Specialty CollectionGenre: WOMEN'S ISSUES
Description: Episode #25 OBD: 1964-03-23 TRT: 30 min Description #1: This program is a half-hour interview with Sargent Shriver, director of the Peace Corps, and more recently named by President Johnson to head the proposed Office of Economic Opportunity for the administration’s $962.5 million blueprint to fight poverty package, and who turned the Peace Corps dream in to a fruitful accomplishment, also has been mentioned as a strong contender for the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nomination. While the interview with Mr. Shriver will deal with the poverty proposal – which includes a “Job Corps” of 100,000 men least fit for military service; work training for 200,000 men and women; the “Volunteers of America” group to fight poverty on the local level; a work-study program for college youths; and a community action program – the interview also will probe his views on the problems in getting a new program started with respect to conflicts with Congressional and government bodies; the role of businessmen in government positions; and his political aspirations. Host and Interviewer Douglas Carter, national affairs editor of Reporter Magazine, and author of the recently released book, “Power in Washington.” AT ISSUE A 1964 National Educational Television production Executive producer: Alvin Perlmutter Producer: Leonard Zweig Description #2: Washington, D.C……..Sargent Shriver, director of the Peace Corps and the anti-poverty program, said tonight (Wednesday March 25) that “only the President can answer” whether he will continue to wear both hats in heading the two government jobs. Appearing on National Educational Television network’s weekly program, “At Issue,” Mr. Shriver brushed off again speculation that he might be a vice-presidential contender for the Democratic Party ticket. Mr. Shriver said tonight he would not be available for higher duties. In the half-hour interview with Douglass Cater, national affairs editor of Reporter Magazine, Mr. Shriver discussed the various aspects of President Johnson’s $962.5 million anti-poverty proposal, and refuted reports that bureaucratic infighting delayed getting the poverty message before Congress. “I’d like to scotch that rumor. There really wasn’t much truth to that at all. In fact I’ll say this even on the record, that there was just as much difference of opinion and argument, strenuous argument… when we were trying to start this Peace Corps as there was in this recent effort,” he said. The Peace Corps director stressed that the war on poverty program “does not purport to be a total solution to every program in the United States.” Mr. Shriver added that, positively speaking; the United States “may well be the first huge nation…in the history of mankind that actually has the capacity to eliminate grinding poverty.” In reference to church-state conflicts in federal aid under the poverty program, Mr. Shriver, an active Catholic layman, believes the issue can be avoided “because we’re not giving aid to parochial school education under this bill. Where we give aid to education, the aid will be given through the public school system. Where work is done, let’s say after school in a public school like remedial reading, those classes we think could be open to people of all races and creeds on a non-discriminatory basis.” The possibility that concentration on poverty at home may cause Congress to have less interest in foreign aid prompted Mr. Shriver to observe that “It certainly won’t come about so far as I’m concerned, as long as I’m still responsible for the Peace Corps, as well as the war against poverty.” “At Issue” is being broadcast across the country on the National Educational Television network of 81 affiliated non-commercial stations. Alvin Perlmutter is the executive producer. Leonard Zweig is the producer.
Keywords: women's rights
