Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver

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Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver Page 89

by Scott Stossel


  16 “Working with the Peace Corps”: Ibid.

  17 “it’s a very legitimate question”: Bradley Patterson oral history, JFK Library.

  18 “He can be indifferent”: Liston, Sargent Shriver, 159.

  19 “hardly anyone on his staff dislikes him”: Ibid., 164–65.

  20 “The thing about the Peace Corps”: Frank Mankiewicz, interview April 5, 2002.

  21 “I used to wake up in the middle of the night”: Sargent Shriver, “Five Years with the Peace Corps,” Peace Corps Reader, 1967, 20.

  22 Shriver didn’t have to wait long: Ashabranner, A Moment in History, 82.

  23 “Dear Bobbo”: Time, October 27, 1961.

  24 “No one likes to be called primitive”: Wofford, Of Kennedys and Kings, 276.

  25 Within a few hours: Ashabranner, A Moment in History, 82.

  26 “immature young Americans”: Ibid., 82.

  27 “the Peace Corps idea”: Ibid., 86.

  28 “postcard evidence”: San Francisco Chronicle, October 20, 1961.

  29 “The Peace Corps could be thrown out”: Redmon, Come as You Are, 120.

  30 “It was like a vaccination”: Ibid., 128.

  31 “In the long run”: Wofford, Of Kennedys and Kings, 276.

  32 Prime Minister Balewa issued a warm welcome: Meet the Press, December 24, 1961.

  33 “No amount of praise”: Wofford, Of Kennedys and Kings, 278.

  34 “to get the Time magazine story”: Rice, The Bold Experiment, 110.

  35 Haddad in turn hired Charlie Peters: Peters, Tilting at Windmills, 116.

  36 “The advantage of the evaluation process”: Ibid., 117.

  37 “It got to the point”: Redmon, Come as You Are, 205.

  38 Shriver began enthusiastically recruiting: Ibid., 200; Peters, Tilting at Windmills, 139.

  39 “you have a duty to raise hell”: Rice, The Bold Experiment, 110.

  40 In Pakistan, the entire overseas administrative staff: Charles Peters oral history, JFK Library.

  41 carried on a long correspondence: Harris Wofford letters to Sargent Shriver, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  42 The Peace Corps representative in Liberia: Tom Quimby oral history, JFK Library; Charles Peters oral history, JFK Library.

  43 “I doubt that any federal agency”: Ashabranner, A Moment in History, 149.

  Chapter 19: Timberlawn

  1 When Shriver had first visited the house: Sargent Shriver, interview August 30, 1997.

  2 “One time it was eleven o’clock”: Edgar May, interview February 21, 2002.

  3 most weekends would find Shriver: Timothy Shriver, interview April 5, 2002.

  4 “I have seen sights”: Parade Magazine, February 2, 1964.

  5 “Behind all Eunice’s efforts”: Leamer, The Kennedy Women, 577.

  6 “Of all the academics”: Shorter, The Kennedy Family, 73.

  7 “Eunice, needling her brother”: Ibid., 83.

  8 “Let’s give Eunice”: Ibid., 84.

  9 Her persistence paid off: Ibid., 82.

  10 “We as a nation”: New York Times, October 12, 1961.

  11 “the prime mover”: Shorter, The Kennedy Family, 89.

  12 “I see I don’t have to draw any pictures”: Leonard Mayo, oral history, JFK Library. 263 “it was the Shrivers who retained the oversight”: Shorter, The Kennedy Family, 90. 263 “it is actually quite breathtaking”: Ibid., 101.

  13 She would give orders: Eunice Kennedy Shriver oral history, JFK Library.

  14 “Has my sister been giving you trouble again”: Leamer, The Kennedy Women, 531.

  15 But she knew from her experience: Eunice Kennedy Shriver speech, March 5, 1966, Kennedy Foundation Archives.

  16 “It was really pitiful”: Shorter, The Kennedy Family, 113.

  17 “When I’d come home from the office”: Ibid., 114.

  18 camp counselors had raided his liquor cabinet: Sargent Shriver, interview August 10, 1997; Bobby Shriver, interview May 30, 2003.

  19 “as if it were the most normal thing”: Sargent Shriver, interview August 10, 1997.

  20 “We had no idea of what it would be like”: Shorter, The Kennedy Family, 115.

  21 “Aren’t you afraid”: Ibid.

  22 In 1963 the Kennedy Foundation supported eleven: Ibid., 118.

  23 “It was chaos”: Bobby Shriver, interview May 30, 2003.

