Taking a Look at the Peace Corps

Even before John Fitzgerald Kennedy began his presidency in 1961, he viewed foreign policy as one of the most important aspects of our lives. In one speech he said, “Foreign policy today, irrespective of what we might wish, in its impact on our daily lives, overshadows everything else. Expenditures, taxation, domestic prosperity, the extent of social sciences — all hinge on the basic issue of war or peace” (JFK Library). As the first president born in the 20th century, the youngest president to be elected to office, and the youngest president to die in office, John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s time in office was brief, but full of difficult challenges in foreign affairs. I feel that he

Kennedy’s main executives orders were to get the peace corps in the department of the state. The second main executive order was the equal employment opportunity.

“The founding of the Peace Corps is one of President John F. Kennedy’s most enduring legacies.” (Founding). As soon as President Kennedy became the President, he vowed to help Americans be “active citizens.” One of his first moves in office was to create the Peace Corps. The way he came up with this idea of the Peace Corps was when he spoke to students at the University of Michigan during a campaign speech and challenged them to live and work in other countries to dedicate “themselves to the cause of peace and development.” (Peace). The main purpose for this was so “Americans can volunteer to work anywhere in the world where assistance is needed.” (John F. Kennedy, the 35th). This answers President Kennedy’s call to “ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” (Founding).

One of the most influential presidents in United States history, John F. Kennedy was a brilliant politician and public speaker. In his inaugural address, he sparked hope around the world by discussing the hardships faced by all of society in the present time and then leaving them with a message of freedom, power, and hope. This measure of impact is not achieved easily; Kennedy masterfully utilized the art of rhetoric to emphasize his message and win the hearts of his people. In the middle of the speech, he discusses the dangers of the modern world and his drive toward international peace and cooperation. These messages are stressed through his use of charismatic language to signify his vision of a new and better world.

     John F. Kennedy may me most memorable for with eloquent speeches. He was a good spokesperson, proving himself right off the bat with his inaugural address in 1961. These speeches instilled support and confidence in the hearts of those who listened. One can see how these feelings might come about in this quote by the President in 1963. "What kind of peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not a peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope to build a better life for their children-not merely peace for Americans, but peace for all men and women: not merely peace in our time, but peace for all time."

Lyndon Johnson was convinced that liberal nationalism and the power of the federal government could transform society. His faith grew out of his youthful experiences with poverty in Texas, his political apprenticeship during the New Deal, and his desire to surpass Roosevelt 's legacy. When he took office in November 1963, after John F. Kennedy 's death, Johnson inherited the early initiatives to address poverty that the Kennedy administration had under consideration. With characteristic enthusiasm and expansiveness, Johnson declared a war on poverty in 1964 and pushed legislation through Congress to establish the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO).In this speech, the purpose Lyndon B. Johnson outlines his vision and goals for "The Great

The Great Depression, pulled the American economy to its all-time low. The government mitigated the depression with several methods. When the stock market collapsed, people started losing their jobs and then their homes to the banks. People were desperately searching for jobs even if it’s terrible, until the government formed the CCC. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was formed to provide hope and dignity to young American citizens and their future generations.

It showed how America was handling the Cold War in a civil and inoffensive way. “The Americans ,of whatever age would be sought along to not only defend the country should be given an opportunity.” The Soviet Union communism expansion threatened the country, but American reactions were justified because they were appropriate and not impulsive. The Soviet propaganda pitted against the US was brash and audacious. Propaganda affected many people from other nations around the world and took a say in the general opinion of America. The Peace Corps representing America was the best possible and justifiable reaction of the US because it portrayed the country as passive and non-aggressive. The purpose of the Peace Corps was to spread the ways of democratic government and the nonviolent ways of the US. As well as, “This can only be countered by skill and dedication of Americans who are willing to spend their lives serving the cause of freedom.” The reputation of America was not well, and needed to be better represented at that time. The Peace Corps Organization was completely justifiable because it showed how the US was a not a dominating world superpower, contrary to the Soviet

President John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural address speech, claims that America will unify and assert peace, in and out of the country with the help of citizens who fight for liberty and protect their country. Kennedy supports his claims by applying rhetorical devices to create a good sense of optimism and community. The author’s purpose is to encourage his listeners to stand up and help others so that America can become a better, stronger nation.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a program that employed millions of young, unmarried men on environmental projects during the Great Depression from 1933-1942. The CCC was one of FDR’s most popular and most successful New Deal programs. It employed 300,000 men that helped plant over three billion trees, constructed nature trails in more than 800 parks around the United States, and shaped the national parks we enjoy today (History.com). The CCC’s impact can be noticed everyday all around the nation.

Martin Luther King Jr. sought to improve the jobs and living conditions of the poor (Bausum, 42). King saw the “Poor Peoples Campaign” as a fight for human rights (Bausum, 42). King launched the “Poor People’s Campaign” for economic equality on December 4, 1967 (Lakeside). This program was an effort to gather as many black and white poor people in Washington in demand of a response from America. King had very little support from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference staff to aid the “Poor People’s Campaign”(Bausum, 42). The campaign was difficult, considering the government’s frail participation to help end poverty. King realized the diverse population would cause another problem to continue the “Poor Peoples Campaign”. Martin Luther King Jr. felt the United States was responsible for the poor because of the decision to start the Vietnam War (Bausum, 45). King’s view on the Vietnam War clashed disagreements with government officials. The FBI and Herbert Hoover overstepped the bounds of law and launched POCAM in attempt to abolish

Rather than turn to violence, Kennedy started a program of peace and aid that allowed for Americans to add to the world. On a political standpoint, these trips created strong diplomatic bonds for America in a global war of philosophies. To this day, many consider the Peace Corps one of the Kennedy administration’s greatest legacies. By involving young adults in volunteerism of the less fortunate, the Peace Corps was able to accomplish many of its goals, most pointedly removing American stereotypes and killing the Soviet Union’s communism with

Following the end of World War II, several members of the United States Congress proposed bills to establish several volunteer organizations in developing countries. In December 1961, John F. Kennedy suggested a group that “young college graduates would find a full life in bringing technical advice and assistance to the underprivileged and the backward Middle East” (Targeted News Service). The organization being named the Peace Corps, is still up and running and working hard to help thousands of people in need. They took people out to poverty, changed American’s minds, and accepted diversity. Reasons that go beyond my wildest dreams, are why people should continue to support the Peace Corp.

Introduced by John F. Kennedy in 1961, the Peace Corps is an association dedicated to placing volunteers into developing nations. These volunteer educators, health workers, engineers, and farming workers help to improve the skills and quality of life for the native folks while living among them. The main goal of the Peace Corps is to encourage world peace and to increase common understanding between Americans and the people of other nations. The Peace Corp was, and still is a successful organization that

The within the leadership of Kennedy he was able to create an environment that opened more communication. Kennedy led in a way that all task to be covered under his administration were done that no one felt that he was a dictator. An example of this act is John F. Kennedy asked the congress to create the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps is a program created that was established by the Executive Order in 1961 and was authorized by the U.S. Congress. This is a volunteer program ran by the government with the mission of providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand the culture while helping American understand the culture of other countries. Kennedy also founded another program the New Frontier this program promised federal funding for education, economic aid to rural regions, medical assistant and care for the elderly and the intervention to bring a stop to the recession. Reagan policies known as “Reaganomics” were aimed at controlling inflation and spurring the economic growth this was to be done through tax cuts and the reduction in government spending.