Press copy of Remarks of the President to Group of 600 Peace Corps Trainees on the South Lawn of the White House, 9 August 1962

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUGUST 9, 1962 OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY THE WHITE HOUSE REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT TO GROUP OF 600 PEACE CORPS TRAINEES ON THE SOUTH LAWN OF THE WHITE HOUSE MR. WIGGINS: Peace Corps Trainees, my name is Warren Wiggins. I am Sargent Shriver's Associate Director for Program Development and Operations and Acting Director. In his absence, it is my pleasure, as Acting Director of the Peace Corps, to say just a brief word of welcome to you and to extend Sargent's own personal disappointment in not being here with you today to share this particular occasion. As you may have heard or know, Sarg is presently enroute to the Far East to visit the trainees of the foreign -- to visit the volunteers of the four Far Eastem countries, so it is just physicially impossible for him to be here today. We expect the President very shortly. I believe most of the volunteers are here, so there is nothing to do but just wait a couple of minutes until the President arrives. PRESIDENT KENNEDY: Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, we are very glad to welcome you here to the White House. This occasion gives me a particular sense of satis- faction to welcome 600 Americans from all parts of the country who have committed themselves to a great adventure, I think, for our country and more than our country, for really all people. I think that by the end of this year we will have more than 5,000 Peace Corpsmen, men and women of all ages, serving abroad in all parts of the world, in countries about which most Americans knew little ten years ago, countries which we did not even know existed 20 years ago. This is an extraordinary action by this country and I know that you are proud to take part in it. I must say that it gives me the greatest satisfaction that it is taking place at this time. I have been through the list of the various areas to which you are going -- Georgetown University, 307 secondary school teachers for Ethiopia. Perhaps those of you going to Ethiopia could hold up your hands. We have two medical doctors for Ethiopia who were included in that group. There are 11 teachers, nurses, auto mechanics, going to Afganistan. They have gone to Afganistan. From George Washington University, 76 secondary and college teachers, agricultural extension workers, for Nepal. Would they raise their hands? Very good. University of Maryland, 48 secondary school teachers and agricultural workers for Turkey, and 36 teachers at all levels for British Honduras. You got them sort of down at that end.