1963.05.06: May 6, 1963: An interview with Sargent Shriver from 1963
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1963.05.06: May 6, 1963: An interview with Sargent Shriver from 1963
An interview with Sargent Shriver from 1963
"No member of the Peace Corps has ever been brought into court for any reason anywhere in the world, Mr. Shriver told this correspondent in an interview."And no country has ever asked us to remove a volunteer for incompetence or improper conduct or for any other reason," he added. There have been failures in the Corps, to be sure - those who did not adjust and had to be brought home. But out of the first 4,000 sent overseas, only 50 have been separated from the Corps for that reason. "That is lower than I thought there would be," Mr. Shriver candidly admits."
An interview with Sargent Shriver from 1963
From the archives: An interview with Sargent Shriver
This interview with Kennedy aide and Peace Corps founder Sargent Shriver, which ran on the front page of the Monitor on May 6, 1963, offers a look at the Corps just two years after its founding, at a time when it had just over 4,000 volunteers. Since then, some 200,000 Americans have served with the Corps, which will turn 50 this year.
By Josephine Ripley, Staff Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor / January 18, 2011
Washington
R. Sargent Shriver Jr., Director of the Peace Corps, attributes its success, in large part, to the fact that it is what he calls "a nuts and bolts operation."
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That is, a foreign aid program that operates "at a common level in human experience - among the people themselves."
The Peace Corps, now two years old, has attained a degree of success surprising to many of its critics and even some of its supporters.
Its director frankly admits he anticipated more problems than have arisen. He is proud of the attainments of the corps and the manner in which members have conducted themselves abroad.
No member of the Peace Corps has ever been brought into court for any reason anywhere in the world, Mr. Shriver told this correspondent in an interview."And no country has ever asked us to remove a volunteer for incompetence or improper conduct or for any other reason," he added.
There have been failures in the Corps, to be sure - those who did not adjust and had to be brought home.
But out of the first 4,000 sent overseas, only 50 have been separated from the Corps for that reason.
"That is lower than I thought there would be," Mr. Shriver candidly admits.
Today 4,126 volunteers are serving in 45 countries, with 877 more in training in this country and Puerto Rico.
Rep. Frances P. Bolton (R) of Ohio who saw the Peace Corps at first as "a terrifying thing . . . because they are going at it too fast," now concedes "they have proved themselves and arc doing a very good work."
Rep. Howard W. Smith (D) of Virginia, chairman of the House Rules Committee, who voted against it in the beginning, now is thoroughly sold on the Corps.He said on the floor of the House last year he felt they had 'done a good job." He liked the idea "of getting these young folks of ours in there to mingle with the common people."
He was among the large majority who voted in 1962 to increase the authorized size of the corps from 6,000 to 12,000. , , ,
Sen. Barry Goldwater (R) of Arizona, rather lukewarm aboutthe project to begin with, now is an avowed supporter and his son is said to be interested in joining the corps.
Some foreign governments, who at first took only a limited number of volunteers on a trial basis have been so pleased with their work they have called again and again for more, Mr. Shriver reports.
Although the "postcard incident" in Nigeria seemed to confirm some fears that the program might do more harm than good, that has been far from the case,More Members 'on Order'
Nigeria had 36 Peace Corps volunteers at that time. Today it has about 150 and wants to double the number, according to the Peace Corps director. These are mainly teachers.
Thailand, he said, took 45 members of the corps on a trial basis. Successive requests have brought the total number in that country up to about 150, with 100 more "on order."
These are teachers, medical technicians, and nurses.
Togo wanted some Peace Corps fishermen to teach its people new and better methods of fishing. Tanganyika asked for surveyors and engineers to help in the building of roads.
The Dominican Republic wants well drillers. Latin-American countries have asked for help in community development and especially farming.
When the Peace Corps responded to a request for some 275 teachers in Ethiopia it doubled the number of secondary teachers with college degrees in that country. The same thing happened in British Honduras when 35 teachers were sent there.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Peace Corps Annual Report: 1963; Shriver; Sargent Shriver (Director 1961 - 1966); Figures; Peace Corps Directors; Maryland
When this story was posted in March 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| How Volunteers Remember Sarge As the Peace Corps' Founding Director Sargent Shriver laid the foundations for the most lasting accomplishment of the Kennedy presidency. Shriver spoke to returned volunteers at the Peace Vigil at Lincoln Memorial in September, 2001 for the Peace Corps 40th. "The challenge I believe is simple - simple to express but difficult to fulfill. That challenge is expressed in these words: PCV's - stay as you are. Be servants of peace. Work at home as you have worked abroad. Humbly, persistently, intelligently. Weep with those who are sorrowful, Care for those who are sick. Serve your wives, serve your husbands, serve your families, serve your neighbors, serve your cities, serve the poor, join others who also serve," said Shriver. "Serve, Serve, Serve. That's the answer, that's the objective, that's the challenge." |
| Support Independent Funding for the Third Goal The Peace Corps has always neglected the third goal, allocating less than 1% of their resources to "bringing the world back home." Senator Dodd addressed this issue in the "Peace Corps for the 21st Century" bill passed by the US Senate and Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter proposed a "Peace Corps Foundation" at no cost to the US government. Both are good approaches but the recent "Comprehensive Assessment Report" didn't address the issue of independent funding for the third goal at all. |
| Memo to Incoming Director Williams PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams |
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Story Source: Christian Science Monitor
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