The Peace Corps

President John F. Kennedy officially established the Peace Corp on March 1st, 1961, and it was formally authorized by Congress in September of that year with the passage of the Peace Corps Act. It enjoys bipartisan support in Congress, as senators and representatives from both parties have served as Peace Corps Volunteers.

As of 2024, more than 240,000 Americans have worked to fulfill President Kennedy's vision of helping less fortunate countries by sending able-bodied young college graduates where they were needed around the world. The Peace Corps is an independent agency and program of the U.S. government that continues to this day.

The Kennedy Children

John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy had four children, but only two survived beyond birth. Their first daughter Arabella was stillborn in 1956. Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, born November 27, 1957, and John F. Kennedy Jr., born November 25, 1960, both lived in the White House as young children. Patrick Bouvier Kennedy was born prematurely on Cape Cod at Otis Air Force Base on August 7, 1963. He died on August 9th, in Boston.

Caroline is an author, attorney, and diplomat. She has served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan in the Obama administration and U.S. Ambassador to Australia in the Biden administration. Caroline married Edwin Schlossberg at Our Lady of Victory Church on Cape Cod in 1986, and has three children, Rose, Tatiana, and John.

John F. Kennedy, Jr. was born on November 25, 1960, just days after his father was elected president. He was an attorney, journalist, and publisher. A recreational pilot, John Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette and sister-in-law Lauren Bessette were killed in a tragic plane crash just off the island of Martha's Vineyard in July of 1999. On the morning of July 22, their ashes were scattered at sea from a Navy ship off the coast of Martha's Vineyard.