Adlai E. Stevenson II
(Democratic)
1953-1961
Despite the optimism by the Democratic faithful when looking towards the general election, the party establishment was worried that a rift in the party could create another 1944. The progressive and conservative elements, represented by Southerners Estes Kefauver and Richard Russell, were at each other’s throats over segregation and the validity of Dewey’s proposed and existing reforms. The Establishment was looking for some candidate that could unite these elements, but Truman was counted out after two losses; Barkley was too old; Humphrey too inexperienced. But then, Illinois’ Governor stepped out on to the stage to give a funny and energizing welcoming speech to the delegates. Some in the crowd were even moved to call for his nomination, despite the Governor’s polite, but insistent, denial. The Establishment felt they found found their man.
Adlai Stevenson had been elected Governor in 1948, despite Truman’s poor showing in the state. Popular in his home state due to the successful push for a convention to amend Illinois’ constitution, the Governor had developed the reputation as a moderate reformer. Supporting gradual integration and seen to use the veto in a judicious manner, he was seen as thoughtful and calming. In short, exactly what the nation and the party needed at the moment. A draft Stevenson movement put him even with Kefauver and Russell, before overtaking them on the next ballot. Worried that the intellectualism that won over the delegates might scare away the union rank and file, the convention selected the young firebrand Hubert Humphrey for Vice President.
While Morse ran a vigorous defense of his party’s policies, but it was hampered by a shyness to embrace television and an inability to chip at the Democratic campaign. While Humphrey was criss-crossing the country to glad hand and fire up the base, Stevenson would give high minded speeches about the state of the country. Stevenson’s television ads talking about the various issues in an authoritative, but understandable way, did much to win over the country. In the end, Adlai Stevenson was elected President by a considerable margin carrying many into Congress on his coattails.
Stevenson/Humphrey - 355
Morse/Bricker - 111
After winning the election, Stevenson flew to China to meet with the diplomats on the ground to determine how the war could be brought to a close. Endorsing the UN solution to split the the nation in two, the President-Elect would stop in Japan, before making a brief tour of Europe, to meet with the politicians he would be working with over the next four years. It is said that Stevenson was greatly surprised by the warm reception he received from the Japanese and European public during his tour. After taking office, Stevenson pushed for the Armistice that was finally agreed to in the fall of 1953, while helping to organize a Southeast Asian equivalent of NATO to defend the anti-communist powers of that region. While never a firm believer in the containment policy, he strongly supported the rights of nations to self determination; this belief carried over into his handling of the CIA and NSA, where a strong leash was put on those agencies.
When Stalin passed away in Stevenson hoped that Soviets could be reasoned with to curtail the budding nuclear arms race as a prelude to a thaw in relations. Stevenson extended many offers for a conference to discuss nuclear disarmament, which were ultimately ignored by the Soviet Troika. Even after Khrushchev consolidated power, the lack of trust between each nation would delay the planning of a conference until late in 1956, which was canceled after the Soviet reaction to the Hungarian Revolution. With Soviet-American rapprochement off the table at least until a second term, Stevenson focused his attentions on the United Nations. UN Ambassador Eleanor Roosevelt was given the direction to push for global cooperation and the peaceful resolution of conflict. It would be Roosevelt and Secretary of State Acheson who negotiated the peaceful end of the Suez Crisis.
Domestically, the America was reaping the benefits from an economic boom. With increased trade, industrial output, the GI Bill and the continued strength of trade unions ensured that the middle class was quite comfortable. Stevenson would say little on the Brownell Court’s ruling declaring school segregation unconstitutional, calling for cautious implementation in respect to Southern Traditions. After the successful passage of the Equal Rights Amendment by Congress, Stevenson and former President Dewey would hold a joint press conference that is credited with the rapid ratification by the states. And after managing minor losses in the midterm elections, Stevenson was able to get the approval for the creation of a space agency in 1956.
The 1956 election was not a terribly exciting one. With the nation content with their President and the looming racial conflicts still only bubbling under the surface, both parties merely went through the motions. Stevenson/Humphrey were renominated by acclamation, while the Republicans renominated Morse just to put up a challenge. Though, if the parties and the nation knew what was going to happen, it seems no one told Morse who campaigned hard against the President. Ultimately, Stevenson was re-elected by a large margin, though the lack of support by black voters for Stevenson was cause of concern.
Stevenson/Humphrey - 420
Morse/Ives - 176
With a fresh mandate, Stevenson put forward an aggressive domestic agenda. Clearly borrowing from his friend, Prime Minister Atlee, Stevenson pushed for more funding for healthcare, and a more sweeping housing policy. Stevenson was happy at how the middle class was getting along, but wanted to reach out to the lower classes in the United States that were often ignored. Perhaps the high-point for Stevenson's second term, domestically, was when Explorer 1 became the first man made satellite days after his second inauguration. In the summer of 1957, it looked like Stevenson might have a more productive second term than the first. But, in the fall of 1957 the threat of racial strife came to the surface.
When Governor Faubus used the National Guard to prevent the Little Rock Nine from entering the High School in which they had enrolled in clear violation of the Supreme Court ruling. Many, including the Mayor of Little Rock and his own Vice President, called upon the use of the military to enforce the Supreme Court decision, but Stevenson was worried about potential violence. Instead, President Stevenson urged Congress to pass a mild Civil Rights Act which would provide penalties for violators of the civil rights of African Americans and specifically ban law enforcement and national guard from violation of Constitutional Laws. This mild rebuke of the Governor and his policies would lead to Attorney General James McGranery working the legal system to enforce the penalties on Arkansas for it’s violation of the law. Arkansas schools would eventually be integrated, but not until the fall of 1960 with the standoff being a national embarrassment over that time period.
Stevenson’s social programs may have helped those on the bottom when the economy went into a recession in 1958, but that was small comfort for those in the middle class who began to lose their jobs. Stevenson made attempts to create a jobs program, but the effort struggled in a Congress disappointed with his handling of Little Rock. When the economy did begin to recover in the summer and fall, it proved too little too late; Republicans reclaimed Congress for the first time in over a decade, with Republicans making up ground on the edges of the Solid South. Rebuked in domestic policy, Stevenson turned to foreign policy for the rest of his term.
After the stinging losses in the Midterm, Stevenson went on a world tour, leaving Humphrey to run Cabinet meetings while he was gone. He would travel from Asia; to the Middle East; and to Europe; meeting with even the world leaders that had caused problems in the past, like the Prime Minister of Iran. The images of their President on tv, as well as his writings on his trip, did much to remind the people why they liked their President in the first place, even if a few naysayers were talking of an absentee President. Those voices turned to outright panic when the President flew to Moscow, but were forced into silence when the Stevenson returned to Washington with a commitment to a conference in Paris that summer to discuss nuclear arms. The 1959 Paris Conference would prove to be a tremendous success, with both nations agreeing to a test ban treaty and a commitment to further diplomatic relations amongst the two governments.
Stevenson would pass the torch to Vice President Humphrey to follow him into the White House, guaranteeing an easy nomination process who put a Southerner on the ticket for the sake of Party unity. Humphrey hoped to capitalize on the recent foreign policy gain, as well as the President’s revitalized image. Unfortunately for the Vice President, a second recession during this term as well as the campaign of the Republican’s charismatic nominee would make the election a close one.
