A Road Scholar Program by Joe Bean

He held only one elective office in his career (Governor of Illinois, 1948-1952), but Adlai Stevenson set an undeniable standard for political speechmaking in his two unsuccessful Presidential campaigns. He was adored by his followers for his wit and eloquence and disparaged by his opponents for his wisecracks and erudition. The label “egghead” stuck with him throughout both campaigns. He refused to repeat speeches on the campaign trail, much to the distress of his speechwriters and the press. The result: a literary storehouse of one-liners (“A funny thing happened to me on the way to the White House…) and profound statements on democracy (…more important than winning the election is governing the nation”). Drawing from speeches, period photographs and other materials, this non-partisan multi-media presentation will showcase Stevenson’s humor, his dedication to world peace and his concern for education, patriotism and participatory democracy.

This event is Free and Open to the public. For more information, please contact Mark Sorensen, 217-620-6851.