Adlai Stevenson II

Adlai Stevenson II
Born	Adlai Ewing Stevenson II 5 2, 1900
Birthplace	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	Template:Death date and age London, England
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, diplomat, lawyer
Known for	Democratic presidential nominee (1952, 1956); Governor of Illinois; U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Education	Northwestern University School of Law (J.D.)
Children	3
Awards	Pulitzer Prize Special Citation (1953)

Adlai Ewing Stevenson II (February 5, 1900 – July 14, 1965) was an American politician, diplomat, and lawyer who served as the 31st Governor of Illinois from 1949 to 1953, was the Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States in 1952 and 1956, and served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 1961 until his death in 1965. Born into one of Illinois's most prominent political families — his paternal grandfather, Adlai Stevenson I, had served as the 23rd Vice President of the United States — Stevenson carved out a distinctive political identity defined by intellectual rigor, eloquent oratory, and a commitment to internationalism during the fraught early decades of the Cold War. Though he lost both presidential contests to Dwight D. Eisenhower in decisive fashion, Stevenson's campaigns reshaped the character of American liberalism and attracted a devoted following among educated, reform-minded voters. His tenure as governor of Illinois brought significant modernization to state government, and his service at the United Nations placed him at the center of some of the most dangerous confrontations of the nuclear age, including the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Stevenson died of a heart attack while visiting London on July 14, 1965, at the age of 65, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in his hometown of Bloomington, Illinois.

Early Life

Adlai Ewing Stevenson II was born on February 5, 1900, in Los Angeles, California. He was a member of the politically prominent Stevenson family of Illinois. His father, Lewis Stevenson, was a newspaper executive and political figure who later served as Illinois Secretary of State. His paternal grandfather, Adlai Ewing Stevenson I, served as Vice President of the United States under President Grover Cleveland from 1893 to 1897. The family's political lineage instilled in the younger Stevenson a deep awareness of public service and civic responsibility from an early age.

Stevenson was raised primarily in Bloomington, Illinois, the family's longstanding home base in McLean County. Bloomington remained central to his identity throughout his life; he maintained ties to the community and eventually chose to be buried there. The Stevenson family occupied a position of social prominence in central Illinois, and young Adlai grew up in an environment shaped by politics, journalism, and the affairs of the state.

As a teenager, Stevenson experienced a personal tragedy that would mark him for life. During a social gathering, while handling a rifle he believed to be unloaded, he accidentally shot and killed a young friend, Ruth Merwin. The incident left a profound impression on Stevenson and was said to have deepened his sense of seriousness and moral introspection.

Toward the end of World War I, Stevenson briefly served in the United States Navy. He enlisted in 1918 and served as a seaman second class in the Princeton Naval Unit, though the war ended before he saw combat. He was discharged in 1919.

Education

Stevenson attended the Choate School (now Choate Rosemary Hall) in Connecticut before enrolling at Princeton University, where he was active in campus life and served on the editorial board of The Daily Princetonian. He graduated from Princeton in 1922.

After Princeton, Stevenson initially attended Harvard Law School but did not complete his degree there. He subsequently transferred to Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education positioned him for a career that would blend law and public service, and he was admitted to the Illinois bar, beginning practice in Chicago.

Career

Early Legal and Government Career

After completing his legal education, Stevenson entered the practice of law in Chicago, joining a prominent law firm. His legal work gave him connections to Chicago's business and political communities, and he became involved in civic affairs. During the 1930s and the era of the New Deal, Stevenson was drawn into federal government service.

During the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Stevenson served in several capacities in the federal government. He worked in the Agricultural Adjustment Administration and later held positions in the Department of the Navy during World War II. His wartime service in the Navy Department gave him significant experience in national security affairs and foreign policy, areas that would define much of his later career.

Stevenson also served in the State Department during the war years, where he was involved in planning for the postwar international order. In 1945, he served on the committee that helped establish the United Nations, a formative experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to international cooperation and multilateral diplomacy. He subsequently served as a member of the initial United States delegations to the United Nations, gaining firsthand experience in the new institution that he would later represent as ambassador.

Governor of Illinois (1949–1953)

In 1948, Stevenson ran for governor of Illinois on the Democratic ticket, challenging the Republican incumbent, Dwight H. Green. Stevenson's campaign focused on reforming state government and combating corruption, themes that resonated with voters in the postwar period. He defeated Green in what was considered an upset victory, winning by a substantial margin even as Illinois remained a competitive state in national politics.

As governor, Stevenson undertook a series of reforms aimed at modernizing Illinois state government. He reformed the state police, professionalizing the force and seeking to remove it from the influence of partisan patronage. He cracked down on illegal gambling operations that had proliferated across the state, using the power of the governor's office to enforce laws that had been unevenly applied under previous administrations.

