Adlai Stevenson Recordings
If not for his off the cuff exchange during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, we might not be alive today to enjoy this collection. Adlai Stevenson (1900–1965) was a man whose family business was politics, yet despite running for president three times and twice being his party’s nominee, he never reached the White House. This remarkable audio archive of 50 recordings spanning over 15 hours captures the voice and legacy of a statesman who helped navigate the Cold War’s most dangerous moment. From his early career in FDR’s New Deal to his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under John F. Kennedy, Stevenson’s intellectual wit and moral clarity shine through in speeches, debates, and historic interviews.
Collection Highlights
- Hear Stevenson’s famous October 25, 1962 exchange at the United Nations during the Cuban Missile Crisis, where he confronted Soviet Ambassador Valerian Zorin and declared he would wait “until hell freezes over” for an answer about Soviet missiles in Cuba.
- Includes both of his Democratic National Convention acceptance speeches from 1952 and 1956, along with his concession speeches after losing to Dwight D. Eisenhower—moments that defined a generation of American politics.
- Features rare recordings with John F. Kennedy from 1956, including “Faith in the Future” and “Peace is Nonpartisan,” plus Stevenson’s moving eulogy for JFK at the United Nations following the 1963 assassination.
- Contains 1950s campaign material such as “The Man from Libertyville” series (six parts), his 1956 primary debate with Estes Kefauver, and later reflections from the 1980s and 2011—offering a full-circle view of Stevenson’s enduring influence.
Track Listing
Show all 100 tracks (15 hours, 50 min)
- 19500000 TIB Adlai Stevenson
- 19520726 Acceptance Speech DNC
- 19520726 Acceptance Speech
- 19520812 Meeting Harry Truman John Sparkman
- 19520827 Am Legion convention MSG
- 19520901 Labor Day Speech In Detroit (Incomplete)
- 19520927 Campaign Rally Louisville KY Gov Wetherby Ky
- 19521010 the Stevenson Story
- 19521028 Campaign Speech in Chicago
- 19521028 Talks to the Women of America
- 19521103 the Stevenson Bandwagon
- 19521104 CBS Election Returns A.Stevenson Concedes
- 19521104 Concession Speech
- 19560000 Farming PA Primary
- 19560000 Human Problems PA Primary
- 19560000 the Man from Libertyville 1
- 19560000 the Man from Libertyville 2
- 19560000 the Man from Libertyville 3
- 19560000 the Man from Libertyville 4
- 19560000 the Man from Libertyville 5
- 19560000 the Man from Libertyville 6
- 19560521 vs Estes Kefauver FL Democratic Primary Debate
- 19560528 Background FL Primary
- 19560814 Interview at the DNC
- 19560815 Acceptance Speech DNC
- 19560901 with John F. Kennedy Faith in the Future
- 19560901 with John F. Kennedy Peace is Nonpartisan
- 19600424 Meet the Press Interview
- 19600711 Announces Intention to Run for President
- 19600731 Endorses John F. Kennedy for President
- 19610917 Meet the Press Interview
- 19611016 Latin American Issues
- 19620114 Americas Democratic Legacy Award
- 19621025 Cuban Missile Crisis
- 19631122 Kennedy Assassination
- 19631126 Eulogizes JFK at the UN
- 19631126 the Death of John F. Kennedy
- 19631202 Reaffirm Kennedy US USSR Space Flight Proposal
- 19640000 Introduction the Kennedy Wit
- 19650000 From the Archives Vol II
- 19650000 From the Archives Vol III
- 19650512 Phone Call with Lyndon Johnson
- 19650714 LBJ Statement on Death of Adlai Stevenson
- 19889530214 the Future of the Democratic Party
- 19889540306 the Bitter Harvest
- 19889560925 the Imperative of Education
- 19889600715 DNC Speech
- 19889601019 Foreign Policy
- 19889640827 DNC Speech
- 20111104 the Contenders
- 19500000 TIB Adlai Stevenson
- 19520726 Acceptance Speech DNC
- 19520726 Acceptance Speech
- 19520812 Meeting Harry Truman John Sparkman
- 19520827 Am Legion convention MSG
- 19520901 Labor Day Speech In Detroit (Incomplete)
- 19520927 Campaign Rally Louisville KY Gov Wetherby Ky
- 19521010 the Stevenson Story
- 19521028 Campaign Speech in Chicago
- 19521028 Talks to the Women of America
- 19521103 the Stevenson Bandwagon
- 19521104 CBS Election Returns A.Stevenson Concedes
- 19521104 Concession Speech
- 19560000 Farming PA Primary
- 19560000 Human Problems PA Primary
- 19560000 the Man from Libertyville 1
- 19560000 the Man from Libertyville 2
- 19560000 the Man from Libertyville 3
- 19560000 the Man from Libertyville 4
- 19560000 the Man from Libertyville 5
- 19560000 the Man from Libertyville 6
- 19560521 vs Estes Kefauver FL Democratic Primary Debate
- 19560528 Background FL Primary
- 19560814 Interview at the DNC
- 19560815 Acceptance Speech DNC
- 19560901 with John F. Kennedy Faith in the Future
- 19560901 with John F. Kennedy Peace is Nonpartisan
- 19600424 Meet the Press Interview
- 19600711 Announces Intention to Run for President
- 19600731 Endorses John F. Kennedy for President
- 19610917 Meet the Press Interview
- 19611016 Latin American Issues
- 19620114 Americas Democratic Legacy Award
- 19621025 Cuban Missile Crisis
- 19631122 Kennedy Assassination
- 19631126 Eulogizes JFK at the UN
- 19631126 the Death of John F. Kennedy
- 19631202 Reaffirm Kennedy US USSR Space Flight Proposal
- 19640000 Introduction the Kennedy Wit
- 19650000 From the Archives Vol II
- 19650000 From the Archives Vol III
- 19650512 Phone Call with Lyndon Johnson
- 19650714 LBJ Statement on Death of Adlai Stevenson
- 19889530214 the Future of the Democratic Party
- 19889540306 the Bitter Harvest
- 19889560925 the Imperative of Education
- 19889600715 DNC Speech
- 19889601019 Foreign Policy
- 19889640827 DNC Speech
- 20111104 the Contenders
