russia in his U-2, a flying spy-plane, when shot down. The U.S. government tried to dismiss the charge, but Nikita Kruschef had the U-2 confirming that Powers was a spy. President Eisenhower was forced to publically justify the surveillance and Powers was sentenced to ten years in prison, but was swapped two years later for a high-ranking Soviet spy.
This Day In History: July 8
