Legacy of the Stevenson Presidency?

[Mysterion]

Next Tuesday will mark the 48th anniversery of Adlai Stevenson leaving the White House after two terms (1953-61) as President of the United States.

Aside from the failed attempt by Sen. Joe McCarthy to impeach Stevenson on vague charges of "communistic treason" and the stirring rebuttal Stevenson delivered to a joint session of congress, what do you think is the lasting legacy (if any) of Stevenson's time in office?

 

[Matthais Corvinus]

President Stevenson's decision to actively enforce the Supreme Court's Brown v Board decision will be remembered as the single greatest act of American political courage in the 20th century.

 

[glenn67]

It also hurt the Democrats in the South once the 1960 elections came along.

Vice President John Sparkman's decision to run as a third party candidate for President was a big blow to the Democrats. Sparkman took enough votes in Kentucky to cost the Symington/Kennedy ticket the election and elect William Knowland President. After 28 years of holding the White House, the Democrats were seen as stale. The recession of 1958-1960 really hurt the Dems in the midwest.

Of course, President Knowland signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act. But by 1968, the Vietnam war really sunk his popularity. The country was tired of war and they saw Barry Goldwater as a continuation of Knowland's policies. Goldwater's off the cuff remarks didn't help either. It was not surprising that Hubert Humphrey was elected President in a landslide.