Good morning,
TWO CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT, 1952
Earlier this year, Adam Torson’s “Quotation of the Day” cited the words of Adlai Stevenson, Democratic candidate for president both in 1952 and 1956. While he is remembered by people who were adults at the time and a smattering of historians, his reputation is largely forgotten to present generations.
Stevenson, Governor of Illinois, ran against, and twice lost to, Dwight Eisenhower, former Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe during World War II. He was a principled pacifist who later served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Having read the Stevenson quotation, I decided to look into some of his words and into Eisenhower’s thoughts as well.
As I contemplated these two men facing off for president over 65 years ago, I was struck both by the quality of their rhetoric and the quality of their character. I know there are those who pine for the “good old days,” which may not have been all that good. However, I think that, in the case of the quality of our leadership, the 1950s may well have been pretty good. Stevenson was known for his intellect and public service. Despite Stevenson generally considered his intellectual superior, recent scholarship suggests Eisenhower was a near-great president of considerable forethought and wisdom. Back in the Fifties, Americans were offered a choice of two men of considerable accomplishment, shared values, love of country, and a commitment to public service. Neither was bombastic or insulting. Neither brought shame or scandal. Both spoke of ideals Americans hold dear.
Here are some of their words, which ring true today:
“To remember the loneliness, the fear and the insecurity of men who once had to walk alone in huge factories, beside huge machines -- to realize that labor unions have meant new dignity and pride to millions of our countrymen -- human companionship on the job, and music in the home -- to be able to see what larger pay checks mean, not to a man as an employee, but as a husband and as a father -- to know these things is to understand what American labor means.”
-- Adlai Stevenson, Speech, Sept. 22, 1952
“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron.”
--Dwight D. Eisenhower
“A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”
--Dwight D. Eisenhower
“We talk a great deal about patriotism. What do we mean by patriotism in the context of our times? I venture to suggest that what we mean is a sense of national responsibility which will enable America to remain master of her power — to walk with it in serenity and wisdom, with self-respect and the respect of all mankind; a patriotism that puts country ahead of self; a patriotism which is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime…it is often easier to fight for principles than to live up to them.
--Adlai Stevenson, Speech to the American Legion convention, New York City (27 August 1952
“If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power.”
--Dwight D. Eisenhower
CORRECTION AND CLARITY
Thank you Jerry Coben for your careful proofreading of Monday’s “Letter to My Republican Friends.” Here is the corrected version (which delights me to reprint!):
“And then along came the American people in the most recent election. The public took notice of the lack of bravery evidenced by the party leadership and the right-wing media. This election repudiated Mr. Trump (he, of the famous, “you’re going to be so tired of winning”). Mr. Trump brought defeat to his party in 2018, 2020 (when he lost the presidency), and now this year (so much for all the winning…). Symbolic of this widespread defeat of extremism and election denial is that Brad Raffensperger, the Republican Secretary of State in Georgia, the man who couldn’t “find” over 11,000 votes for Trump, was victorious. And all the candidates for Secretary of State across the country who ran on election denial were defeated (other than one in Indiana). The American people told us that:
· They were willing to ticket-split and make decisions
· They weren’t going to elect election deniers
· By making Biden the issue and, therefore, Trump the issue, the Republicans forced the people to make a choice. They made their pick
· The Supreme Court was on the ballot. The overreach in limiting personal liberty on a platform of religious zealotry, and the disingenuous reading of “originalism” to serve a political agenda, was repudiated.”
Proof again that I need an editor… I’m wondering if there are any former Skadden Arps managing partners interested in a part-time, under-paying position!
Have a great day,
Glenn
From the archives:
Thank you for reminding us of what great men look like. This was inspirational!