Editing Adlai Stevenson III

{{Short description|American attorney and politician (1930–2021)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = Adlai III (3x4).jpg
| caption             = Official Portrait, 1977
| jr/sr               = United States Senator
| state               = [[Illinois]]
| term_start          = November 17, 1970
| term_end            = January 3, 1981
| predecessor         = [[Ralph T. Smith]]
| successor           = [[Alan J. Dixon]]
| office1             = 63rd [[Treasurer of Illinois]]
| governor1           = [[Otto Kerner Jr.]]<br>[[Samuel Shapiro (Illinois politician)|Samuel Shapiro]]<br>[[Richard B. Ogilvie]]
| term_start1         = January 9, 1967
| term_end1           = November 17, 1970
| predecessor1        = [[William J. Scott (Illinois politician)|William Scott]]
| successor1          = [[Charles W. Woodford]]
| state_house2        = Illinois
| district2           = at-large
| term_start2         = January 13, 1965
| term_end2           = January 11, 1967
| preceded2           = ''redistricting''
| succeeded2          = ''redistricting''
| birth_name          = Adlai Ewing Stevenson III
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1930|10|10}}
| birth_place         = [[Chicago]], Illinois, U.S.
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2021|9|6|1930|10|10}}
| death_place         = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| otherparty          = [[Illinois Solidarity Party|Solidarity]] (1986)
| spouse              = {{marriage|Nancy Anderson|1955}}
| children            = 4
| parents             = {{plainlist|
*[[Adlai Stevenson II]]
*[[Ellen Stevenson]]
}}
| relatives           = [[Stevenson family]]
| education           = [[Harvard University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|AB]], [[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])
| branch              = [[United States Marine Corps]]
| rank                = [[Captain (United States O-3)|Captain]]
| branch_label        = Service
| serviceyears        = 1952–1954 (active)<br>1954–1961 (reserve)
| battles             = [[Korean War]]
| battles_label       = Wars
| signature           = Adlai E. Stevenson signature.png
}}
'''Adlai Ewing Stevenson III''' (October 10, 1930 – September 6, 2021) was an American attorney and politician from [[Illinois]]. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he served as a member of the [[United States Senate]] from 1970 to 1981. A member of the prominent [[Stevenson family]], he also served as a member of the [[Illinois House of Representatives]] and [[Illinois Treasurer]]. He unsuccessfully ran for [[governor of Illinois]] in [[1982 Illinois gubernatorial election|1982]] and [[1986 Illinois gubernatorial election|1986]]. He had been awarded Japan’s Order of the Sacred Treasure with gold and silver stars and was an honorary Professor of [[Renmin University of China]].<ref name="bio" />

==Early life, education, and early career (1930–1964)==
Adlai Stevenson III was born in Chicago to [[Ellen Stevenson]] and two-time Democratic Party presidential nominee [[Adlai Stevenson II]]. He attended [[Milton Academy]] in Massachusetts, [[Harrow School]] in England, and [[Harvard College]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Furlong|first=William Barry|date=February 22, 1970|title=The Adlai III Brand Of Politics|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/02/22/archives/the-adlai-iii-brand-of-politics-the-adlai-iii-brand-of-politics.html|access-date=September 7, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He received a law degree in 1957 from [[Harvard Law School]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 29, 1972|title=Mrs. Ellen Stevenson, Ex-Wife Of Presidential Candidate, Dies|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/07/29/archives/mrs-ellen-istevenson-exwife-0-of-presldenhal-candzdate-dzes.html|access-date=September 7, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Wehrwein|first=Austin C.|date=December 13, 1964|title=2 FAMOUS NAMES IN ILLINOIS HOUSE; Adlai Stevenson 3d and Earl Eisenhower to Take Seats|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/12/13/archives/2-famous-names-in-illinois-house-adlai-stevenson-3d-and-earl.html|access-date=September 7, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Stevenson was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1952, served in Korea and was discharged from active duty in 1954. He continued to serve in the Marine Reserve and was discharged in 1961 as a captain.<ref name="nytobit" /> In 1957, Stevenson went to work as a clerk for a Justice of the [[Supreme Court of Illinois]] and worked there until 1958 when he joined the law firm of Brown and Platt.<ref name="Blue Book 1965">{{cite book|url=http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/ref/collection/bb/id/16489|title=Illinois Blue Book 1965–1966|publisher=[[Illinois Secretary of State]]|editor-last=Powell|editor-first=Paul|location=[[Springfield, Illinois]]|page=295|access-date=March 15, 2020}}</ref>

