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Show The fact was, of course, that the General was so far ahead we never even saw him. I was happy to hear I had even placed second. But no one will say, I trust, that I snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Just four years ago, I, a Democrat, had just been elected Governor by the largest majority ever received in Republican Illinois. And here I am, four years later, just defeated by the largest majority ever received in Democratic America. I enjoyed the campaign in spots. There were times, I confess, when I was afraid I wouldnt die, times when I felt I wouldnt do it to a dog. And I think the General would say to me that there are times when he wishes he was in my shoes you see I had them fixed." I think of a story my grandfather Stevenson, told about the preacher who was driving along a back road in the South when he espied a parishioner wearily clearing up a poor, stony field. Thats a fine job you and the Lord have done clearing up that rocky field! he shouted. Thank you, parson, the man replied, but I wish you could have seen it when the Lord had it all to Himself. WASHINGTON, D. C., JANCAKT 1959 a devout On the subject of education, Stevenson was fond of quoting a prisoner who once told his cellmate: Im going to study and improve myself, and when youre still a common thief, Ill be an embezzler. Upon noting that the platform from which the Republican candidate addressed a Richmond audience had collapsed, Mr. Stevenson commented: Im glad the General wasnt hurt. But I wasnt surprised that it happened. Ive been telling him for two months that nobody could stand on that platform." rA1)UCAH beftembeb I remember the story of a man in my home town of Bloomington who was interviewed by a newspaper reporter on his one hundredth anniversary. To what do you attribute your longevity? the reporter asked. The centenarian thought for a moment and began ticking off the items on his fingers: I never smoked, I never drank liquor and I never overate; and I always rise at six in the morning. To that the reporter remarked: I had an uncle who acted the same way but he only lived to be eighty. How do you account for that?' He didnt keep it up long enough, came the reply. m2 You know how it is in an election year. They pick a President and then for four years they pick on him. accost 28, 1952 We were driving through the streets of a big city and a little boy ran out in front of the crowd I am and shouted, Hooray for Stevenhower. going to give that kid a job in the State Depart- HEAD ISO, FA., OCTOBER Scottish-Presbyteria- n, 30, 1952 I feel like the young man who was engaged to marry one of twin girls who had a local reputation for beauty. His uncle asked him one day: Well, Dick, my boy, congratulations. I hear you are engaged to marry one of the beautiful Smith twins. But tell me how on earth do you tell them apart? The young man grinned. Thats easy FAVORITE STEVENSON STORIES I dont even try. 1952 campaign One of Adlai Stevensons favorite stories was about a little girl who was busy with her crayons. Her mother ashed her whose picture she was drawing. God, the little girl replied. But, my dear, nobody knows how He looks, the mother admonished. They will when Im finished, the child answered. POLITICS AND THE UN It is like little Willies new baby brother. As soon as the baby was born Willie hurried to spread the news. He was telling his young friend Johnny: We have a new baby at our house and it cost a hundred dollars. To which Johnny replied: Gee, one hundred dollars is a lot of money just for a baby.' Yes,' Willie agreed, but think how long they last. Arriving at the United Nations in 1961 as United States Ambassador to the UN, he was taken on a tour - ' through the UN Security Council Chamber. ' He spotted the United States nameplate at the horseshoe table and was told that he was next in the rotation for the Security Council Presidency. Thats the way it is, he commented. When I want the Presidency, I cant have it; when I 1952 campaign dont, I can. Called upon to speak at a festival when he was Governor of Illinois, Mr. Stevenson joked: Perhaps my function (at the festival) is not unlike that which a rural county judge was once called upon to play. lingering in his chambers one Saturday afternoon after the close of the business week, he was suddenly conftpnted by a young GI who had unexpectedly received a leave and who, having his intended in tow, thought to improve the time by getting married. The high hopes of the pair were dashed by the judges kind but firm explanation that, without the, lirense whiclL couldjnotbe procured because the appropriate offices were closed, the ceremony itself could not be performed. But, judge, the boy asked, couldn't you just say a few words to tide us over the weekend? 48-ho- - After his defeat in' 1952, Adlai Stevenson, made theskeomments about his Presidential campaign: ur I Thousands even wrote gracious, flattering ' letters, after the election, explaining why they did not vote for me. They seemed to feel they owed me an explanation. I was touched and flattered, but I confess the thought occurred to me now and then that a little X in the right place on the ballot would have been so much easier than a long, thoughtful letter. At least for an inexperienced candidate, I suppose we have contrived few more exacting ordeals than a Presidential campaign. You must emerge, bright and bubbling with wisdom and every morning at 8 oclock; just in time for a charming and profound breakfast talk, well-bein- g, shake hands with hundreds, often literally thousands, of people, make several inspiring, newsworthy speeches during the day, confer with political leaders along the way and with your staff all the time, write at every chance, think if possible, read mail and newspapers, talk on the telephone, talk to everybody, dictate, receive delegations, eat, with decorum yand discretion! and ride through city aftenrcity on the back of an open car, smiling until your mouth is dehydrated by the wind, waving until the blood runs out of your arm. Then, you bounce gaily, confidently, masterinto fully great howling halls, shaved and all made television for with the right color shirt and tie up and a manuscript so deI always forgot faced with chicken tracks and last minute jottings that you couldnt follow it, even if the spotlights werent blinding and even if the still photographers didnt shoot you in the eye every time you looked at them. Then all you have to do is make a great, imperishable speech, get out through the pressing crowds with a few score autographs, your clothes intact, your hands bruised, and back to the hotel in time to see a few important people. But the real work has just commenced two or three, sometimes four,- hours of frenzied writing and editing of the next days immortal mouthings so you can get something to the stenographers, so they can get something to the mimeograph machines, so they can get something to the reporters, so they can get something to their papers by deadline time. The next day is the same. But I gained weight on it. And its as tenacious as a campaign - deficit! And, too, there is mirth mingled with the misery all along the way. They shout, Good old If you run for office and have a slightly unusual name, let me advise you either to change it before you start, or be prepared to take other peoples word for it. And I shall not soon forget about the woman in the crowd in San Francisco who reached into the car to shake hands with me, and not long after discovered that she had lost her diamond ring. Nor will I forget the warm welcome I received on a whistle stop in Bethlehem, Pa., and my thanks to the people of Allentown. My only hope is that they forget it! Again, out West, I warmly endorsed the impressive chairman of a meeting as a candidate for Congress, only to discover that he was not running for Congress or anything else. Ad-li- e! In a speech in which he emphasized the importance of standing up for the United Nations, Mr. Stevenson remarked: Some of you remember the story of the man who had been consuming alcoholic beverages at a considerable rate, and who went to a revival meeting and fell .asleep in the front row. The preacher reached a climax of eloquence and called for those on the side of the Lord to stand up. After they all sat down, the preacher hollered: Now, anybody on the side of the Devil, stand up. The shout awoke the befuddled man, who stood up slowly, looked around him and said, Preacher, Ill stick by you, but we seem to be in a hopeless minority.' In replying to critics of the UN, Ambassador Stevenson cited Adams proposal of marriage to Eve in the Garden of Eden. She hesitated for a moment whereupon Adam asked, Is there somebody else? (the end k CopyngM M Adbr IM& by pmttoa o M AdUt ad fe 090 tt, Scott Mtcadiib literary Ageecy, fee. THIS WEEK Mogaitm Sptbr 12, 1965 |
