Evening star., 1952-08-12
BY the Associofed Press

CHICAGO. Aug. 12.-Stephen
Arnold Mitchell, the new Demo-
cratic National Chairman, says
he's an amateur in politics.
His friends say that's a techni-
cality. Mr.. Mitchell. a 49-year-
old Chicago lawyer, has been
around behind the scenes.
He is one Of four men who
wrote the opening chapter of the
political success story of Gov. Adlai
Stevenson. the Democratic presi-
Dental nominee. That was in 1947.
Mr.. Mitchell and his fellow
townsmen Herman Dunlap Smith
and Louis Kohn sold Mr.. Steven
son and Jacob M. Arvey on the
idea that Mr.. Stevenson was can
didate material.
Decision Made by Mr.. Arvey.
Mr.. Mitchell envisioned Mr..
Stevenson as United States Sen
ator. But Mr.. Arvey decided he
should be Governor of Illinois.
1t was in Mr.. Stevenson's guber-
material campaign that Mr.. Mitch
ell did his only public politicking.
He made speeches for his candi-
date.
Unofficially. Mr.. Mitchell has
been one of the Illinois Govern
or's best trusted confidantes and
advisers.
Mr.. Stevenson, who appointed
Mr.. Mitchell party leader last Fri
day, has known him for 13 years
They met casually while both were
in private law practice in Chicago
before World War II. Both held
State Department jobs for q time
during the war. They've kept in
close touch since.
Born i'm Iowa.
Mr.. Mitchell was born at Rock
Valley, Iowa, March 3, 1908. His
father. also Stephen Mitchell, was
a banker-farmer, but not wealthy
A shortage Of funds made it neces-
sary for young Steve to work his
way through Creighton University
by Sandwiching working years on
his fathers dairy farm between
his years of campus activity.
At Georgetown University where
he took his law degree in 1928, Mr.
Mitchell worked part time in the
credit department of General Mo-
tors Acceptance Corp. He stayed
with that company four years aft
er he graduated. Then he went
into Chicago practice.
During the war he served as
chief of the French division, Lend
Lease Administration. and as a
State Department expert on
French affairs.
Three Sons Are Students.
His wife is the former Evelyn
Josephine Miller Of Waterloo. Iowa
They have three boys. Stephen
Arnold III. now a pre-medical stu
dent at Cornell University: Mi
chael william, who enters Cornell
in September. and John Anthony
16, a junior at Loyola Academy,
Chicago.
The family attends our Lady Of
Mount Carmel Roman Catholic
Church in Chicago.
The Mitchells live in rented
apartment on Chicago's North
Side. They have maintained a
small furnished apartment in
Washington since March. this
year, when he was appointed
counsel of the House Judiciary
subcommittee investigating the
Justice Department.
Near Taos. N. Mex, they have
an abode house on a 4-acre plot.
This is Mr.. Mitchell's hobby.
which he terms a long-term con-
struction project. He works on
additions during vacations. The
Mitchells keep three horses at
Taos, but he points out that horses
aren't a luxury in New Mexico.
Wary About Talking.
Mr.. Mitchell, who prefers single
breasted suits and narrow. colorful
bow ties, is a cagy conversation
|alist. The day after his appoint
|ment he told reporters. II usually
say what ! think. but things are
different now"
That was after he was asked II