==Early political career (1964–1970)==

=== State politics ===

==== Illinois House of Representatives ====
Stevenson was elected to the [[Illinois House of Representatives]] in the [[1964 Illinois House of Representatives election]], which was held [[at-large]] due to the state's failure to redistrict.<ref name="Blue Book 1965" /><ref name="sen1"/> With 2,417,978 votes, he received the most votes of any candidate (by a margin of 7,613 more votes than the next candidate). More than half of ballots cast in [[1964 Illinois elections|the statewide general election]] included a vote for Stevenson.<ref name="results">{{cite web |title=OFFICIAL VOTE of the STATE OF ILLINOIS Cast at the GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 3, 1964 JUDICIAL ELECTION, 1963–1964 • PRIMARY ELECTION GENERAL PRIMARY, APRIL, 14, 1964 |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1964/1964%20GE%20and%20PE.pdf |publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections |access-date=1 July 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Stevenson served in the Illinois House from 1965 to 1967.<ref name="Blue Book 1965" /><ref name="sen1">{{cite web|title=Sen. Adlai Stevenson III – Staking out his role in Illinois and Washington|url=http://www.lib.niu.edu/1977/ii771121.html|access-date=October 28, 2014|publisher=Lib.niu.edu}}</ref> During his time in the state house, he won a Best Legislator award from the Independent Voters of Illinois.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Janssen|first=Kim|title=Adlai Stevenson III, honored by Illinois group, laments loss in civility in Senate|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-adlai-stevenson-iii-mikva-0420-chicago-inc-20170419-story.html|access-date=2021-09-20|website=chicagotribune.com|date=April 19, 2017 }}</ref><ref name="bio" />

==== Treasurer of Illinois ====
[[File:Treasurer Adlai Stevenson.jpg|thumb|Stevenson during his tenure as state treasurer]]

[[1966 Illinois Treasurer election|In 1966]], Stevenson was elected [[treasurer of Illinois]]. As state treasurer, he quadrupled earnings on the investment of state funds while cutting the budget each year.<ref name="bio" /><ref>{{cite web|author=Lawrence Kestenbaum|title=The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Stevenson to Steward|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/stevenson-steward.html|access-date=October 28, 2014|publisher=Politicalgraveyard.com}}</ref>

==United States Senate (1970–1981)==

=== Elections ===

==== 1970 ====
Following the death of incumbent U.S. Senator [[Everett Dirksen]] in 1969, Stevenson ran for his seat. He faced former state representative [[Ralph T. Smith]] in the general election, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. [[Richard B. Ogilvie]]. Stevenson defeated Smith in a [[1970 United States Senate special election in Illinois|1970 special election]] by a vote of 2,065,054 (57%) to 1,519,718 (42%) to fill Dirksen's unexpired term.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Callahan|first=Carole Riester|date=1973|title=Stevenson of Illinois: Identification in the 1970 senatorial campaign of Adlai E. Stevenson III|url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10510977309363183|journal=Central States Speech Journal|language=en|volume=24|issue=4|pages=272–277|doi=10.1080/10510977309363183|issn=0008-9575|via=Taylor and Francis Online|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==== 1974 ====
In [[1974 United States Senate election in Illinois|1974]], Stevenson ran for re-election, and faced Republican [[George Burditt (lawyer)|George Burditt]] in the general election. He defeated Burditt by a vote of 1,811,496 (62%) to 1,084,884 (37%).<ref>{{Cite journal|title="Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1970"|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1970election.pdf|journal=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives|pages=7}}</ref>

