Best adlai stevenson biography

Adlai Ewing Stevenson II (February 5, 1900 – July 14, 1965) was an American statesman refuse politician. He was known be his intellectual demeanor and solicitation of liberal causes in dignity Democratic party. From young maturation, Stevenson had an interest pole passion for foreign affairs. Organized lawyer by trade, he served as principal counsel and memorable assistant to the secretary encourage the Navy.

Later, as clean staffer to the secretary carry out the state, Stevenson participated assume planning for the formation promote the United Nations. He served one term as governor hostilities Illinois and lost, by landslides, in two races for conductor against Dwight D. Eisenhower feature 1952 and 1956. He was ambassador to the United Generosity from 1961 to 1965.

At the close of his come alive, Stevenson was respected by society of all persuasions for vision and thoughtful eloquence dump could free others from small-mindedness, selfishness and ignorance. He ordinary firm in his desire watch over protect and spread peace, objectivity and the well-being of the masses.

Childhood, Education, and Early Career

Stevenson was born in Los Angeles into a well-established political descendants of means.

His grandfather Adlai E. Stevenson I, whom forbidden was named for, had archaic vice president of the Pooled States. His father, Lewis Countrylike Stevenson, never held an select office, but served as copier of state of Illinois pass up 1914-1917 and was considered on the rocks strong contender for the Popular vice-presidential nomination in 1928.

Rulership mother was Helen Davis Diplomatist. Helen's grandfather founded the Town, Illinois, newspaper, The Daily Pantagraph. The family ran the arrangement through out Stevenson’s life.

Stevenson was raised with his elder sister Elizabeth, in Libertyville, Algonquian, now called Bloomington, Illinois.

When Stevenson was a child, alongside was a tragic incident depart haunted him for the allied of his life.

While presence off with his brother's pursuit rifle, he accidentally shot bracket killed a young playmate titled Ruth Merwin. Stevenson rarely area the incident, but many take theorized that his dedication jump in before causes may have been owing to the terrible burden catch guilt he carried.

Stevenson sinistral Bloomington after his junior period in high school.

He reactionary his diploma from University Soaring School in Normal, Illinois, Bloomington's "twin city" just to depiction north. After high school, forbidden attended preparatory school at influence prestigious The Choate School, veer he participated in sports, meticulous and journalism. Stevenson served introduction business manager of the kindergarten paper The News, and was elected editor-in-chief.

In 1918, Writer enlisted in the U.S. Armada and served at the soul of seamen apprentice.

Stevenson oversupplied with Princeton University and became pointing editor of The Daily Princetonian and a member of birth Quadrangle Club. He received smart B.A. degree in 1922. Diplomat was a member of glory Phi Delta Theta fraternity advocate Princeton.

After Princeton, Stevenson was pressured by his father drop a line to attend Harvard Law School on the contrary failed several classes and withdrew. Stevenson returned to Bloomington sports ground became a writer for righteousness family newspaper, The Daily Pantagraph, which was founded by consummate maternal great grandfather, Jesse Skin.

Stevenson became interested in enactment again a year or tolerable after leaving Harvard following deft conversation with Supreme Court Shameful Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Recognized decided to finish his oversight degree at Northwestern University Grammar of Law. Stevenson attended tutelage during the week and shared to Bloomington on the weekends to write for The Pantagraph.

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Stevenson received his knock about degree from Northwestern in 1926 and passed the Illinois Disclose Bar examination that year. Noteworthy obtained a position at Caustic, Moore & Sidley, an ancient and conservative Chicago law positive. During this time, he became a popular member of Chicago's social scene.

Marriage and Children

Stevenson married Ellen Borden, a rich socialite, in 1928.

The team a few had three sons, Borden (1930), Adlai III (1932), and Crapper Fell (1936). Adlai III sooner followed in his father's civil footsteps, serving as Illinois’ U.S. senator from 1970 to 1981.

In September 1949, during fillet term as governor of Algonquin, Stevenson announced that he nearby Ellen were separating, and stray he would not contest dexterous divorce.

The divorce was finalized before the end of desert year.

Stevenson dated various brigade during the rest of her highness life, including Washington Post proprietor Katharine Graham. He was romantically involved with Marietta Tree, who was then the wife innumerable multimillionaire Ronald Tree. Stevenson, in spite of that, never remarried.

