Stevenson legacy comes full circle
The late owner of "The Farm," a 70-acre rural retreat that stretches to the Des Plaines River from St. Mary's Road, would nod approvingly about how everything has turned out.
"Your days are short here ... and now in the serenity and quiet of this lovely place, touch the depths of truth, feel the hem of heaven," former Illinois governor, presidential candidate, U.N. Ambassador and revered statesman Adlai Stevenson II once said on the campaign trail.
On Aug. 10, two weeks before the Democratic national convention, the Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy will host its inaugural event at the renovated home south of Route 60 near Mettawa.
Billed as a spirited discussion of the then and now of how national candidates are selected, the event closes the circle after years of effort to restore the presence of the world renowned leader, who died in 1965 but still is regarded as an inspirational figure.
"Memories of him bring back a different kind of politics," said his son Adlai Stevenson III, a U.S. Senator from 1970 to 1981.
"For him, democracy was not a means to acquire power. It was an end in itself."
Besides a public introduction, the "Grand Jollification" from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. is a fundraiser for the recently formed not-for-profit Center on Democracy. Call (312) 337-4933 or visit www.stevensoncenterondemocracy.org.
Scheduled speakers and guests include former congressmen and presidential candidates John Anderson and George McGovern; Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar; Rev. Jesse Jackson; 10th District U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk; and Richard Norton Smith, an expert on the American presidency and former executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum.
The goal of the center, which will have an international focus, is to enhance the understanding and practice of democracy.
About $1 billion will be invested in the current presidential race, Stevenson estimated, in a nominating process that has changed dramatically over time.
"My father entered no primaries in 1952. He didn't spend one penny to win the nomination," Stevenson said.
The current nominating process is more open and inclusive but the investment in time and money is tremendous.
"Does it really serve democracy? These are the types of questions we hope to raise," said Alan Teller, executive director.
The nonpartisan center is in its early stage of development, but officials envision symposiums with international experts, lectures and workshops. The goal is to become a place to go for information while influencing opinion and offering practical solutions to make government more accountable.
"We don't want it to just be a think tank," Teller said. "We basically want to get information out there and get people thinking and talking about it."
One planned project involves the media and democracy and how people receive and use information.
Adlai Stevenson II traveled the world but considered The Farm, built in 1938, a refuge where he pondered events of the day.
In 2000, the Lake County Forest Preserve received a $2 million state grant to restore the simply styled modernist home and grounds and began seeking a user. The forest preserve board on Tuesday is expected to approve a license agreement with the center.