Peace Corps Turns 55
Published: February 29, 2016
President Kennedy Established the Peace Corps 55 Years Ago on March 1, 1961
President Kennedy established the Peace Corps by Executive Order on March 1, 1961. In September 1961, Congress approved legislation for the Peace Corps, giving it the mandate to promote world peace and friendship through a mission statement that continues today.
Read the Public Law authorizing the Peace Corps as printed in the digitized Statutes at Large at the following links.
75 Stat. 612 - Peace Corps Act - September 22, 1961
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Details
Related Resources:
- Executive Order 10924, OurDocuments.gov.
- About Peace Corps Week, PeaceCorps.gov.
- History of the Peace Corps, PeaceCorps.gov.