Spectator's Notebook
THE news of the death of Adlai Stevenson was stunning. Yet, as so often, there seem to !lave been presentiments. Meeting him in 4-ondott this week, one found him putting out hints about his coming retirement. By the General Assembly in September he would have been at the United Nations for five years. Most countries, he pointed out, kept their representa- tives there for only four. He was as engaging and as honest as ever: even when this led to apparent contradictions, he just admitted it. About him still clung that charismatic quality Which made hint such an immensely attractive focus of liberal opinion when he opposed Eisen- hower for the Presidency. Stevenson's first cam-
In 1952 was a witty and sparkling and civilised affair. It sounded many notes which Were to echo in the later Kennedy campaign. His lecond fight with Ike was somehow less spirited. rerhaps by then he knew that he could never oeat the great live-star father-figure.
b His manner, and his appearance, tended to ell • e his ability to withstand hard punishment !n Public life. He remarked subsequently that his Interview on Panorama on Monday was one of 1,,he srnootheit rides he had ever been given. ne did not try to duck questions. Clearly, til?e Vietnam war was causing him deep concern. pile Policy he supported was one of drawing a 'Inc in Asia, as it had had to be drawn in Europe. He did not know where this line would be and he Iv. as clearly worried as to what would happen if the Vietcong offered to negotiate on a line un- accePtable to the United States: Probably the Americans would fight on. He seemed to think !hat this was right, but he had no liking for it. !"le still talked optimistically of workable guaran- tees and an international peace force. But he rtecognised how far away these things are. I think ne was looking forward to retiring.
Previous page