  24 “There were at least a hundred people”: Maria Shriver, interview July 9, 2003.

  Chapter 20: Bigger, Better, Faster

  1 He gave a hint of the scale of his ambition: “Meeting with the Director on the FY 1964 Budget and the Budget Projections for the Next Five Years,” May 8, 1962, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  2 When he spoke: Sargent Shriver memo to President Kennedy, April 10, 1962, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  3 “wild and uncontrolled growth”: Ashabranner, A Moment in History, 113.

  4 “There is no doubt that”: Ibid., 68–69.

  5 Shriver’s May 8 meeting: “Meeting with the Director on the FY 1964 Budget and the Budget Projections for the Next Five Years” May 8, 1962, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  6 “the collection of espionage information”: New York Times, March 16, 1961.

  7 “Death to the Yankees”: Warren Wiggins memo to President Kennedy, November 6, 1962, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  8 “an old employee of the CIA”: Rice, The Bold Experiment, 132.

  9 rife with CIA operatives: Parmet, The Presidency of John F. Kennedy, 213.

  10 “the Treaty”: Josephson oral history, JFK Library.

  11 “We do not want the Peace Corps”: William Josephson memo to Sargent Shriver, September 6, 1961, Records of Government Agencies, Peace Corps, JFK Library.

  12 “I’m getting rather suspicious”: “Kennedy and Shriver on Peace Corps,” April 2, 1963, Presidential Recordings, JFK Library.

  13 “All available evidence”: Rice, The Bold Experiment, 135.

  14 “It is important that the Peace Corps”: Harris Wofford, “The Peace Corps, Marjorie Michelmore, and the Integration of the World,” convocation speech, Los Angeles State College, n.d. [1961 or 1962], Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  15 “culture-to-culture diplomacy”: Hoffman, All You Need Is Love, 91.

  16 “the friend of the colored man”: Rice, The Bold Experiment, 89.

  17 “a love-feast”: Sargent Shriver memo to President Kennedy, March 6, 1962, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  18 “Shriver, I’m getting suspicious”: Sargent Shriver memo to President Kennedy, March 27, 1962, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  19 “You are setting a wonderful example”: Hubert Humphrey to Sargent Shriver, March 27, 1962, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  20 “Dear Mr. Shriver”: Georgia Delano to Sargent Shriver, n.d. [April 1962], Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  21 In June he traveled to Puerto Rico: Warren Wiggins memo to President Kennedy, June 17, 1962, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  22 “Should it come to it”: Hoffman, All You Need Is Love, 142.

  23 “It is better to live humbly”: Ibid., 145.

  24 “We are not sorry he went”: Ibid., 146.

  Chapter 21: Psychiatrists and Astrologers

  1 Joseph English was wrapping up: Joe English, interview October 5, 2000.

  2 Peace Corps psychiatrists: Directors’ staff meeting minutes, June 5 and 12, 1962, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  3 “I have to have someone to punt to”: Joe English, interview October 5, 2000.

  4 When Shriver returned to Manila: Warren Wiggins memo to President Kennedy, September 4, 1962, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  5 The first group of volunteers: Fuchs, “Those Peculiar Americans,” 132.

  6 He spoke with particular admiration: Director’s staff meeting minutes, September 13, 1962, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  7 the reality of the Philippine barrio: Fuchs, “Those Peculiar Americans,” 66.

  8 “It seemed we were being lionized”: Ibid., 129.
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br />   9 “tense, frightening weeks”: Ibid., 113.

  10 “the purposes and successes of the Peace Corps”: Director’s staff meeting minutes, September 13, 1962, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  11 English joined a search party: Peace Corps Memories: Headshrinkers, Astrologers, & Shriver, n.d., 1972 campaign material.

  12 Thus President Kennedy and the State Department: Schlesinger, A Thousand Days, 532–36.

  13 a personal invitation from Sukarno: Director’s staff meeting minutes, September 13, 1962, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  14 “The embassy types were aghast”: Peace Corps Memories: Headshrinkers, Astrologers, & Shriver, n.d., 1972 campaign material.

  15 “As we walked”: Ibid.

  16 “Why me”: Joe English, interview October 5, 2000.

  17 As English conversed with the presidential astrologers: Ibid.

  Chapter 22: Growing Pains

  1 “ought to be fired for lunatic stupidity”: Redmon, Come as You Are, 205.

  2 “the PDO people really hated me”: Ibid.

