March 1, 2003: Headlines: President Kennedy: History: John F. Kennedy Library and Museum: Keeping Kennedy's Promise
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March 1, 2003: Headlines: President Kennedy: History: John F. Kennedy Library and Museum: Keeping Kennedy's Promise
Keeping Kennedy's Promise
"Life in the Peace Corps will not be easy. There will be no salary and allowances will be at a level sufficient only to maintain health and meet basic needs. Men and women will be expected to work and live alongside the nationals of the country in which they are stationed--doing the same work, eating the same food, talking the same language."
"But if the life will not be easy, it will be rich and satisfying. For every young American who participates in the Peace Corps--who works in a foreign land--will know that he or she is sharing in the great common task of bringing to man that decent way of life which is the foundation of freedom and a condition of peace."
Keeping Kennedy's Promise
Keeping Kennedy's Promise
On March 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy issues Executive Order #10924, establishing the Peace Corps as a new agency within the Department of State. The same day, he sends a message to Congress asking for permanent funding for the agency, which will send trained American men and women to foreign nations to assist in development efforts. The Peace Corps captures the imagination of the U.S. public, and during the week after its creation thousands of letters pour into Washington from young Americans hoping to volunteer.
Following is the text of Kennedy's remarks:
I have today signed an Executive Order providing for the establishment of a Peace Corps on a temporary pilot basis. I am also sending to Congress a message proposing authorization of a permanent Peace Corps. This Corps will be a pool of trained American men and women sent overseas by the U.S. Government or through private institutions and organizations to help foreign countries meet their urgent needs for skilled manpower.
It is our hope to have 500 or more people in the field by the end of the year.
The initial reactions to the Peace Corps proposal are convincing proof that we have, in this country, an immense reservoir of such men and women--anxious to sacrifice their energies and time and toil to the cause of world peace and human progress.
In establishing our Peace Corps we intend to make full use of the resources and talents of private institutions and groups. Universities, voluntary agencies, labor unions and industry will be asked to share in this effort--contributing diverse sources of energy and imagination--making it clear that the responsibility for peace is the responsibility of our entire society.
We will only send abroad Americans who are wanted by the host country--who have a real job to do--and who are qualified to do that job. Programs will be developed with care, and after full negotiation, in order to make sure that the Peace Corps is wanted and will contribute to the welfare of other people. Our Peace Corps is not designed as an instrument of diplomacy or propaganda or ideological conflict. It is designed to permit our people to exercise more fully their responsibilities in the great common cause of world development.
Life in the Peace Corps will not be easy. There will be no salary and allowances will be at a level sufficient only to maintain health and meet basic needs. Men and women will be expected to work and live alongside the nationals of the country in which they are stationed--doing the same work, eating the same food, talking the same language.
But if the life will not be easy, it will be rich and satisfying. For every young American who participates in the Peace Corps--who works in a foreign land--will know that he or she is sharing in the great common task of bringing to man that decent way of life which is the foundation of freedom and a condition of peace.
Ask Not
Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the University of Michigan - October 14, 1960
"How many of you who are going to be doctors, are willing to spend your days in Ghana? Technicians or engineers, how many of you are willing to work in the Foreign Service and spend your lives traveling around the world? On your willingness to do that, not merely to serve one year or two years in the service, but on your willingness to contribute part of your life to this country, I think will depend the answer whether a free society can compete. I think it can! And I think Americans are willing to contribute. But the effort must be far greater than we have ever made in the past."
Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the University of Michigan proposing creation of the Peace Corps - October 14, 1960
I want to express my thanks to you, as a graduate of the Michigan of the East, Harvard University.
I come here tonight delighted to have the opportunity to say one or two words about this campaign that is coming into the last three weeks.
I think in many ways it is the most important campaign since 1933, mostly because of the problems which press upon the United States, and the opportunities which will be presented to us in the 1960s. The opportunity must be seized, through the judgment of the President, and the vigor of the executive, and the cooperation of the Congress. Through these I think we can make the greatest possible difference.