=== Committee assignments ===
In the Senate, Stevenson served on the Commerce Committee (Chairman of the Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space), Banking Committee (Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Finance) and Intelligence Committee (Chairman, Subcommittee on the Collection and Production of Intelligence). He was the first Chairman of the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics]] charged with implementing a code of ethics he helped draft. Stevenson was also chairman of a Special Senate Committee which led the first major reorganization of the Senate since its Committee system was formed in the early 19th Century.<ref name="bio" />

=== Tenure ===
Stevenson took his seat on November 17, 1970.

==== Vietnam War ====
Stevenson opposed the [[Vietnam War]]. He condemned Democratic President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]’s Indochina policies and the violent police tactics at the [[1968 Democratic National Convention]] in [[Chicago]], renewed his attacks on Republican President [[Richard Nixon]]’s prosecution of the war.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|last=McFadden|first=Robert D.|date=2021-09-07|title=Adlai E. Stevenson III, Ex-Senator and Scion of Political Family, Dies at 90|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/07/us/politics/adlai-stevenson-3d-dead.html|access-date=2021-09-20|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He also introduced legislation requiring an end to all [[aid]] to [[South Vietnam]] by June 30, 1975.<ref name="'70s 306">{{Cite book|last=Frum|first=David|url=https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/306|title=How We Got Here: The '70s|publisher=Basic Books|year=2000|isbn=0-465-04195-7|location=New York, New York|page=[https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/306 306]|author-link=David Frum|url-access=registration}}</ref>

==== Watergate scandal ====
Stevenson was highly critical of Republican President [[Richard Nixon]] during the [[Watergate scandal]]. He called on Nixon to answer for the integrity of the country’s leaders. “All of us — Republicans and Democrats — have an interest in clearing the record," he said a year before Nixon resigned in disgrace. “The faith of the people in their system and their leaders — a faith that has already been shaken enough — is at stake."<ref name=":2" />

==== Legislative accomplishments ====
Stevenson authored the [[International Banking Act of 1978]], the [[Stevenson–Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980]] and its companion, the [[Bayh–Dole Act]], to foster cooperative research, organize national laboratories for technology utilization and commercialization, and permit private sector interests in government-funded research.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/96th-congress/senate-bill/1250|title=S.1250 – Stevenson Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980|publisher=Congress|accessdate=September 7, 2021}}</ref> He was the first chairman of the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics]] charged with implementing a code of ethics he helped draft.<ref name="cst">{{Cite web|last=O'Donnell|first=Maureen|date=September 7, 2021|title=Adlai Stevenson III, former U.S. senator, Illinois candidate for governor, dead at 90|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/9/7/22661586/adlai-stevenson-iii-former-senator-illinois-candidate-governor-dead-obitutary|access-date=September 7, 2021|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en}}</ref> Stevenson was also chairman of a special Senate committee that reorganized the Senate and served on the [[United States Senate Democratic Policy Committee]].<ref name="bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.adlai3.com/|title=Senator Adlai E. Stevenson III|publisher=adlai3.com|accessdate=September 7, 2021}}</ref> He also conducted the first in-depth congressional study of terrorism as chairman of the Subcommittee on the Collection and Production of Intelligence, leading to introduction of the Comprehensive Counter Terrorism Act of 1971.<ref name="bio" /> He warned of "spectacular acts of disruption and destruction" and an amendment that proposed reducing assistance for Israel by $200 million.<ref name="opi">{{cite web|url=https://www.daily-journal.com/opinion/reflections-on-illinois-and-the-nation-by-adlai-stevenson-iii/article_d020f4a7-7a76-58b9-98af-c31eb5e43ca4.html|title=Reflections on Illinois and the nation by Adlai Stevenson III|date=February 2, 2013 |publisher=Daily Journal|accessdate=September 7, 2021}}</ref> His amendment received seven votes.<ref name="bio" />

==== Views on Israel ====
Stevenson was a strong supporter of Israel, but was critical of the influence of [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]] (AIPAC) on US politics. Stevenson had sharp differences with the Israeli lobby on issues concerning the Middle East, including a 1979 vote to cut military assistance to Israel by 10 percent and support of a 1978 weapons sale to Saudi Arabia. AIPAC also criticized his meeting with PLO leader [[Yasser Arafat]].

