It is truly amazing that a series of special events, dedications, and celebrations could take place over this last September weekend in Washington, D.C. and no national press noted the achievement of 50 years of Peace Corps service. The blame for this is the press office at the Peace Corps. Friday was the last day of the two top press people at the agency–not RPCVs–but political hires from the Obama administration who, of course, have no passion for PCVs or RPCVs. They have finally been ‘removed’ from their jobs. My guess is that when they finally got their ‘walking papers’ they began working on their CVs and kissed us all goodbye. So, no push was made by the Office of Peace Corps Communications, thanks a lot, Ladies. Chris Matthews (Swaziland 1968-70) did do a nice piece on the 50th on his program Friday night, and there have been a few other mentions in local press but nothing was generated (as far as I can see) by the agency itself. It was–the 50th–a wonderful recruitment activity, but the Peace Corps failed to see the opportunity and make it happen.
In, Up and Out with 50th Anniversary–and No National Press
Posted by John Coyne on Monday, September 26th 2011
About The 50th
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps. Articles published about the 50th prior to 10/20/10 can be found at John Coyne Babbles under the category “The 50th.”
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It is worth mentioning that the Director, Deputy Director, as well as the Director of the National PC Association participated and I certainly appreciated their presence. Where were the Obamas? Didn’t they campaign as Peace Corps groupies?
Natonal press, there was no mention of the 50th in the local press! The Washington Post was notable for not running anything about the event.
Leo, Actually the Washington Post ran a brief story headlined “Peace Corps Celebrates 50th Year” on p. B-3 of its Mon., Sept. 26th edition. But it was just 8 sentences long and was carried in the “Local Digest” of the page called “The Region.”
Thus, given the page’s title and, coming under “Local Digest,” the brief story seems in no way considered as national news.
Moreover, the Sept. 25th results of the “Lotteries” are also displayed on the very same page, and those results take up more newsprint space than the Post’s Peace Corps story. Sic transit gloria mundi . . . –Tino
I told everyone at home (Savannah Georgia) to watch for us on Sunday. I was sure that the Flag March for Peace would be on national news. Nothing. Not one TV camera or reporter. Thanks, John Coyne, for explaining why. But couldn’t NPCA have generated something? Or PeaceCorpsWorldwide? Friends of Afghanistan produced a press release for all its members to use and distribute in their hometowns.
I saw the “Local Digest” two-inch piece in Monday’s Washington Post and was furious.
On the Sunday March, the Somali RPCVs carried banners calling attention to the famine and dire situation in southern Somalia and the refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya. We hoped national press coverage would provide additional publicity about the grave humanitarian crisis. No such luck. But then again, why should we be surprised. The Washington Post is a shadow of the paper it was with very little real content. Perhaps, we the attendees should have created a site or used the social media to communicate in real time, with photos, with the thousands of RPCVs who were unable to attend. That is a more meaningful audience of people concerned about the world than The Post’s general readership.
I was disappointed in the 50th too. Not in seeing old friends and the country-specific activities, which was lovely, but what appeared to be a lack of interest by the Peace Corps as an institution. Yes, a few Peace Corps biggies showed up here and there, but we had no formal assembly or convocation to hear what these guys had to say and to enjoy all of us seeing each other and being together.
I felt ungrateful for feeling spited by the Peace Corps but then looked at the reports of the first Peace Corps conference in Washington in 1965 and the 25th anniversary in 1986, both of which I attended.
The 1965 conference was held at the State Department, and who spoke? Sargent Shriver, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Chief Justice Earl Warren, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, Harry Belafonte, and more. And the press? Richard Rovere of the New Yorker, Eric Sevareid, two journalists of the Saturday Review, and a Hearst reporter Ruth Montgomery wrote extensive articles for the Conference Report.
5000 RPCVS attended the 25th, which took place in a gigantic tent on the mall. Sargent Shriver and Loret Ruppe, the Director at that time, were there and Corazon Aquino, President of the Philippines gave the keynote address to all of us. Again, the press not only covered the event but participated in the panel discussions.
And now 2011 and the 50th: Where were the press, the government leaders, the labor leaders, the academics? … And, where was the Peace Corps?
My fellow RPCVs please understand the general public in the USA does not know that the Peace Corps is still in business. They believe it was a “historical” event of the 1960s and 70s. See my article, “While the Peace Corps Slept” which can be accessed through any search engine. No surprise that our 50th did not attract media attention.
Leo - It was the Peace Corps’ job to attract attention to the 50th.
The 50th year ain’t over. Write the President to let him know how disappointed you were and suggest a White House lawn ceremony to commemorate it. Let them decide the venue. Write to your Senators and suggest a Senate Commendation to the Peace Corps.
Lorenzo,
I like the idea of not falling over in a swoon at being slighted but doing something. I’ll write the President and my Massachusetts Senators.
Leo,
I think you’re right that the public isn’t as aware of Peace Corps as it used to be, but wouldn’t the 50th anniversary been a nice opportunity to spread the word?
Thanks, Kristina
John,
What a letdown that must have been. All that preparation and participation only to be disappointed by the home team who couldn’t be bothered. Given your blog about J. Larry Brown, and the Peace Corps Office’s paranoia, I have to wonder about the leadership the Peace Corps is currently getting from an Obama administration that one would think would be very favorable to it.
Will