The Peace Corps
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The Peace Corps is one of President John F. Kennedy’s most enduring legacies. Kennedy introduced the idea while campaigning on a chilly night in October 1960 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He challenged his youthful audience to consider serving their country for the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. President Kennedy officially established the Peace Corps by executive order on March 1, 1961. It continues today.
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Wire Photograph, Peace Corps Volunteers at San Francisco International Airport, "Bound for Philippines," 1961
President John F. Kennedy recognized the Peace Corps as an opportunity to spread goodwill and as a positive weapon against the Cold War. Established March 1, 1961, by the end of the year, many Peace Corps volunteers had been trained and placed in overseas assignments. Here, a group leaves for the Philippines to serve as teachers' aides in country villages.
View ArtifactBook, "An International Peace Corps...the Promise and Problems," 1961
President John F. Kennedy recognized the Peace Corps as an opportunity to spread goodwill and as a positive weapon against the Cold War. Established March 1, 1961, during that year the author of this book provided an early assessment of what a program like the Peace Corps could accomplish.
View ArtifactPeace Corps Volunteer Questionnaire, 1964
President John F. Kennedy recognized the Peace Corps as an opportunity to spread goodwill and as a positive weapon against the Cold War. Established March 1, 1961, by 1964 the program received over 45,000 applications--a record not surpassed in following years. People interested in contributing to the Peace Corps that year could apply using this U.S. government questionnaire.
View ArtifactBooklet and Information Request Form, "Peace Corps Facts," 1964
President John F. Kennedy recognized the Peace Corps as an opportunity to spread goodwill and as a positive weapon against the Cold War. Established March 1, 1961, by 1964 the program received over 45,000 applications--a record not surpassed in following years. In this 1964 U.S. government booklet, interested people learned how they could contribute to the Peace Corps.
View ArtifactBook, "Guide to the Peace Corps," 1963
President John F. Kennedy recognized the Peace Corps as an opportunity to spread goodwill and as a positive weapon against the Cold War. Established March 1, 1961, this 1965 paperback book includes a quote from President Lyndon Johnson, who supported continuing the program Kennedy began. Interested people could learn about how they could contribute to the Peace Corps by reading this book.
View ArtifactRecruiting Advertisement for the Peace Corps, "Can You Teach?," 1963
President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961 as an opportunity to spread goodwill and as a positive weapon against the Cold War. In 1963 Life magazine published this Peace Corps recruiting advertisement as a public service in cooperation with The Advertising Council. The ad "Can You Teach?" seen at the lower right, spoke to Americans who identified with Kennedy's "New Frontier" ideals.
View ArtifactAdvertisement Recruiting for the Peace Corps, "Your Starting Pay in the Peace Corps is 11 Cents an Hour," 1965
President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961 as an opportunity to spread goodwill and as a positive weapon against the Cold War. In 1965 Venture magazine published this Peace Corps recruiting advertisement as a public service in cooperation with The Advertising Council. The ad "Your Starting Pay…" spoke to Americans who identified with Kennedy's "New Frontier" ideals.
View ArtifactLook Magazine for June 14, 1966, "JFK's Legacy: The Peace Corps"
Less than three years after President John F. Kennedy's tragic death, Look magazine commissioned Norman Rockwell to portray Kennedy's Peace Corps legacy. Rockwell symbolically depicted Kennedy leading the vanguard of Americans of all ethnicities in service to their country and the world. Kennedy viewed the Peace Corps as an opportunity to spread goodwill and as a positive weapon against the Cold War.
View Artifact