In a letter to Jewish leader Hyman Bookbinder in 1980, Stevenson wrote:<blockquote>"It is the Israeli lobby, led by AIPAC, which I deplore. It does not speak for all Jewry, including Israeli Jewry. Yet it exercises an inordinate degree of influence with weak public officials. I deplore their subservience to the vagaries of a foreign government."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/10/05/israeli-lobby-fighting-stevenson/ | title=Israeli Lobby Fighting Stevenson | website=[[Chicago Tribune]] | date=October 5, 1986 }}</ref></blockquote>
=== 1976 Presidential election ===

==== Presidential bid ====
Stevenson was encouraged to run for president in [[1976 United States presidential election|1976]], which was fueled by [[Richard J. Daley]] of Chicago, who resented the senator’s liberal reforms, but who recognized Stevenson as being a vote-getter. The senator declined to campaign, but as the nominating process got underway, Daley forces ran him as a [[favorite son]] candidate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Daley gives Stevenson endorsement|url=https://videttearchive.ilstu.edu/?a=d&d=vid19751030-01.2.2&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------|publisher=Vidette Archive|accessdate=September 7, 2021}}</ref>

==== Vice presidential finalist ====
Despite this, former governor [[Jimmy Carter]] of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] locked up the nomination before the [[1976 Democratic National Convention]], in [[New York City]]. Stevenson was, however, one of the finalists for vice president at the convention, though Carter eventually chose U.S. Senator [[Walter Mondale]] from Minnesota.<ref name="mondale">[http://www.lib.niu.edu/1977/ii771121.html "Sen. Adlai Stevenson III: Staking out his role in Illinois and Washington "], Illinois Issues.</ref>

=== Retirement ===
Stevenson opted to not run for reelection in [[1980 United States Senate election in Illinois|1980]] and returned to Illinois to practice law.<ref name="nytobit" />

==Post-Senate life and career (1981–2021)==

=== Gubernatorial bids ===
Stevenson ran for [[governor of Illinois]] in [[1982 Illinois gubernatorial election|1982]] and [[1986 Illinois gubernatorial election|1986]], losing both elections to [[James R. Thompson]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stevenson, Adlai III|url=https://www2.illinois.gov/alplm/library/collections/OralHistory/illinoisstatecraft/Thompson/Pages/StevensonAdlaiIII.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=September 7, 2021|website=Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126142535/http://www.illinois.gov:80/alplm/library/collections/oralhistory/illinoisstatecraft/Thompson/Pages/StevensonAdlaiIII.aspx |archive-date=November 26, 2015 }}</ref>

