Sargent Shriver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sargent Shriver
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Shriver in 1961
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| United States Ambassador to France | |
| In office May 25, 1968 – March 25, 1970 |
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| President | Lyndon B. Johnson Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Charles E. Bohlen |
| Succeeded by | Arthur K. Watson |
| Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity | |
| In office October 16, 1964 – March 23, 1968 |
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| President | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Bertrand Harding |
| 1st Director of the Peace Corps | |
| In office March 22, 1961 – February 28, 1966 |
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| President | John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Jack Vaughn |
| 49th President of the Chicago Board of Education | |
| In office October 26, 1955 – October 10, 1960 |
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| Preceded by | William B. Traynor |
| Succeeded by | Thomas L. Marshall |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Sargent Shriver Jr.
November 9, 1915 Westminster, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | January 18, 2011 (aged 95) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children |
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| Relatives | Kennedy family |
| Education | Yale University (BA, LLB) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant Commander |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Purple Heart American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal |
Robert Sargent Shriver Jr. (born November 9, 1915 – died January 18, 2011) was an important American diplomat, politician, and activist. He was married to Eunice Kennedy Shriver, making him part of the famous Kennedy family.
Sargent Shriver was a key person in creating the Peace Corps, a program where Americans volunteer to help people in other countries. He also started many other important programs like Job Corps, Head Start, and VISTA. These programs were part of the 1960s "War on Poverty" in the United States, which aimed to help people escape poverty.
In 1972, he was chosen as the Democratic Party's candidate for vice president in the 1972 United States presidential election.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Sargent Shriver Jr. was born in Westminster, Maryland. He had one older brother. Sargent Shriver went to Canterbury School in Connecticut on a scholarship. There, he became friends with John F. Kennedy, who would later become president.
He was active in sports, edited the school newspaper, and joined clubs. After high school, he spent a summer in Germany as part of a program called The Experiment in International Living. In the fall of 1934, he started at Yale University, and later attended Yale Law School.
Military Service
Before the United States joined World War II, Shriver was part of a group called the America First Committee. This group wanted to keep the U.S. out of the war in Europe. However, Shriver decided to volunteer for the United States Navy even before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He believed it was his duty to serve his country.
He spent five years in the Navy, mostly in the South Pacific. He served on the USS South Dakota battleship and reached the rank of lieutenant commander. He received a Purple Heart medal for injuries he got during a battle near Guadalcanal.
Family Life
After leaving the Navy, Sargent Shriver worked as an editor for Newsweek magazine. He met Eunice Kennedy at a party in New York. Soon after, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., Eunice's father, asked Shriver to help with his business. Shriver later managed the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, which was part of the Kennedy family's business.
Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy got married on May 23, 1953, in New York City. Eunice was the third daughter of Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Kennedy.
They had five children:
- Robert Sargent "Bobby" Shriver III (born 1954)
- Maria Owings Shriver (born 1955)
- Timothy Perry Shriver (born 1959)
- Mark Kennedy Shriver (born 1964)
- Anthony Paul Kennedy Shriver (born 1965)
The Shrivers were married for 56 years and often worked together on projects. Sargent Shriver was a very religious person and attended Mass every day.
Public Service and Political Career
Early Public Roles
In May 1954, Sargent Shriver was appointed to the Chicago Board of Education by the mayor of Chicago. A year later, in October 1955, he was elected president of the Board. He served in this role for five years. At 39, he was one of the youngest people to hold that position. At the time, Chicago Public Schools was the second-largest school system in the U.S.
Shriver also worked as a director for the Catholic Interracial Council. This group worked to end desegregation in Chicago schools.
Working with Presidents Kennedy and Johnson
When his brother-in-law, John F. Kennedy, ran for president, Shriver helped with his campaign. After Kennedy won, Shriver founded and became the first director of the Peace Corps. This program sends American volunteers to help people in developing countries. He led the Peace Corps from 1961 to 1966.
Shriver also played a role in the Civil Rights Movement. He encouraged Kennedy to call Coretta Scott King when her husband, Martin Luther King, was in jail. This phone call helped gain support for Kennedy from African Americans.
After President Kennedy was assassinated, Shriver continued to serve under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Johnson asked Shriver to lead the Office of Economic Opportunity. In this role, Shriver became known as the "architect" of Johnson's "War on Poverty." He helped create many important social programs, including:
- Head Start: A program that provides early education for low-income children.
- VISTA: A program like the Peace Corps, but for volunteering within the U.S.
- Job Corps: Helps young people get job training and education.
- Upward Bound: Helps students from low-income families prepare for college.
- Foster Grandparents: Connects seniors with children who need support.
- Legal Services: Provides legal help to those who can't afford it.
Shriver was also very active in the Special Olympics, which his wife Eunice founded in 1968. This organization provides sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
In 1967, Shriver received the Pacem in Terris Award. This award is named after a letter from Pope John XXIII that calls for peace among all nations.
From 1968 to 1970, Shriver served as the U.S. Ambassador to France. He was well-liked by the French people.
Vice Presidential Candidate
In 1972, George McGovern was the Democratic candidate for president. His first choice for vice president had to step down. Sargent Shriver was then chosen to replace him as the vice presidential candidate. However, the McGovern-Shriver ticket lost the election to Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew.
Shriver also briefly tried to run for president in 1976, but he stopped his campaign early.
Life After Politics
After leaving politics, Sargent Shriver worked as a lawyer, specializing in international law. He became a partner at a law firm in Washington, D.C.
In 1984, he was elected president of Special Olympics and helped expand the sports programs around the world. In 1990, he became the chairman of the Special Olympics board. He was also a part-owner of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team for a few years.
Illness and Death
In 2003, Sargent Shriver was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. His daughter, Maria, wrote a children's book called What's Happening to Grandpa? to help kids understand Alzheimer's.
Sargent Shriver's wife, Eunice, passed away in August 2009. He died on January 18, 2011, at the age of 95, in Bethesda, Maryland. His family said he was "a man of giant love, energy, enthusiasm, and commitment." President Barack Obama called him "one of the brightest lights of the greatest generation." Shriver is buried next to his wife in Massachusetts.
Legacy and Honors
Sargent Shriver received many awards for his public service.
- In 1968, he received the Laetare Medal, a top award for American Catholics.
- In 1993, he received the Franklin D. Roosevelt Freedom From Want Award.
- On August 8, 1994, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest honor a civilian can receive in the United States.
Several places and programs are named in his honor:
- The Shriver Center at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County focuses on civic engagement.
- The "Shriver Job Corps Center" in Massachusetts.
- The Shriver Center, which gives an award for equal justice each year.
- Sargent Shriver Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland.
- The Kennedy Shriver Aquatic Center in Bethesda, Maryland, named after him and his wife.
A documentary film about his life, called American Idealist: The Story of Sargent Shriver, aired on PBS in 2008.
Images for kids
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Sargent Shriver's signature
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Eunice and Sargent Shriver in 1999
See also
- List of United States political appointments across party lines
- Kennedy family tree
