STEVENSON, ADLAI E

born Feb. 5, 1900, Los Angeles, Calif., U.S.

died July 14, 1965, London, Eng.

U.S. politician and diplomat.

The grandson of a vice president of the U.S., he practiced law in Chicago from 1926. During World War II he was assistant to the secretary of the navy (1941–44) and to the secretary of state (1945). He served as a U.S. delegate to the UN (1946–47). As governor of Illinois (1949–53), he introduced liberal reforms. Noted for his eloquence and wit, he was twice the Democratic candidate for president (1952, 1956) but lost both times to Dwight D. Eisenhower . He later served as chief U.S. representative to the UN (1961–65).