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Adlai Stevenson: His Life and Legacy

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Adlai Stevenson (1900-1965), has long been regarded as one of the most beloved liberal politicians of modern times. To the liberal wing of the Democratic Party in the 1950's and 1960's, Stevenson was a heroic figure, an eloquent and brilliant statesman who had the courage to criticize demagogues such as Joe McCarthy and Richard Nixon when few other Democrats were willing to do so. In his two failed presidential campaigns against the popular Republican President, Dwight Eisenhower, in 1952 and 1956 Stevenson became known internationally for his moving oratory and quick wit (Example - when Eisenhower criticized Stevenson in 1952 for not being serious enough, Stevenson, noting Eisenhower's refusal to take on right-wing zealots like Joe McCarthy, jabbed back: "The General is worried about my funnybone, but I'm worried about his backbone"). In this moving and eloquent biography - written in a style that Stevenson himself probably would have admired, Porter McKeever, a close friend of Stevenson and a strong admirer - has penned an excellent look at his hero's life and times. Stevenson came from a distinguished political family in Illinois - his grandfather and namesake was the U.S. Vice-President under Grover Cleveland - and so he came naturally to politics as a career. Curiously, although he is known as a great intellectual, he did poorly in school and college (he went to Princeton) and even flunked out of law school, mainly because he found the law boring (however, he later did get a law degree and opened his own law firm). In the 1930's and 1940's he worked at various government jobs, winning the respect of his superiors and even catching the eye of President Franklin Roosevelt himself. In 1948 he wanted to run for the US Senate in Illinois, but instead the infamous Democratic "machine" in Chicago, led then by Jacob Arvey, convinced him to run for Governor. He won the election easily and immediately became the leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1952. In part this was due to his friendships with many famous journalists and newspaper columnists, who relentlessly pushed his name forward as a candidate. Yet Stevenson himself was remarkably ambivalent about running for President, and when President Truman tried to convince him to run in early 1952 he refused, thereby making a lifelong enemy of him. Unlike most major politicians, Stevenson wasn't afraid to be modest and admit to his inner "doubts" that he had the skills to be President - which only served to further endear him to the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. Over his objections, his name was put forward by various prominent Democrats and he was nominated. Although he lost to Eisenhower in the fall of 1952 (and, again, in 1956) he did inspire many younger liberals to enter and participate in politics - many of these people would later serve in the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations. Despite his sophistication and highly idealistic views of what America should be, Stevenson did have his problems - his childhood was traumatized by his parent's constant bickering and fighting, and by the fact that as a young boy he accidentally shot and killed a girl while playing with what he thought was an unloaded rifle. His marriage, to Ellen Borden, was extremely rocky - she later developed mental problems and became resentful and angry at her husband's success and popularity - and they were divorced in the late 1940's. Stevenson did have a number of affairs with other women - this biography includes a number of romantic and eloquent love letters to his lady friends - yet he never remarried. Stevenson's last years were rather sad - in 1960 several of his friends tried, against his express wishes, to get the Democrats to nominate him for President for a third time - but he was trounced by the Kennedy brothers, who ever after resented what they felt was his "indecisiveness" and "weakness". Although Stevenson desperately wanted to be Secretary of State, JFK deliberately bypassed him and instead offered him a lesser job as the US Ambassador to the United Nations. The Kennedy brothers routinely left Stevenson "out of the loop" in their decision-making, and even sometimes enjoyed making his life miserable "just to see how much old Adlai will take". As it turned out, he would take quite a lot, and he served as our UN Ambassador until his sudden death from a heart attack in 1965. Although this biography is a tribute to a man the author greatly admired, it is surprisingly objective and McKeever is not afraid to point out his hero's weaknesses. To this day many liberals still look to Stevenson as a model of statesmanship and idealistic politics - and that makes this well-written biography well worth reading.

Porter McKeever's "Adlai Stevenson" is a readable, intimate, personal account of the life of a truly remarkable 20th century giant. McKeever mixes politics, history, and personal anecdotes to create a likeable subject whose well-developed persona quickly comes to life. Despite the lackluster and negative reviews published about this book, I found it fascinating and thoroughly captivating. McKeever perceptively recreates the Truman-Stevenson relationship leading up to the 1952 draft, includes details of AES's term as governor,and explores the intricate personalities and legacies of Joseph McCarthy,George Marshall, and Eisenhower. His account of the 1956 campaign is both balanced and masterful, and his analysis of Stevenson's hopes and aspirations for 1960 are presently with insight and fairness. Astonishing is Stevenson's meeting with Soviet Ambassador Mikhail Menshikov. Included, too, is a vivid and accurate description of Stevenson's relationship with president-elect Kennedy and his appoinment to U.N. Ambassador. McKeever paints a clear and understandable picture of Stevenson's personality, especially during the '52,'56 and '60 campaigns, and offers a most likeable portrayal of his subject. In order to understand and put into historical context the events of 1960-85, we must not ignore 1952-60. This book achieves its goals.

Adlai Stevenson has always been one of my heroes; my zeal has only been augmented after reading McKeever's sizzling portrait of a man possessed...possessed to do the right thing, that is! The section when, at a dinner party, he quips (in a moment that is poignant, wistful, and downright amusing at the same time) to his girlfriend at the moment, via scribbling onto a napkin the words "Adlai down my life for you sweetheart-Would you be willing to do the same for me?", and handing it to her, is simply precious! He also fought the dunderheaded excesses of McCarthyism. I recommend this book to any reader with a heart, a mind, and a soul-Adlai's effervescent humanity hops off the page with both infectious glee and empathetic pathos. If you're like me, you'll love this book!

Adlai Stevenson, remembered chiefly as the Democratic presidential candidate who lost to Dwight David Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956, lead a fascinating and eventful life. It is the sort of life that might inspire a great biography, throwing a lot of light upon his nation and his times.

Unfortunately this book, thoroughly researched and competently written though it seems, is not that book. McKeever slides too quickly over crucial points, such as the Little Rock, Arkansas school desegregation crisis and Stevenson's equivocations.

Read this book if you are interested in its subject, but supplement this "liberally" (if I may intrude a political pun) with the work of other scholars.