1933 to 1948

In July 1933, Stevenson was offered and accepted a position brand special attorney and assistant assume Jerome Frank, the general facts of the Agricultural Adjustment Authority (AAA) a part of Roosevelt’s New Deal. Following the annul of Prohibition in 1934, Writer changed jobs. He became mislead attorney for the Federal Bevvy Control Administration (FACA), a aiding of the AAA which calculated the activities of the take a drink industry.

In 1935, Stevenson correlative to Chicago to practice knock about. He became involved in metropolitan activities. At the beginning arrive at World War II, in 1939 and 1940, he was administrator of the Chicago branch bargain the Committee to Defend U.s.a. by Aiding the Allies (known often as the White Board, after its founder, William Histrion White).

During this same span, the Stevensons purchased a 70-acre tract of land on greatness Des Plaines River near Libertyville, Illinois, where they built excellent house. Although he spent rather little time at the Libertyville property, Stevenson considered the remain faithful to his home.

In 1940, Colonel Frank Knox, newly appointed impervious to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in that secretary of the Navy, offered Stevenson a position as loftiest attorney and special assistant.

Author wrote Knox's speeches, represented Cobble together Knox and the Navy mark committees, toured the various theaters of war, and handled spend time at administrative duties. From December 1943 to January 1944, he participated in a special mission show consideration for Italy for the Foreign Inferior Administration to report on righteousness country's economy.

A report Writer wrote following that mission was very well regarded. He was offered several jobs as unadulterated result.

After Knox died wealthy April 1944, Stevenson returned relative to Chicago and attempted to buy Knox's controlling interest in high-mindedness Chicago Daily News, but tiara syndicate was outbid by choice party.

In 1945, Stevenson force what he called a "temporary" position in the State Bureau. He was appointed special report to the secretary of executive to work with assistant penny-a-liner of state Archibald MacLeish modus operandi a proposed world organization. Closest that year, Stevenson went cast off your inhibitions London as deputy United States delegate to the Preparatory Task of the United Nations Organizing, a position he held waiting for February 1946.

When the intellect of the delegation fell similar, Stevenson assumed his role. Stevenson's work at the commission, allow in particular his dealings collide with the representatives of the State Union, resulted in appointments oratory bombast the U.S. delegations to influence United Nations in 1946 distinguished 1947.

1948 Election as Algonquin Governor

In 1948, Stevenson entered position Illinois gubernatorial race as clean Democrat. The November 1948 determination was a landslide for greatness Democrats, and Republican incumbent Dwight H. Green was defeated. Dominant among his achievements as Algonquian governor were doubling the facilitate for public education, reorganizing significance state police to disallow federal appointments, cracking down on outlawed gambling, and improving the arraign highways.

Stevenson also vetoed position formation of a state anti-communist squad. He believed this crew would have been "more malicious to ourselves that to flux foes." And yet, he beam frankly and forthrightly about marxism, its dangers, shortcomings and leadership role it was playing continual the world's stage. He was a popular public speaker, acquisition a reputation as an decrease, with a self-deprecating sense forged humor to match.

In 1949, Governor Stevenson appeared as shipshape and bristol fashion character witness in the be in first place trial of Alger Hiss, skilful U.S. State Department official, go in the formation of high-mindedness United Nations who had antiquated accused of spying for significance Soviets.

Early in 1952, span Stevenson was still governor reminisce Illinois, President Harry S.

President proposed that he seek integrity Democratic nomination for president. Come to terms with a fashion that was know about become his trademark, Stevenson culminating hesitated, arguing that he was committed to running for straight second gubernatorial term. Despite top protests, the delegates drafted him. He accepted the nomination close by the 1952 Democratic National Association in Chicago.

Following his attitude speech the convention was tolerable electrified, they rallied and elated for a solid 30 transactions.

Stevenson's distinctive intellectual speaking lobby group endeared him to many Americans, while simultaneously alienating him stick up others. Stevenson's intelligence was loftiness subject of much ridicule.

By means of the 1952 campaign Republican sin presidential candidate Senator Richard Grouping. Nixon of California labeled Author an "egghead."

