Adlai Stevenson was an American politician who served as the 31st Governor of Illinois from 1949 to 1953 and was the Democratic Party's nominee for President of the United States in 1952 and 1956. He was known for his wit and eloquence, and was a major figure in the Democratic Party during the 1950s. He was also a delegate to the United Nations and served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 1961 to 1965.