Stevenson also directed significant investment toward improving the state's highway system, recognizing the importance of modern infrastructure for Illinois's economic development. His administration pursued efforts to cleanse the state government of corruption, an issue that had dogged Illinois politics for decades.

Beyond these executive actions, Stevenson sought to reform the Illinois state constitution, though his efforts met with mixed success given the political complexities of the state legislature. He introduced several crime bills and pushed for legislative action on a range of issues related to governance and public safety. His tenure as governor earned him a national reputation as an effective, reform-minded executive, and it was this reputation that propelled him onto the national political stage.

Presidential Campaigns

1952 Presidential Campaign

In 1952, the Democratic Party turned to Stevenson as its presidential nominee. President Harry Truman, who had decided not to seek re-election, supported Stevenson's candidacy. Stevenson accepted the nomination at the Democratic National Convention and faced Republican nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower, the celebrated Supreme Allied Commander from World War II, in the general election.

Stevenson's campaign was notable for its intellectual tone and the quality of his oratory. He campaigned on themes of diplomatic engagement abroad, moderate economic management at home, and the preservation of civil liberties — the last a particularly timely concern amid the anti-communist fervor associated with McCarthyism and the tensions of the early Cold War. His speeches attracted attention for their literary quality, wit, and substantive depth, earning him a devoted following among intellectuals, professionals, and reform-oriented Democrats.

However, Stevenson faced formidable obstacles. Eisenhower's popularity as a war hero, combined with public fatigue with twenty years of Democratic control of the White House, created a powerful headwind. Stevenson was defeated decisively; Eisenhower won in a landslide, carrying 39 states and winning 442 electoral votes to Stevenson's 89.

Despite the loss, Stevenson's campaign had a lasting impact on the Democratic Party. His emphasis on ideas, his appeal to educated voters, and his willingness to address complex issues in nuanced terms helped reshape the party's identity and attracted a new generation of politically engaged Americans.

1956 Presidential Campaign

Stevenson secured the Democratic presidential nomination again in 1956, once more facing President Eisenhower. The 1956 campaign reprised many of the themes of 1952, with Stevenson continuing to advocate for a more restrained and diplomatic approach to the Cold War, including proposals related to nuclear weapons testing that were considered bold for their time.

The result, however, was even more lopsided than in 1952. Eisenhower, buoyed by peace, prosperity, and his personal popularity, won an even larger victory, carrying 41 states and 457 electoral votes to Stevenson's 73. Stevenson carried only seven states, all in the South and border regions.

The back-to-back defeats effectively ended Stevenson's viability as a presidential candidate, though he remained an influential figure within the Democratic Party and continued to command the loyalty of many liberal Democrats.

1960 Nomination Bid

In 1960, Stevenson made an unsuccessful attempt to secure the Democratic presidential nomination for a third time. By this point, however, the party had moved on to a new generation of leaders. Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts had mounted a vigorous primary campaign and arrived at the Democratic National Convention with strong delegate support. Stevenson's bid was largely confined to the convention itself, where he hoped that a deadlocked contest might turn to him as a compromise candidate.

Kennedy won the nomination on the first ballot, and Stevenson's third pursuit of the presidency came to an end. The dynamics of the 1960 contest, and particularly Kennedy's perception that Stevenson had been late and reluctant to endorse his candidacy, created persistent tensions between the two men that would shape Stevenson's subsequent role in the Kennedy administration.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations (1961–1965)

After Kennedy won the 1960 presidential election, Stevenson was widely expected to receive a senior appointment in the new administration. However, the tensions that had developed during the campaign — particularly Kennedy's belief that Stevenson had not been sufficiently supportive of his candidacy — led the president-elect to decline offering Stevenson a cabinet position such as Secretary of State. Instead, Kennedy appointed Stevenson as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, a post that carried prestige but limited direct influence over foreign policy decision-making.

Stevenson assumed the ambassadorship on January 23, 1961, succeeding James Jeremiah Wadsworth. He served in the post through both the Kennedy administration and the early years of the Lyndon B. Johnson administration.

Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)

One of the earliest and most difficult episodes of Stevenson's tenure as UN Ambassador was the Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba in April 1961. The Central Intelligence Agency–backed invasion by Cuban exiles aimed at overthrowing the government of Fidel Castro was a catastrophic failure. Stevenson, who had not been fully informed about the operation, presented statements at the United Nations denying U.S. involvement — statements that proved to be false. The episode deeply embarrassed Stevenson and strained his relationship with the Kennedy administration. He was reported to have been furious upon learning the full extent of U.S. involvement, feeling that his credibility and integrity had been compromised.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

Stevenson's most prominent moment as UN Ambassador came during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. When the United States discovered that the Soviet Union was installing nuclear missiles in Cuba, the resulting confrontation brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Stevenson played a central role in the diplomatic dimension of the crisis at the United Nations Security Council.