==== 1982 ====
In the 1982 campaign, Stevenson complained that Thompson was trying to portray him as an ineffectual elitist by famously stating, "He is saying 'Me tough guy,' as if to imply that I’m some kind of wimp."<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/ddf4073cca920961c35349210ef54b07 "'Wimp' Factor Surfaces Again," ''The Associated Press'' (AP), Friday, September 27, 1985.] Retrieved September 9, 2021</ref> The initial vote count showed Stevenson winning;<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Taylor|first=Paul|date=November 5, 1982|title=An Old Cook County Tradition|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1982/11/05/an-old-cook-county-tradition/7f1f8351-1621-49e1-9c43-33b76523a050/|access-date=September 7, 2021}}</ref> however, the final official count showed him losing by 0.14 percent.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Janssen|first=Kim|date=April 19, 2017|title=Adlai Stevenson III, honored by Illinois group, laments loss in civility in Senate|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-adlai-stevenson-iii-mikva-0420-chicago-inc-20170419-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 7, 2021|website=Chicago Tribune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620124544/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-adlai-stevenson-iii-mikva-0420-chicago-inc-20170419-story.html |archive-date=June 20, 2021 }}</ref> Stevenson promptly petitioned the [[Supreme Court of Illinois|Illinois Supreme Court]] for a recount and presented evidence of widespread election irregularities, including evidence of a failed punch card system for tabulation of votes.<ref name=":0" /> Three days before the gubernatorial inauguration, the court denied the recount in a 4-3 ruling, asserting that the Illinois recount statute was unconstitutional.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pearson|first=Rick|date=November 9, 2000|title=Bitter Fight in '82 Race for Governor Still Fresh|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-11-09-0011090479-story.html|access-date=September 7, 2021|website=Chicago Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref>

==== 1986 ====
In the 1986 statewide Democratic primaries, Democratic voters nominated allies of [[Lyndon LaRouche]] for lieutenant governor and secretary of state.<ref name=bolt/> Stevenson objected to their platform and refused to appear on the same ticket.<ref name=bolt>{{Cite web|last1=Kraft|first1=Scott|last2=Green|first2=Larry|date=March 28, 1986|title=Stevenson Will Bolt Ticket to Avoid LaRouche Backers|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-03-28-mn-620-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 7, 2021|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725112407/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-03-28-mn-620-story.html |archive-date=July 25, 2019 }}</ref> Instead, he organized the [[Illinois Solidarity Party]] to provide an alternate slate for governor, lieutenant governor, and secretary of state, which was endorsed by [[Democratic Party of Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Arriaga|first=Alexandra|date=April 25, 2018|title=History not on third party candidates' sides — but will it be on Rauner's?|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/4/25/18410194/history-not-on-third-party-candidates-sides-but-will-it-be-on-rauner-s|access-date=September 7, 2021|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en}}</ref> Persuading Democrats to vote for most of the Democratic ticket as well as the Solidarity candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, and secretary of state was an unconventional strategy; however, Stevenson and the candidate for lieutenant governor position, Mike Howlett, won 40% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Official Vote Cast at the General Election November 4, 1986|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1986/1986%20GE.PDF|url-status=dead|access-date=September 7, 2021|website=Illinois State Board of Elections|archive-date=June 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602085116/https://www.elections.il.gov/DocDisplay.aspx?doc=Downloads/ElectionOperations/VoteTotals/Archived/1986/1986%20GE.PDF}}</ref>

===Later career ===

==== Business and cultural relations ====
After leaving the Senate, Stevenson was active in business and cultural relations with [[East Asia]].<ref name="cst" /> He was chairman of SC&M Investment Management Corporation,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Full Text of HR0221|url=https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=91&GA=100&DocTypeId=HR&DocNum=221&GAID=14&LegID=&SpecSess=&Session=|url-status=live|access-date=September 7, 2021|website=Illinois General Assembly|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907215657/https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=91&GA=100&DocTypeId=HR&DocNum=221&GAID=14&LegID=&SpecSess=&Session= |archive-date=September 7, 2021 }}</ref> and co-chairman of HuaMei Capital Company (the first Chinese-American investment bank).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Yerak|first=Becky|date=October 2, 2007|title=Firm looks to tap Chinese capital|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-10-02-0710010439-story.html|access-date=September 7, 2021|website=Chicago Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Non-profit organizations ====
He also held many positions with non-profit organizations in this area.<ref name="cst" /> He served as chairman of the [[National Association of Japan–America Societies|National Association of Japan–America Societies Society]] of Chicago, the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association, and the Midwest U.S.-China Association, and as president of the U.S. Committee of the [[Pacific Economic Cooperation Council]] (PECC).<ref name="cst" /> He was also co-chairman of the PECC's Financial Market Development Project, a member of the U.S.-Korea Wisemen Council, and sat on the board of directors of the [[Korea Institute for International Economic Policy]].<ref name="bio" /> He was also chairman of the international Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy housed at the family home, a national historic landmark, near [[Libertyville, Illinois]].<ref name="center">{{cite web|url=https://www.stevensoncenterondemocracy.org/|title=Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy|publisher=Stevenson Center|accessdate=September 7, 2021}}</ref> Stevenson was also a member of the ReFormers Caucus of [[Issue One]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.issueone.org/sen-adlai-stevenson-d-il-joins-reformers-caucus/|title= Sen. Adlai Stevenson (D-IL) joins the ReFormers Caucus |publisher=Issue One |access-date=June 7, 2017}}</ref>