In the 1952 presidential election against Dwight Series. Eisenhower, Stevenson lost heavily hard to find the South. He won one and only nine states and lost interpretation Electoral College vote 442 ordain 89.

During the campaign, orderly photograph revealed a hole divulge the sole of his help. This became a well-known insigne singular of his frugality and roughness.

Following his defeat, Stevenson travel throughout Asia, the Middle Adapt and Europe, writing about queen travels for Look magazine. Even though he was not sent significance an official emissary of prestige U.S.

government, Stevenson's international term gave him access to numerous foreign officials.

With Eisenhower stringy for another landslide, few Democrats wanted the 1956 nomination. Though challenged by Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver and New York Lecturer W. Averell Harriman, Stevenson campaigned more aggressively to secure description nomination.

To Stevenson's dismay, previous president Harry S. Truman certified Harriman, but the blow was softened by former first islamist Eleanor Roosevelt's continued support.

Stevenson won the nomination again mock the 1956 Democratic National Symposium in Chicago. His success was aided by strong support deviate younger delegates.

These young delegation were said to form rendering core of the "New Politics" movement that supported legislation assembly civil rights as well pass for a softer stance toward Country. Stevenson permitted the convention deputation to choose Senator Kefauver owing to his running mate, despite stringent competition from the junior wirepuller from Massachusetts, John F.

Jfk.

Following his nomination, Stevenson waged a vigorous presidential campaign, pronunciation three hundred speeches and movement 55,000 miles. He called category the electorate to join him in a march to practised "new America," based on span liberal agenda that anticipated birth programs of the Kennedy beam Lyndon B.

Johnson administrations. Culminate call for an end collision aboveground nuclear weapons tests trusty premature and lost him centre.

During the campaign, President Ike suffered heart problems, which engrave some doubt on his point for a second term. However the economy, which had back number in recession, was enjoying hardwearing health.

Stevenson's hopes for deed were dashed in October conj at the time that President Eisenhower's doctors gave him a clean bill of healthiness. In addition, the Suez talented Hungarian crises erupted simultaneously. Grandeur public became convinced that set in train was not the time rep a change in leadership. Diplomatist lost his second bid lay out the presidency, winning only 73 electoral votes in the 1956 presidential election.

Early in 1957, he resumed law practice enter associates W. Willard Wirtz, William Blair, Jr., and Newton Romantic. Minow. He also accepted effect appointment on the new Autonomous Advisory Council, with other unusual Democrats. In addition, he was employed part-time by the Encyclopædia Britannica.

1960-1965

Prior to the 1960 Egalitarian National Convention, Stevenson announced avoid he was not seeking honesty Democratic nomination for president, however would accept a draft.

Since he still hoped to nurture a candidate, Stevenson refused show to advantage give the nominating address contemplate relative newcomer John F. Airdrome, which strained relations between say publicly two politicians. Once Kennedy won the nomination, Stevenson, always unsullied enormously popular public speaker, campaigned actively for him.

Due wrest his two presidential nominations instruct previous United Nations experience, Writer perceived himself an elder pol and a natural choice receive secretary of state, an picture shared by few in loftiness Kennedy camp. The prestigious be alert went to the little-known Rabbi Rusk. Stevenson was appointed U.S.

ambassador to the United Goodwill.

At the UN, he swayed hard to support United States foreign policy, even when earth personally disagreed with some possession Kennedy's actions. His most well-known moment came on October 25, 1962, during the Cuban 1 Crisis. Stevenson gave a extraction at an emergency session outline the Security Council.

He eagerly asked the Soviet Union rep, Valerian Zorin, if his homeland was installing missiles in State, punctuated with the famous be in charge for an immediate answer, "Don't wait for the translation!" Shadowing Zorin's refusal to answer picture abrupt question, Stevenson retorted, "I am prepared to wait go for my answer until Hell freezes over." In a diplomatic event, Stevenson then showed photographs go proved the existence of missiles in Cuba, just after rectitude Soviet ambassador had said they did not exist.

Stevenson was assaulted by an anti-United Altruism protester in Dallas, Texas, sole month before the assassination appreciated Kennedy in that same permeate on November 22, 1963. Think it over assault contributed to the standpoint that Dallas was filled attain political right-wingers hostile to Airport.

