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Adlai Stevenson II

American politician and diplomat (1900-1965); 31st governor of Illinois from 1949 to 1953 (1900-1965) · United States · Politicians · Died at 65

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He lost to Eisenhower twice by landslide margins, became the face of the thoughtful liberal who couldn't win middle America, then spent his final years at the UN parsing Cold War crises while nursing quiet resentment over the cabinet post Kennedy never offered him.

PoliticiansPoliticianPoliticsLawDiplomacyUnited StatesAmericas20th Century

A life in dates

1965Died14 July 1965Order of LincolnAward1952“True Patriotism, it seems to me, is based on tolerance and a large measure of humility.”In their words27 August 1952Speech to the American Legion convention, New York City (27 August 1952); as quoted in "Democratic Candidate Adlai Stevenson Defines the

“The tragedy of our day is the climate of fear in which we live, and fear breeds repression.”In their words27 August 1952Speech to the American Legion convention, New York City (27 August 1952); as quoted in "Democratic Candidate Adlai Stevenson Defines the

“Let's face it. Let's talk sense to the American people.”In their words26 July 1952Acceptance speech, Democratic National Convention, Chicago, Illinois (26 July 1952)

“What counts now is not just what we are against, but what we are for. Who leads us is less important than what leads us - what convictions, what courage, what faith - win or lose.”In their words21 July 1952Address to the Democratic National Convention, Chicago, Illinois. (21 July 1952); published in Speeches of Adlai Stevenson (1952) p. 17

1951“Communism is the corruption of a dream of justice.”In their wordsSpeech in Urbana, Illinois (1951); as quoted in Adlai's Almanac: The Wit and Wisdom of Stevenson of Illinois (1952), p. 20

1949“The problem of cat versus bird is as old as time.”In their words23 April 1949Vetoing a Bill that would have imposed fines on owners who allowed cats to run at large. (23 April 1949)

1900Born5 February 1900

Also in Deutsch

Photos 6

5centsStevensonUSstamp5centsStevensonUSstampAdlai Stevenson graveAdlai Stevenson graveAt New York City 2024 450At New York City 2024 450Smoke Screen, Vaughn Shoemaker, political cartoon, ink and crayon, Dallas Museum of ArtSmoke Screen, Vaughn Shoemaker, political cartoon, ink and crayon, Dallas Museum of ArtUS stamp honoring Adlai StevensonUS stamp honoring Adlai Stevenson

In their own words 10

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Adlai Stevenson II
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10 statements, newest first

  1. We talk a great deal about patriotism. What do we mean by patriotism in the context of our times?

    Aug 27, 1952, Speech to the American Legion convention, New York City (27 August 1952); as quoted in "Democratic Candidate Adlai Stevenson Defines the, Own words

  2. True Patriotism, it seems to me, is based on tolerance and a large measure of humility.

    Aug 27, 1952, Speech to the American Legion convention, New York City (27 August 1952); as quoted in "Democratic Candidate Adlai Stevenson Defines the, Own words

  3. The tragedy of our day is the climate of fear in which we live, and fear breeds repression.

    Aug 27, 1952, Speech to the American Legion convention, New York City (27 August 1952); as quoted in "Democratic Candidate Adlai Stevenson Defines the, Own words

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Awards

Order of Lincoln1965
Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

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Adlai Stevenson II
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About this person

Adlai Ewing Stevenson II was born February 5, 1900, grandson of a vice president, raised in Bloomington, Illinois. After a brief Navy stint at the end of World War I he became a lawyer and moved through Roosevelt and Truman administration posts, including work in the State Department during World War II and on the committee that created the United Nations in 1945. Elected Illinois governor in 1948 in an upset, he reformed the state police, cracked down on illegal gambling, and tried to cleanse corruption from state government. The Democratic Party nominated him for president in 1952 and 1956; both times he campaigned on diplomatic engagement and civil liberties and both times Eisenhower crushed him. After a failed bid for the nomination in 1960, Kennedy appointed him U.N. ambassador - not the cabinet role he'd wanted, their relationship strained by Stevenson's late endorsement. He was still serving under Lyndon Johnson when he suffered a heart attack in London on July 14, 1965, and died that day at sixty-five.

Country
United States
Category
Politicians
Type
Politician
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1900 to 1965 · aged 65

In common with Adlai

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