How many of you who are going to be doctors, are willing to spend your days in Ghana? Technicians or engineers, how many of you are willing to work in the Foreign Service and spend your lives traveling around the world? On your willingness to do that, not merely to serve one year or two years in the service, but on your willingness to contribute part of your life to this country, I think will depend the answer whether a free society can compete. I think it can! And I think Americans are willing to contribute. But the effort must be far greater than we have ever made in the past.
Therefore, I am delighted to come to Michigan, to this University, because unless we have those resources in this school, unless you comprehend the nature of what is being asked of you this country can't possibly move through the next ten years in a period of relative strength.
So I come here tonight to go to bed! But I also come here tonight to ask you to join in the effort. . . .
This University. . . this is the longest short speech I've ever made. . . therefore , I'll finish it! Let me say in conclusion, this University is not maintained by its alumni, or by the state, merely to help its graduates have an economic advantage in the life struggle. There is certainly a greater purpose, and I'm sure you recognize it. Therefore, I do not apologize for asking for your support in this campaign. I come here tonight asking your support for this country over the next decade.
Thank you.
When this story was posted in February 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps Timothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case. |
| Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject. |
| PC establishes awards for top Volunteers Gaddi H. Vasquez has established the Kennedy Service Awards to honor the hard work and service of two current Peace Corps Volunteers, two returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and two Peace Corps staff members. The award to currently serving volunteers will be based on a demonstration of impact, sustainability, creativity, and catalytic effect. Submit your nominations by December 9. |
| Peace Corps at highest Census in 30 years Congratulations to the Peace Corps for the highest number of volunteers in 30 years with 7,810 volunteers serving in 71 posts across the globe. Of course, the President's proposal to double the Peace Corps to 15,000 volunteers made in his State of the Union Address in 2002 is now a long forgotten dream. With deficits in federal spending stretching far off into the future, any substantive increase in the number of volunteers will have to wait for new approaches to funding and for a new administration. Choose your candidate and start working for him or her now. |
| The Peace Corps Library Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today. If you have a web site, support the "Peace Corps Library" and link to it today. |
| Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong 170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community. |
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Story Source: John F. Kennedy Library and Museum
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; President Kennedy; History
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By PC the big Jip (134.241.126.41) on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 5:18 pm: Edit Post |
Service is one thing.
The real snakes are in headquarters. They have short changed many careers in Peace Corps headquarters by firing people and forcing people to take FECA benefits or nothing, after they truly reported safety incidents and were rebuffed.
How many women have been compensated by FECA correctly who were raped in the Peace Corps Vs the number of women who claim a rape during their service? These questions are not ansewered
How many victims of violence and Volunteers whose lives were threatened by foreign operators or country nationals in a given country have been compensated compensated correctly or are properly serving the third goal of Peace Corps. Its morally wrong and a contradiction among us as RPCV's.
The worst part of service is in headquarters in a given country and in Washington because small minds have huge ego's to feed. They feel better when they have someone to talk about, gossip as a problem, how promiscuous a certain person is, they feel better when they think they can step on a person, say they are better than another. They write rubbish about others to make that is usually not medically related or safety related at all. That is the culture of the 1980's, 1990's and into today at Peace Corps.
Its like killing the ideals and the idealist for gossip and slander.
It is wrong and so are the people who perpetrate the lie who work there and don't demand reform of the place. This includes Kevin Quigley, Senator Dodd, Chris Shays, Tony Hall, Mike Honda, and many other people who say they are for the right thing.
Before Dodd's career is over he will be embrassed by this issue and his staffer Janice o'connel will have a hard time staying in Politics.
Don't think its gone away. This issue will catch the whole inside squad by surprise.
The don't realize what they have done to families who have service members at home without jobs because of discrimination in service through headquarter jibberish, without health care for service related injuries, and in Mediocore jobs because what they witnessed and lived through in service.
Also, what about the outreach for the families two have lost someone in service. There is nothing they have done for these families, really nothing. They just keep adding more money to the budget for more volunteer. What about memorial awards in given countries? There are hundreds of creative ideas Peace Corps has walked away from.
There is service, then there is fighting the snakes who have stung RPCV's at home. Most of those who sting are bureaucrats who didn't serve or didn't a hard service or were sycophants when they served and they continue to be at headquarters. That's why it does not change.