Adlai Ewing Stevenson II was born in Los Angeles, California on February 5, 1900. He is the grandson of Adlai E. Stevenson I who served as vice president during Grover Cleveland’s second term (1893-1897). Adlai Stevenson II grew up in Bloomington on East Washington Street. He attended University High School in Normal, then attended the Choate Preparatory School.
Adlai graduated from Princeton and earned a law degree from Northwestern. During World War II, he worked for the U.S. Navy and State Department. He also played a leading role in the establishment of the United Nations. In 1948, Adlai was elected governor of Illinois. As governor, he helped cleanup government by reducing politics in state hiring practices. He also opposed the anti-communist hysteria of "McCarthyism."
Stevenson had two unsuccessful attempts at running for president in 1952 and 1956. His opponent was Dwight D. Eisenhower. John F. Kennedy appointed him US Ambassador to the United Nations. Stevenson was known as an eloquent orator and speech writer.
Stevenson married Ellen Borden in 1928 and built a home in Libertyville, Illinois. They divorced in 1949. Adlai Ewing Stevenson II suffered a heart attack and died on July 14, 1965 in London, England. He is buried at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington.
This collection contains magazine articles and speeches concerning Adlai E. Stevenson II.