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Adlai Stevenson Trivia Quiz

A short quiz on the former governor of Illinois and two-time Democratic nominee for president of the United States, Adlai Stevenson.

A multiple-choice quiz by AdmiralShark. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
AdmiralShark

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
193,905

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
339

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Where was Stevenson born? Hint

Chicago, IL

Milwaukee, WI

Bloomington, IL

Los Angeles, CA

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Question 2 of 15

2. One of Stevenson's relatives served as vice-president of the United States. What relation was this former vice-president to Stevenson? Hint

uncle

father

grandfather

great grandfather

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Question 3 of 15

3. From what university did Stevenson get his law degree? Hint

Princeton

Northwestern

Illinois

Harvard

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Question 4 of 15

4. What branch of the military did Stevenson serve in during World War II? Hint

Marines

Army

none

Navy

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Question 5 of 15

5. Who did Stevenson defeat to become governor of Illinois? Hint

Lennington Small

William Stratton

Dwight Green

Louis Emerson

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Question 6 of 15

6. Where was the 1952 Democratic National Convention held, that eventually nominated Stevenson for the presidency? Hint

Kansas City

Los Angeles

Chicago

Atlantic City

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Question 7 of 15

7. On what ballot did Stevenson win the 1952 Democratic nomination for president? Hint

3rd

1st

5th

10th

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Question 8 of 15

8. Who was Stevenson's running mate in the 1952 general election against the Republican nominees Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon? Hint

Estes Kefauver

Richard Russell

Averill Harriman

John Sparkman

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Question 9 of 15

9. In the 1952 general election, how many states did Stevenson win that were not part of the old Confederate States of America? Hint

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Question 10 of 15

10. Who was Stevenson's running mate when he ran for a second time as the Democratic nominee for president in 1956? Hint

Estes Kefauver

Orville Freeman

John Kennedy

Richard Russell

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Question 11 of 15

11. What was the only state that Stevenson won in the 1956 general election that he did not win in 1952? Hint

Oklahoma

Delaware

Missouri

Washington

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Question 12 of 15

12. Upon his election to the presidency in 1960, to what post did John F. Kennedy appoint Stevenson? Hint

Ambassador to the United Nations

Chairman of the Democratic Party

Secretary of State

Ambassador to Great Britain

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Question 13 of 15

13. Adlai Stevenson died before John Kennedy.

True

False

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Question 14 of 15

14. Where was Stevenson when he died? Hint

New York City

London

Chicago

Paris

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Question 15 of 15

15. Where is Stevenson buried? Hint

Bloomington, IL

Chicago, IL

Arlington National Cemetery

Springfield, IL

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Where was Stevenson born?

Answer: Los Angeles, CA

Stevenson was born in Los Angeles on January 5, 1900. His family moved shortly after to Bloomington, Illinois where he was raised.

2. One of Stevenson's relatives served as vice-president of the United States. What relation was this former vice-president to Stevenson?

Answer: grandfather

Stevenson's paternal grandfather, Adlai Stevenson I (1835-1914) served as vice-president during Grover Cleveland's second term as United States president, from 1893-1897. He was also the Democratic nominee for vice-president with William Jennings Bryan in 1900, losing to the ticket of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.

3. From what university did Stevenson get his law degree?

Answer: Northwestern

While Stevenson achieved his BA degree from Princeton in 1922, he got his law degree from Northwestern University in 1926.

4. What branch of the military did Stevenson serve in during World War II?

Answer: none

Stevenson did not serve in the military during World War II. He did serve as the assistant to Navy Secretary Frank Knox from 1941 to 1944.

5. Who did Stevenson defeat to become governor of Illinois?

Answer: Dwight Green

Stevenson defeated Green in a landslide to win the Illinois governorship in 1948. Green was seeking his third term as governor.
Stevenson would serve one term as governor of Illinois, from 1949 to 1953. The other gentlemen listed were also Republican governors of Illinois (Stratton 1953-61, Emerson 1929-33 and Small 1921-29).

6. Where was the 1952 Democratic National Convention held, that eventually nominated Stevenson for the presidency?

Answer: Chicago

In fact, as governor of Illinois, Stevenson spoke to the convention on the first night, welcoming the delegates to Chicago.

7. On what ballot did Stevenson win the 1952 Democratic nomination for president?

Answer: 3rd

On the first ballot, Stevenson trailed Tennessee senator Estes Kefauver 273 to 340, with Georgia senator Richard Russell third with 268 votes and Averill Harriman of New York fourth with 123 1/2 votes. To win the nomination, 616 votes were required. Harriman threw his support after the second ballot to Stevenson, and Stevenson was able to garner 617 1/2 votes on the third ballot, to win the nomination.

8. Who was Stevenson's running mate in the 1952 general election against the Republican nominees Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon?

Answer: John Sparkman

Sparkman served as United States senator from Alabama from 1946 to 1979.

9. In the 1952 general election, how many states did Stevenson win that were not part of the old Confederate States of America?

Answer: 2

Outside of the old Confederacy, Stevenson only won the states of West Virginia and Kentucky for a total of 89 votes, compared to Eisenhower's 442 votes in the electorial college.

10. Who was Stevenson's running mate when he ran for a second time as the Democratic nominee for president in 1956?

Answer: Estes Kefauver

Stevenson did not make his choice for a running mate known to the convention, instead letting the delegates to the convention make the pick. The leading candidates for the nomination ended up being Kefauver and Kennedy. Kennedy lead the balloting early, coming within 39 votes of winning but Kefauver rallied, defeating Kennedy 755 1/2 to 589 for the nomination.

11. What was the only state that Stevenson won in the 1956 general election that he did not win in 1952?

Answer: Missouri

Stevenson fared worse against Eisenhower in 1956 than he did in 1952. Stevenson won only seven states in 1956, losing to Eisenhower in the electoral college 73-457. Stevenson lost Kentucky, West Virginia and Louisiana to Eisenhower in 1956.

12. Upon his election to the presidency in 1960, to what post did John F. Kennedy appoint Stevenson?

Answer: Ambassador to the United Nations

Stevenson felt he should be named Secretary of State in the Kennedy administration, given his senior status in the party. However, Kennedy selected Dean Rusk instead and chose Stevenson to be the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

13. Adlai Stevenson died before John Kennedy.

Answer: False

Stevenson died on July 14, 1965 while Kennedy died November 22, 1963.

14. Where was Stevenson when he died?

Answer: London

On July 14, 1965, Stevenson was visiting London on a United Nations mission when he suffered a heart attack on the sidewalk outside the U.S. Embassy. Supreme Court justice Arthur Goldberg took Stevenson's place as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

15. Where is Stevenson buried?

Answer: Bloomington, IL

After lying in state in Washington and Springfield, Stevenson was buried in the family plot in Bloomington, Illinois.

Source: Author AdmiralShark

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