Adlai Stevenson

Stevenson 1956 (photo courtesy of The Pantagraph)

Born: February 5, 1900

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California

Died: July 14, 1965 of a heart attack

Claim to Fame: Presidential runner-up of 1952 and 1956, and US Ambassador to the United Nations.

Stevenson was a leading Democrat in the 1950s who was known for his quick wit, deep intellect and his eloquence in support of liberal causes. (Those same qualities led to the nickname Egghead.) He was the Democratic candidate for president in 1952 and 1956 but lost both times to Dwight Eisenhower. Stevenson was also the governor of Illinois from 1949-53 and served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Kennedy administration.

Other members of his family also participated in politics. His son, Adlai III, was a Illinois State Senator (1970-81) and his grandfather, Adlai Stevenson senior, was vice president during Grover Cleveland's second term (1893-97).