==== UNPA proposal ====
On December 8, 2012, aged 82, Stevenson endorsed the proposal for the [[United Nations Parliamentary Assembly]] (UNPA), one of only six persons who served in the United States Congress ever to do so.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=UNPA|accessdate=August 28, 2017|title=Former Members of Parliament from United States|url=https://www.unpacampaign.org/supporters/overview/?mapcountry=US&mapgroup=cur}}</ref>

=== Death ===
Stevenson died from complications of [[Lewy body dementia]] at his home in Chicago on September 6, 2021, at age 90. <ref name="nytobit" /><ref name="cst" />

== Personal life ==

=== Family ===
{{Main|Stevenson family}}
Stevenson's great-grandfather [[Adlai E. Stevenson I]] was [[Vice President of the United States]] (1893–1897) during [[Grover Cleveland]]'s second term.<ref name=nytobit/> His grandfather [[Lewis Stevenson (politician)|Lewis Stevenson]] was Illinois secretary of state (1914–1917).<ref name=nytobit/> His father, [[Adlai Stevenson II]], was governor of Illinois, [[List of ambassadors of the United States to the United Nations|Ambassador to the United Nations]], and two-time Democratic presidential nominee.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=The Stevenson Family|url=https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/visit/whats-inside/exhibits/library/stevenson-room/the-stevenson-family/|url-status=live|access-date=September 7, 2021|website=Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031134930/https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/visit/whats-inside/exhibits/library/stevenson-room/the-stevenson-family/ |archive-date=October 31, 2020 }}</ref> Actor [[McLean Stevenson]] was his [[Cousin|third cousin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://illinoisstatesoceity.typepad.com/photos/19811990_illinois_state_s/macleanstevenson.html|title=Actor Mclean Stevenson|publisher=Illinois State Society|accessdate=September 7, 2021}}</ref>

=== Marriage and children ===
Stevenson met his future wife, Nancy Anderson, in 1953 while he was in tank training at [[Fort Knox]] in preparation for his deployment to Japan and then Korea. The couple was married in 1955 at Nancy’s home outside of Louisville.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adai E. Stevenson III Official Site|url=http://www.adlai3.com/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=www.adlai3.com}}</ref> Together, they had four children. His son Adlai Stevenson IV is a business executive and former journalist.<ref name="nytobit">{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/07/us/politics/adlai-stevenson-3d-dead.html|title = Adlai E. Stevenson 3d, Ex-Senator and Scion of Formidable Political Family, Dies at 90|work = [[The New York Times]]|date = September 7, 2021|accessdate = September 7, 2021|last = McFadden|first = Robert D.|authorlink = Robert D. McFadden}}</ref> Though Adlai IV had expressed his intention to be "Adlai the last,"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&dat=19700916&id=yR5UAAAAIBAJ&pg=7215,1459836|title=Boca Raton News – Google News Archive Search|access-date=October 28, 2014}}</ref> his son, Adlai Ewing Stevenson V, was born in the summer of 1994.{{citation needed|date = January 2025}}