  3 “You are an inch away from being fired”: Ibid., 206.

  4 “In my shock and panic”: Ibid., 158.

  5 “Hi! I’m Sarge Shriver”: Ibid., 160.

  6 Fortunately, an aide to Arthur Richards: Ibid., 162.

  7 “What is the line of succession at the Peace Corps, anyway?”: Ibid., 163.

  8 “Tell Peters his reports are right”: Peters, Tilting at Windmills, 124.

  9 a “manic drive”: Ashabranner, A Moment in History, 149.

  10 “Our country and our times”: “Two Years of the Peace Corps,” Foreign Affairs, Spring 1963.

  11 Shriver codified this in a policy: William Josephson, interview August 5, 2000; Rice, The Bold Experiment, 112–13.

  12 “administration by rookies”: Bill Haddad, quoted in Rice, The Bold Experiment, 114.

  13 “This transient turnover”: Wall Street Journal, November 9, 1965.

  14 “Sarge is also concerned to”: Rice, The Bold Experiment, 114–15.

  15 “We’re almost at the point”: Redmon, Come as You Are, 227.

  16 the first week of October 1963: Sargent Shriver memo to President Kennedy, October 1, 1963, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  17 an “enthusiastic crusade”: Washington Post, November 10, 1963.

  18 “Sarge is really on the ball”: Rice, The Bold Experiment, 136–37.

  19 “How are Sarge’s kids doing?”: Ibid., 137–38.

  20 “I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself”: Liston, Sargent Shriver, 177.

  21 Shriver “scared” the bureaucrats: Redmon, Come as You Are, 35.

  22 “favorite child”: Rice, The Bold Experiment, 137.

  23 Shriver flew into the city on Wednesday: Redmon, Come as You Are, 246.

  24 Time had put Shriver on its cover: Time, July 5, 1963.

  25 “Of all the agencies of the federal government”: New York Times, March 6, 1963.

  Chapter 23: Tragedy

  1 “I’m sorry to tell you this way”: Mary Ann Orlando, interview September 26, 2001.

  2 “Something’s happened to Jack”: Sargent Shriver, interview August 16, 1997; Manchester, The Death of a President, 143, 208.

  3 “nothing can overcome Eunice”: Sargent Shriver, interview March 21, 1999.

  4 “It doesn’t look good”: Joe English, interview October 5, 2000.; Manchester, The Death of a President, 247–48.

  5 “Now listen, Eunice”: Joe English, interview October 12, 2000.

  6 the Shrivers sent Timmy home: Mary Ann Orlando, interview September 26, 2001.

  7 “We didn’t want Americans in the field”: Sargent Shriver, interview March 21, 1999.

  8 In his urgency to get there: Joe English, interview October 12, 2000.

  9 “Right medicine, Doc”: Ibid.

  10 Before leaving for Cape Cod: Manchester, The Death of a President, 255–56.

  11 “I’ll get Jackie back to the White House,”: Sargent Shriver, interview March 21, 1999; Joe English, interview October 12, 2000.

  12 Jackie had several reasons for entrusting matters to him: Sargent Shriver, interviews August 16, 1997; March 21, 1999.

  13 “I’ll use Ralph’s office”: True, April 1964.

  14 “Dungan brooded behind his desk”: Manchester, The Death of a President, 380.

  15 Everyone seemed in a daze: Ibid.; Bishop, The Day Kennedy Was Shot, 359.

  16 Shriver then turned his attention: Manchester, The Death of a President, 381.

  17 Shriver believed that as a navy veteran: Sargent Shriver, interview March 21, 1999.

  18 Jack’s children Caroline and John: When John F. Kennedy Jr. died, thirty-six years later, his ashes were scattered over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Cape Cod.

  19 The next issue Shriver had to worry about: Manchester, The Death of a President, 384.

  20 “as distinguished a tribute as possible”: True, April 1964.

  21 “While my husband is there”: Liston, Sargent Shriver, 186.

  22 Shriver and Walton agreed: Liston, Sargent Shriver, 187.

  23 “the two most impressive men”: Manchester, The Death of a President, 420.

  24 The family will not permit a nonreligious funeral”: Ibid., 422. 305 “Let’s take the low road”: Miami Herald, November 20, 1988.

  25 Telephone calls flowed into the White House: Bishop, The Day Kennedy Was Shot, 419.

  26 “We forgot to invite Truman”: Ibid., 474.

  27 “we are not trying to return political favors”: Ibid., 497–98.

