In the early hours of October 14, 1960, then candidate John F. Kennedy was seriously behind his campaign schedule. At approximately 2 a.m., on the campus of the University of Michigan, he reached out to the 10,000 students still waiting to see him. It was there that he outlined the concept of the Peace Corps program.

“How many of you who are going to be doctors, are willing to spend your days in Ghana?” he asked. “Technicians or engineers, how many of you are willing to work in the Foreign Service and spend your life traveling around the world?”

A great effort

“On your willingness to do that, not merely to serve one year or two years in the service, but on your willingness to contribute part of your life to this country, I think will depend on the answer whether a free society can compe

See Full Page