Statement of Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr., Director of the Peace Corps, in Chicago, Illinois
5/17/1961
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The Peace Corps was established under President John F. Kennedy's administration. JFK's brother-in-law, R. Sargent Shriver, served as the first director of the Peace Corps from 1961 to 1966.
This statement describes Shriver’s trip to eight countries to speak with heads of state and the men and women on the street about the possibility of Peace Corps volunteers coming to live and work there. He saw the Peace Corps as a means to demonstrate democracy as an alternative to communism, a chance for young people to learn as much as to teach, and a challenge for America to wage war on "ancient problems" in peacetime.
This statement describes Shriver’s trip to eight countries to speak with heads of state and the men and women on the street about the possibility of Peace Corps volunteers coming to live and work there. He saw the Peace Corps as a means to demonstrate democracy as an alternative to communism, a chance for young people to learn as much as to teach, and a challenge for America to wage war on "ancient problems" in peacetime.
This primary source comes from the Collection JFK-4: Papers of John F. Kennedy: Presidential Papers: National Security Files.
National Archives Identifier: 193353
Full Citation: Statement of Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr., Director of the Peace Corps, in Chicago, Illinois; 5/17/1961; National Security Files: Department and Agencies: Peace Corps; National Security Files: Departments and Agencies, 1/20/1961 - 11/22/1963; Collection JFK-4: Papers of John F. Kennedy: Presidential Papers: National Security Files; John F. Kennedy Library, Boston, MA. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/shriver-peace-corps, April 27, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.