  28 “The embalmers”: Joe English, interview October 12, 2000.

  29 As the hour of the dead president’s arrival: Miami Herald, November 20, 1988.

  30 everyone deferred instinctively: Manchester, The Death of a President, 437; Liston, Sargent Shriver, 188. 307 “I’ll get mine”: Sargent Shriver, interviews August 16, 1997; March 22, 2000.

  31 “Perfect,” he declared: Manchester, The Death of a President, 438.

  32 Shriver walked out to the north portico: Joe English, interview October 12, 2000.

  33 He summoned all the military officers present: Manchester, The Death of a President, 438.

  34 “a scene of indescribable drama”: Ibid.

  35 “This scene”: True, April 1964.

  36 Shriver looked around: Manchester, The Death of a President, 439.

  37 “The ambulance doors opened at the back”: Sargent Shriver, interview March 22, 2000; Joe English, interview October 12, 2000.

  38 Seven soldiers: Manchester, The Death of a President, 442.

  39 Climbing the stairs: Sargent Shriver, interview March 22, 2000.

  40 “a lot of flak”: Manchester, The Death of a President, 471.

  41 “I found it was a buzz saw”: Chicago Daily News, March 28, 1968.

  42 “I am here if I can be of any help”: Manchester, The Death of a President, 317.

  43 regretted leaving the Peace Corps: Bill Moyers, interview January 30, 1998.

  44 “Well, Sarge, it’s a terrible thing”: Sargent Shriver, interviews March 22, 2000; August 16, 1997. Manchester, The Death of a President, 478.

  45 “I’ll tell Bobby”: Manchester, The Death of a President, 479.

  46 “I’d been in the navy”: Ibid.

  47 He’s hacking at you: Ibid., 479–82.

  48 “Except for occasional brief absences”: Ibid., 486.

  49 Jacqueline Kennedy had requested: Joe English, interview October 12, 2000.

  50 Moyers had asked to be informed: Sue English, interview October 12, 2000.

  51 “Somebody just shot Oswald”: Manchester, The Death of a President, 525.

  52 “a muster of New Frontiersmen”: Ibid., 535.

  53 On Sunday afternoon Rose Kennedy: Ibid., 558.

  54 Shriver and Sorensen had a common goal: Ibid., 558–59, 601.

  55 a torrent of praise for the Peace Corps: Joe English, interview October 12, 2000.

  56 “That’s just ridic
ulous”: Manchester, The Death of a President, 575.

  57 “I wasn’t there to be seen”: Liston, Sargent Shriver, 189.

  Part 4: The War on Poverty (1964–1968)

  Chapter 24: Shriver for Vice President

  1 “I just don’t see any cloud”: Special small staff meeting minutes, November 26, 1963, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  2 “I know these days”: “Letter from the President,” Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  3 Shriver refused: Washington Daily News, December 19, 1963.

  4 “For a while there”: New York Herald Tribune, December 15, 1963.

  5 After a brief recruiting trip: Sargent Shriver memo to President Johnson, December 17, 1963, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  6 “I need you”: President Johnson to Sargent Shriver, December 2, 1963, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  7 the complaints Bobby Kennedy had made: Lemann, The Promised Land, 146.

  8 “I hear you’re going to Israel”: Sargent Shriver, interview December 28, 1997; Liston, Sargent Shriver, 204.

  9 So it was that on January 3, 1964: Warren Wiggins to President Johnson, January 7, 1964; Peace Corps staff meeting minutes, February 10, 1964, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  10 “almost miraculous”: Sargent Shriver, interview December 28, 1997; Washington Post, January 6, 1964.

  11 For 1,400 years: See, for instance, Küng, The Catholic Church: A Short History; McManners, The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity.

  12 “an event of ecumenical significance such as the world had not witnessed in a thousand years”: Sargent Shriver, interview December 28, 1997. This meeting launched a reconciliation. Two years later, on December 7, 1965, the two churches would finally revoke their mutual excommunications, formally ending nine centuries of schism.

  13 Shriver and company arrived in Israel: Catholic Living, March 1, 1964.

  14 At about 10:00 p.m.: Ibid.

  15 “How many crucifixes”: Sargent Shriver, interview December 28, 1997; Epistle, Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, May 1964, Shriver Papers, JFK Library.

  16 “I regard Sargent Shriver”: Liston, Sargent Shriver, 3–5.

  17 “a grand politician”: New York Times, March 15, 1964.

 

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