In a dramatic exchange on October 25, 1962, Stevenson directly confronted Soviet Ambassador Valerian Zorin during a Security Council session, demanding that Zorin confirm or deny the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. When Zorin attempted to deflect the question, Stevenson famously declared that he was prepared to wait for an answer "until hell freezes over" and proceeded to present photographic evidence of the missile installations. The confrontation was televised and became one of the most memorable moments of Cold War diplomacy, cementing Stevenson's image as a forceful advocate for American interests on the world stage.

Later Service and Death

Stevenson continued to serve as UN Ambassador after the assassination of President Kennedy in November 1963, remaining in the post under President Lyndon B. Johnson. He dealt with a range of international issues during this period, though his influence within the Johnson administration was, like his experience under Kennedy, limited by the concentration of foreign policy decision-making in the White House and State Department.

On July 14, 1965, while on a visit to London, England, Stevenson suffered a heart attack and died later that day. He was 65 years old. His body was returned to the United States, and he was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Bloomington, Illinois, the community where he had been raised. He was succeeded as UN Ambassador by Arthur Goldberg.

Personal Life

Stevenson married Ellen Borden in 1928. The couple had three sons, including Adlai Stevenson III, who would continue the family's political tradition by serving as a United States Senator from Illinois from 1970 to 1981. Adlai Stevenson III later also ran for governor of Illinois twice, losing his 1982 race by just 5,074 votes to Republican Governor Jim Thompson.

The Stevenson marriage ended in divorce in 1949, the same year Adlai assumed the governorship of Illinois. The divorce was a matter of public note and, in an era when divorce carried significant social stigma, added a dimension of personal vulnerability to Stevenson's public image.

Stevenson maintained a lifelong connection to Bloomington, Illinois. His home in the state became a subject of public interest and preservation efforts. As of 2022, the fate of Stevenson's longtime home was reported to be uncertain, with questions surrounding its future preservation.

The Stevenson family's political lineage spanned multiple generations, from Vice President Adlai Stevenson I through the governor and presidential candidate, to Senator Adlai Stevenson III, constituting one of the more enduring political families in Illinois and American history.

Recognition

In 1953, Stevenson received a special citation from the Pulitzer Prize board. The citation recognized the quality and distinction of his speeches during the 1952 presidential campaign, which had been noted for their literary merit, intellectual substance, and eloquence. The Pulitzer recognition was an unusual honor for a political figure and reflected the degree to which Stevenson's oratory had transcended the typical boundaries of campaign rhetoric.

Stevenson was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, further recognition of his contributions to public life and intellectual discourse.

His papers are held by Princeton University, his alma mater, where they serve as a major resource for scholars studying mid-twentieth-century American politics, diplomacy, and the Democratic Party.

The Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy was established to preserve his legacy and promote the ideals of democratic governance and civic engagement that he championed throughout his career.

Legacy

Adlai Stevenson II occupies a distinctive place in the history of American politics. Though he never won the presidency, his two campaigns against Eisenhower are credited with reshaping the Democratic Party's intellectual and ideological character in the postwar era. His emphasis on thoughtful policy discussion, civil liberties, and international engagement helped define a strain of American liberalism that would influence the party for decades after his death.

Stevenson's articulate and often witty public speaking set a standard for political oratory that contrasted with the more conventional campaigning of many of his contemporaries. His appeal to educated, professional, and suburban voters anticipated demographic shifts that would become increasingly important to the Democratic coalition in later decades. The term "egghead," originally used as a pejorative by critics who considered him too intellectual for practical politics, became associated with Stevenson and, paradoxically, a badge of honor among his supporters.

His service at the United Nations, and particularly his confrontation with Soviet Ambassador Zorin during the Cuban Missile Crisis, remains one of the defining moments of Cold War-era diplomacy. The episode demonstrated the potential of the United Nations as a forum for public accountability and international pressure during moments of crisis.

As governor of Illinois, Stevenson's reforms to the state police, his crackdown on gambling, and his efforts to modernize state government set precedents for subsequent reform-minded governors. His administration is remembered as a period of earnest, if imperfect, attempts to improve governance in a state with a long history of political corruption.

The Stevenson family's multi-generational engagement with American politics — from the vice presidency of the first Adlai Stevenson, through the governorship and presidential campaigns of Stevenson II, to the Senate career of Adlai Stevenson III — represents one of the notable political dynasties in Illinois history. Stevenson II's influence extended beyond electoral politics into the broader culture of American public discourse, and his career continues to be studied as an example of the possibilities and limitations of intellectual engagement in democratic politics.