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Adlai Stevenson color portrait-by Unknown author-

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Adlai Stevenson

From 1961 until his passing in 1965, Adlai Ewing Stevenson II, an American politician, and diplomat represented the United States at the United Nations. He was born on February 5, 1900, and died on July 14, 1965. He served as Illinois’s 31st governor before running as the Democratic Party’s candidate for president in 1952 and 1956. Stevenson, who was raised in Bloomington, Illinois, was a Democrat. The Agricultural Adjustment Administration, the Federal Alcohol Administration, the Department of the Navy, and the State Department were just a few of the federal agencies where he worked during the 1930s and 1940s. He was a member of the first American delegation to the UN and sat on the committee that established the UN in 1945. Stevenson held the position of UN ambassador from January 1961 until his passing on July 14, 1965, while traveling to London. Here are some remarkable facts about Adlai Stevenson.

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1. Stevenson was born into a famous political family in Illinois

Adlai Stevenson I 05221a-by Brady-Handy Collection-

The North University Park Historic District is the area where Adlai Ewing Stevenson II was born in Los Angeles, California. He came from a well-known political family in Illinois. Adlai Stevenson I, who bears his name, served as President Grover Cleveland’s vice president from 1893 until 1897. Lewis Stevenson, his father, was named Illinois Secretary of State (1914–1917) and was a leading candidate for the Democratic vice presidential ticket in 1928 despite never having held an elected position.

He frequently referred to Jesse W. Fell, a maternal great-grandfather, as his favorite ancestor. Fell had served as the campaign manager for Abraham Lincoln in his 1858 run for the US Senate. Adlai E. Stevenson III, Stevenson’s oldest child, rose to the position of Illinois U.S. Senator (1970–1981).  Mary Borden, a writer, was his married aunt, and she contributed to the creation of some of his political speeches.

2. He unintentionally contributed to a murder

Stevenson, then 12 years old, accidentally killed Ruth Merwin, a 16-year-old acquaintance, on December 30, 1912, while showing drill technique with a rifle that had been accidentally left loaded during a gathering at the Stevenson home. Even with his wife and kids, Stevenson was traumatized by the accident and never brought it up again as an adult. He, however, learned in 1955 of a widow whose son had suffered a similar tragedy. He advised her to tell her kid that “he must now live for two” in a letter, which Stevenson’s friends interpreted as a reference to the shooting.

3. He was twice a Democratic Party’s nominee for president (1952, 1956)

Adlai Stevenson 1952 campaign poster-by Labor’s Committee for Stevenson & Sparkman campaign-

The Democrats selected Stevenson as their nominee for president in 1952. He ran for office promising to carry on Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal and Harry Truman’s Fair Deal, but he was unable to compete with the popularity of Republican nominee Dwight Eisenhower or equal his commitment to go to Korea. Stevenson fared poorly in the election. In 1956, Stevenson again criticized Eisenhower, claiming that the president had disregarded or handled insufficiently matters including nuclear testing in the atmosphere, easing of East-West tensions, the repeal of the conscription, and increasing UN aid to developing nations. Again, he was soundly defeated.

4. One aspect of his appeal was his religion

Stevenson was a longstanding participant in Bloomington’s Unitarian congregation and subscribed to the Unitarian faith. As governor, he developed strong friendships with the Rev. Richard Graebel, the pastor of Springfield’s Presbyterian church, but he also occasionally attended Presbyterian services in Libertyville, where there wasn’t a Unitarian church. Graebel agreed that Stevenson’s upbringing as a Unitarian had given him the ability to translate moral and religious principles into social concerns.

5. He was elected governor of Illinois in 1948

Adlai Stevenson 1986-by Stevenson for Governor-

Stevenson was selected by Jacob Arvey, head of the influential Chicago Democratic political organization, in 1948 to represent the Democratic Party against Dwight H. Green, the incumbent Republican governor of Illinois. By a surprising margin of 572,067 votes, Stevenson defeated Green for governor of Illinois, breaking the previous record. As governor, he overhauled the state police, cracked down on illegal gambling, made state highway improvements, and made an effort to purge the state’s corrupt officials. In addition, he introduced a number of crime-related proposals in the state legislature and attempted, with varying degrees of success, to change the Illinois state constitution.

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6. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, he held a variety of roles in the federal administration

Stevenson, who was raised in Bloomington, Illinois, belonged to the Democratic Party. During the 1930s and 1940s, he held a variety of posts in the federal government, including those at the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, Federal Alcohol Administration, Department of the Navy, and the State Department. He participated in the committee that established the United Nations in 1945 and was a part of the first American delegations to the UN.

7. He served as the United States ambassador to the UN from 1961 until his death in 1965

Adlai Stevenson shows missiles to UN Security Council with David Parker standing -by US Government, Unknown photographer-

President Kennedy gave Stevenson the option of serving as the United States ambassador to Britain, Robert Kennedy’s attorney general, or the United States ambassador to the UN. Stevenson agreed to take the latter job. He put a lot of effort into promoting American foreign policy at the UN, despite the fact that he didn’t agree with all of President Kennedy’s decisions.

8. Stevenson is hailed as a major innovator in American politics

One of his speechwriters, historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., referred to Stevenson as a “great creative character in American politics.” He helped JFK become president by turning the Democratic Party around in the 1950s. He was the voice of a mature, polite, and sensible America to the rest of the world. Millions of individuals in the United States and other countries were affected by him, and he introduced a new generation to politics.

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9. He died from heart failure

Adlai Stevenson grave-by Baseball Bugs-

Stevenson traveled to Geneva, Switzerland in July 1965 to take part in the UN Economic and Social Council’s annual meeting. After the summit, he spent a few days in London where he met with UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson, spoke with British authorities about the situation in South Vietnam, and was interviewed by CBS newsman Eric Sevareid. Stevenson had a severe heart attack on July 14 in the afternoon while walking in London with his companion and loving girlfriend Marietta Tree to Grosvenor Square. He passed away at St. George’s Hospital later that day at the age of 65 from heart failure.

10. His wife had a mental health condition

Stevenson wed the wealthy socialite Ellen Borden on December 1 of 1928, and the couple went on to have three sons. Adlai and Ellen separated on December 12, 1949. Their son Adlai III subsequently stated that “For a very long period, there had not been a healthy relationship. In my memory, Ellen was the irrational one not just with Dad, but also with us and the servants. Her commanding attitude toward the staff made me uncomfortable.” Stevenson’s wife had a mental illness, according to several of his biographers. After divorcing, Stevenson did not remarry but spent the remainder of his life dating a variety of well-known women, including Alicia Patterson, Marietta Tree, and Betty Beale.

Adlai Stevenson worked to rid the state government of corruption while serving as governor, reforming the state police, cracking down on illegal gambling, enhancing the state roadways, and improving the state police. In addition, he introduced a number of crime-related proposals in the state legislature and attempted, with varying degrees of success, to change the Illinois state constitution.