New York Times March 2, 1961: KENNEDY SETS UP U.S. PEACE CORPS TO WORK ABROAD
I think that Peace Corps recruited minority Volunteers. I served in 1963 and we were an all female group of…
KENNEDY SETS UP U.S. PEACE CORPS TO WORK ABROAD
Creates Pilot Plan and Asks Congress to Establish a Permanent Operation RECRUITS TO GET NO PAY President Aims to Have 500 on Job by the End of ’61 — Training Will Be Pushed Kennedy Sets Up Peace Corpse Of Volunteers to Work Abroad
WASHINGTON, March 1 — President Kennedy issued an executive order today creating a Peace Corps. It will enlist American men and women for voluntary, unpaid service in the developing countries of the world.
CONTINUE READING:
AR6801-A 22 September 1961
Signing of the Peace Corps. Bill
Please Credit Abbie Rowe. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.
I call attention to the transcript of a phone call between JFK and Shriver on April 2, 1963 in which Shriver raises concerns about intelligence infiltration of the Peace Corps. Kennedy is adamant that should not happen, “ I don’t want anybody there.” He adds, “Christ, they’re (presumably folks posing as PCVs) not gonna find out that much intelligence.”
Obviously, JFK got it right. Later in the call he advocated for RPCVs to join the Foreign Service.
See page 256 in Listening In by Ted Wilmer.
WALKING DREAMS…Smiling feet
Keep a smile on every foot walking your need
–blurring of focus, burring of your edge
Not what is there here: what is not here there
Aging of elbows and bagging of the knees
Let it go memory of omnivorous figits
And walk in the ways each needs to go
Keep a smile on every foot walking those needs
Dancing forward accumulating ephemera
So call me princess, call me wooden head
Keep a smile on every foot walking those dreams
(C) Copyright Edward Mycue for Richard Steger 3 III 23 Thursday 7.55am
Interesting to note that in the 1961 White House signing ceremony there were in attendance 15 white men, one white woman and zero people of any minority/color whatsoever
With one or two exceptions the make up of Kennedy’s cabinet and White House staff was equally Caucasian Fortunately that has much changed these past sixty years, at least in Decratic administrations
I think that Peace Corps recruited minority Volunteers. I served in 1963 and we were an all female group of 38. Among our members were two Hispanics, one Puerto Rican, one Asian American and an African American, and an emrolled American Indian. I felt privileged to serve with them. They were the best educated of all of us.