==Writings==

* Stevenson authored ''The Black Book,'' which records American history and culture from within its politics as his family knew it over five generations, starting with his great great grandfather, [[Jesse W. Fell]], who was Abraham Lincoln's patron and persuaded him to run for president. As well as his grandfather [[Lewis Stevenson (politician)|Lewis Stevenson]], an Illinois secretary of state, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic vice-presidential nomination in 1928.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Black Book|url=http://www.adlai3.com/blackbook.html|publisher=Adlai3.com|accessdate=September 7, 2021}}</ref><ref name="nytobit" />

==Awards==
Stevenson has been honored with a number of awards, which include :

* [[Order of the Sacred Treasure]], by the government of Japan, with gold and silver star.
* Honorary Professor of [[Renmin University]] in China.<ref name=":1" />
* Laureate of [[the Lincoln Academy of Illinois]]
* Order of Lincoln by the [[governor of Illinois]] in 1981 in the area of government.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Laureates by Year – The Lincoln Academy of Illinois|url=http://thelincolnacademyofillinois.org/4632-2/#toggle-id-35|access-date=March 4, 2016|website=The Lincoln Academy of Illinois|language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book | first =Jean H. | last =Baker | year =1996 | title =The Stevensons: A Biography of An American Family | publisher =W. W. Norton & Co | location =New York | isbn =0-393-03874-2 | url-access =registration | url =https://archive.org/details/stevensonsbiogra0000bake }}

==External links==
{{commons category|Adlai Stevenson III}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
{{CongBio|S000890}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041204152922/http://www.prin.edu/users/els/departments/poli_sci/state/state/larouche.htm Political Science: Analysis of the 1986 election "debacle" in Illinois]
*{{C-SPAN|28940}}

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{{s-bef|before=[[Francis S. Lorenz]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Illinois Treasurer|Treasurer of Illinois]]|years=[[1966 Illinois Treasurer election|1966]]}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Alan J. Dixon]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[William G. Clark]]}}
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] from [[Illinois]]}}<br>([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 3]])|years=[[1970 United States Senate special election in Illinois|1970]], [[1974 United States Senate election in Illinois|1974]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Michael Bakalis]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of Illinois]]|years=[[1982 Illinois gubernatorial election|1982]]}}
{{s-vac|next=[[Neil Hartigan]]}}
|-
{{s-new|first}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Illinois Solidarity Party|Illinois Solidarity]] nominee for [[Governor of Illinois]]|years=[[1986 Illinois gubernatorial election|1986]]}}
{{s-aft|after=Jessie Fields}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[William J. Scott (Illinois politician)|William Scott]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Treasurer of Illinois]]|years=1967–1971}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Alan J. Dixon]]}}
|-
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{US Senator succession box
|state     = Illinois
|class     = 3
|before    = [[Ralph Tyler Smith]]
|after     = [[Alan J. Dixon]]
|alongside = [[Charles H. Percy]]
|years     = 1970–1981}}
{{s-end}}

{{United States senators from Illinois}}
{{Illinois State Treasurers}}
{{1976 United States presidential election}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 91st–96th [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[Illinois]]}}
{{USCongRep/IL/91}}
{{USCongRep/IL/92}}
{{USCongRep/IL/93}}
{{USCongRep/IL/94}}
{{USCongRep/IL/95}}
{{USCongRep/IL/96}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevenson, Adlai, 3}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:American Unitarian Universalists]]
[[Category:American people of Scotch-Irish descent]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 1976 United States presidential election]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 1982 United States elections]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 1986 United States elections]]
[[Category:Deaths from Lewy body dementia]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States senators from Illinois]]
[[Category:Harvard College alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Illinois lawyers]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Illinois]]
[[Category:Milton Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Deaths from dementia in Illinois]]
[[Category:People educated at Harrow School]]
[[Category:State treasurers of Illinois]]
[[Category:Stevenson family]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps officers]]
[[Category:People associated with Mayer Brown]]
[[Category:20th-century United States senators]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Illinois General Assembly]]