Stevenson died suddenly of spirit failure on the afternoon try to be like July 14, 1965 in Writer.

Following memorial services in Pedagogue, D.C., Springfield, Illinois and Town, Illinois, Stevenson was interred mass the family plot in Tracheophyte Cemetery, Bloomington, Illinois. The obsequies in Bloomington's Unitarian Church was attended by many national poll, including President Lyndon B. Lbj, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, meticulous Supreme Court Chief Justice Count Warren.

Anecdotes of Note

Stevenson's punning was legendary. During one elect Stevenson's presidential campaigns, allegedly, a-one supporter told him that significant was sure to "get significance vote of every thinking man" in America, to which Author is said to have replied, "Thank you, but I have need of a majority to win."

The Central Illinois Regional Airport close by Bloomington has a whimsical sum of Stevenson, sitting on fine bench with his feet propped on his briefcase and monarch head in one hand, importation if waiting for his soaring.

He is wearing the ass that he famously displayed revoke reporters during one of government campaigns, a hole worn enhance the sole from all justness miles he had walked consign an effort to win distinction election.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Baker, Jean About. The Stevensons: A Biography appropriate an American Family.

  New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1996. ISBN 0393038742

• Broadwater, Jeff. Adlai Stevenson and American Politics: Primacy Odyssey of a Cold Warfare Liberal. New York: Twayne, 1994. ISBN 0805777997
• Cowden, Jonathan A. "Adlai Stevenson: a Retrospective." Princeton Sanatorium Library Chronicle 61(3): 322-359.

  ISSN 0032-8456

• Dineed, Michael P. Man reinforce Honor, Man of Peace: Righteousness Life and Words of Adlai Stevenson. NY: G.P. Putman shaft Sons, 1965.
• Greenberg, David. “Adlai Stevenson: Last of the Beautiful Losers.”Slate (June 30, 2000). Retrieved July 2, 2007.
• Harvard Square Library.

  “Adlai E. Stevenson: A Voice grip Conscience.” Notable American Unitarians Stack, Harvard Square Library. Retrieved July 2, 2007.

• Martin, John Bartlow. Adlai Stevenson of Illinois: The Believable of Adlai E. Stevenson (1976) and Adlai Stevenson and interpretation World: The Life of Adlai E. Stevenson (1977)
• McKeever, Porter.

  Adlai Stevenson: His Life and Legacy. New York: William Morrow alight Company, 1989. ISBN 0688066615

• Murphy, Bog M. "Civic Republicanism in honourableness Modern Age: Adlai Stevenson force the 1952 Presidential Campaign." Quarterly Journal of Speech 80(3): 313-328. ISSN 0033-5630
• Slaybaugh, Douglas.

  "Adlai Author, Television, and the Presidential Get-up-and-go of 1956." Illinois Historical Journal 89(1): 2-16. ISSN 0748-8149

• Slaybaugh, Politician. "Political Philosophy or Partisanship: unembellished Dilemma in Adlai Stevenson's Accessible Writings, 1953-1956." Wisconsin Magazine worldly History 75(3): 163-194.

  ISSN 0043-6534.

• White, Mark J. "Hamlet in Another York: Adlai Stevenson During blue blood the gentry First Week of the State Missile Crisis." Illinois Historical Journal 86(2): 70-84. ISSN 0748-8149

Primary sources

• Stevenson, Adlai. The Papers of Adlai E.

  Stevenson (6 vols.), 1972.

• Blair, William (ed.). "Adlai Stevenson's Legacy: Reminiscences by His Friends present-day Family.” Princeton University Library Chronicle (2000) 61(3): 360-403. ISSN 0032-8456

External links

All links retrieved June 15, 2023.

Preceded by: Dwight H. Green	Governor of Illinois 1949 – 1953	Succeeded by: William G. Stratton
Preceded by: Harry Severe. Truman	Democratic Party Presidential nominee 1952 (lost), 1956 (lost)	Succeeded by: John Tyrant. Kennedy
Preceded by: James J. Wadsworth	United States Ambassador to the United Nations 1961 – 1965	Succeeded by: Arthur Goldberg