Comic Summary V (Adlai Stevenson)


It's time to look at a biography comic-book. This one on the ever-popular Adlai Stevenson. That is to say Adlai Stevenson II. Most people outside of Illinois know very little about him.
Stevenson's often considered the model definition of what became the modern democratic party. That's modern before the days of Ronald Reagan back when the Democratic party actually stood for something. As opposed to today when one can't find a damn difference between the Democrats and Republicans. But that's a rant for a different subject.Most comic books of these types like to open with the line: ''He was born from a humble background.'' But of course you can't say that about Mr. Stevenson. He was born into a political family like the Kennedy's, Clinton's or Bush's. A big important family with a guaranteed future in the political field. I mean his grandfather was vice president of the United States for Grover Cleveland.

Of all the events in his life mentioned in this comic it's he's early childhood that's probably the least known. Working more on speculation and probably whatever sources they could get from school records. Assuming the comic got any of it at all. Maybe they asked his family. I'm not entirely sure.
That said in a bid to add a little action to the story they have a scene where Adlai has to fight a tough kid. And it's just the scene of a tiny Adlai Stevenson knocking a trouble-maker on his rump.
The bits afterwards is nothing too fascinating. It's just Adlai going through school years making a friend, spending a bit of time out in the country. Before he's called back and goes into a law degree.
The first real interesting bit comes in his year-long travel to Europe. Where he wants to go to Russia of all places. It's important to keep in mind that this is 1920s Russia. However poor Russia might be in the 50s and on Words it's still nothing compared to the misery and desecration that's afflicting the country at this time. He's able to get into Russia using a Visa that he had to travel all the way to Constantinople to get. Ironically going through most of Europe in the process. The only reason he was allowed to get his Visa is because he worked in journalism. The idea being that he would be a reporter in Russia, try to get the inside scoop on what was a very new country at the time. Really all he got to see was a few bits of the Russian street with some of the Russian Harbour (As he had to take a boat across the Black Sea from Turkey to get there) and seeing a group of small children trying to scrape Jam off the street as the closest thing they could get to a meal.
It's this site of poverty in Russia that force Stevenson to commit himself to politics. Hoping that he might better change the world and increase the standard of living. Particularly noble goal for what might be one of the few notable politicians.
There's a little bit about his career in World War One. But his involvement was so minimal that he didn't really see any true combat. ''Luckily'' for him, he'll get all the combat experience he needs in future events involving some far greater enemies.
The comic then spends a bit of time for his work with the AAA*. Some of his minor involvement in World War II. Including his attempts to speak with President Truman and the difficulties he had in tracking him down. Some of this I imagine is dramatised for the flavor of the comic.
We then focus on his political run to become Governor of Illinois. But people often complain that no one was going to remember his name. Or that the local American populace would find it hard to pronounce. There was also the issue of his lack of Charisma. That is to say he's a numbers man. He's the kind of leader you want in office, but he's not the kind of guy that looks great in office. Usually when people think of terrific leaders they want to think of charismatic bigger-than-life figures. Ronald Reagan, John Wayne, Eisenhower and Kennedy.
And yet his hard work and commitment paid off. For he did win the Governor seat.
It's here that we finally get to shine a light on his work as governor of Illinois. He's building up alliances with the Democratic Party and strengthening his connection with the local populace. It seems in his time as Governor he was able to do quite a bit of work and improving the state.
It's on this massive success but the Democratic party nominates him to be a presidential candidate. Citing that if he can clean up the states so well; ''Imagine what he could do with the country.'' At first he's hesitant, but he's convinced overtime my friends, family and co-workers alike that he just might have a chance at it. And in most circumstances I would agree with them too.

But there's just one giant problem.

'"Eisenhower!''


Eisenhower was a man of intelligence, integrity and self-made image. He was the supreme commander of the United States military. For a time he practically ran the United States High command of Europe. And for all intensive purposes the most powerful man in the world. People often claimed that becoming president was a demotion for him . It wouldn't matter who was running against Eisenhower even old Abraham Lincoln or George Washington would have a hell of a time with it. So as you can imagine Adlai Stevenson really didn't stand that much of a chance. He lost the popular vote and he lost the Electoral College by a huge margin.

It's a shame in one way. I think from an economic point of view and a humanitarian point of view. Stevenson was definitely the right candidate for the job**. But it's also important to remember that this was the high point of the Cold War. A time when you needed men of action, men of passion and men with the grim determination to do the tough things that nobody else can do. I just can't see Adlai Stevenson surviving in such an environment. Could you imagine him going up against a Stalin or a Khrushchev! I think he might have been able to do some business with Brezhnev. But that's not going to happen for a good 15 years and even then it's Nixon who made that Détente work so well.

And yet despite being the wrong man for president in the Cold War he worked incredibly well as a U.N. secretary involved in the Cold War. This is when Adlai Stevenson had his most famous moment in history. That wonderful cinematic moment when he's talking to Ambassador Zorin of the Soviet Union, asking him to admit that the Soviet's placed long-range Atomic missiles in the nation state of Cuba. And brilliantly proclaiming: 
''Let me ask you one simple question: Do you ambassadors Zorin deny that the U.S.S.R. has placed medium to intermediate range missiles (and sites) in Cuba? Yes or no? Don't wait for the translation! Yes or No!

It's odd to think that Adlai Stevenson's U.N. secretary roll was a kind of punch in the face reward. When JFK won the U.S. election a lot of people thought that he would give Stevenson the vice president role or the Secretary of State. Instead he gave him the role in the UN which deprived him of doing any real work within the United States proper. Still despite this setback he did his job valiantly and helped in overturning the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The few remaining panels of the comic describe one of Stevenson's visits to London. Where he unfortunately suffered a heart attack and passed away in 1965. He didn't go out with cannons blazing. He didn't go out with a media Frenzy. He just passed away with minimal attention and was named later commemorated by various people of the United Nations. The Presidents of the United States and even a fair bit of the Soviet Union.
He's often credited as a renovator of the democratic party. And the main reason that someone like Lyndon Johnson could be president.

He's apparently a second cousin to McLean Stevenson. Or so the Internet says.

*Agricultural Adjustment Administration

**I say he wasn't the right man for America in the late 50s. But that's only because America was mutated into the Super militaristic state controlling half the world and fighting against the ideological ''evils'' of communism. If the United States was on its natural course as an intermediary power only content with its own borders and keeping a watchful eye over the continent of the Americas, then I think Adlai Stevenson would be the ideal candidate. The man to represent what was ''True America''. Unfortunately such a country does not exist and hasn't existed for 70 years. And I do believe will never exist again.

Politically he was an enemy, but he was an honourable being a true gentleman.


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