Adlai Stevenson II

Adlai Ewing Stevenson ( born February 5, 1900 in Los Angeles, California, † July 14, 1965 in London ) was an American politician of the Democratic Party and 31, Governor of the State of Illinois. He was a grandson of former U.S. Vice President Adlai Ewing Stevenson I.

Early years and political rise

Adlai Stevenson was the son of Lewis Green Stevenson and his wife, Helen Louise Davis. His father was also politically active and was from 1914 to 1917 as Secretary of State of the Government of Illinois. The young Adlai Stevenson visited until 1922 Princeton University and then studied at Northwestern University law. After his successful examination and admission to the bar in 1926, he practiced in Chicago.

Since 1933, Stevenson worked in the public service. At that time he spent a year as a consultant in the Ministry of Agriculture of Illinois. Between 1941 and 1944 he was employed in the Navy Department. In 1945, he was press secretary of the American delegation at the United Nations. In 1946 he was re- adviser to the American delegation to the first UN General Assembly. In 1948 he was nominated by his party as a candidate for the gubernatorial election and subsequently elected by the voters in this office.

Governor of Illinois

Stevenson began his four-year term on 10 January 1949. During this time he increased the mineral oil. With the money, the expansion of roads and highways of the country funded. The labor laws, especially in the mining sector have been improved. The governor also fought against corruption and bribery in the public sector. On 9 July 1951, the Illinois Civil Defense Act was adopted, a bill that contained emergency programs in case of nuclear war or other military threats. Stevenson decided in 1952 against a renewed candidacy for the office of governor. Instead, he was nominated by his Democratic party to its presidential candidate. His term as governor ended on 12 January 1953.

Further CV

1952 and 1956 he was a Democratic presidential candidate, but failed both times against Dwight D. Eisenhower. In both elections, he was only able to win some southern states for themselves. Also in 1960 he was up to the Democratic Party as a possible alternative to John F. Kennedy in conversation, but opted not to go - anyway chance loose - candidacy. Kennedy appointed him in 1961 as ambassador to the United Nations. In this role, Stevenson made ​​during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 caused a stir when he pointed at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council photos which proved the existence of Soviet missiles in Cuba.

Stevenson died on 14 July 1965 at the age of 65 of a heart attack.

More

• Numerous schools and streets are named after him.
• With him the disclosure of the text Desiderata is connected, as he has kept a journal of this text on his deathbed in his hands.
• In the political thriller Thirteen Days, which focuses on the Cuban Missile Crisis, he is portrayed by actor Michael Fairman.
• In Stevenson the series is taken The Simpsons cover in various episodes.