The Peace Corps

The Peace Corps was first proposed by Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy on October 14, 1960 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. On March 1, 1961, the plan was signed off by JFK. By July, locations had been found (Ghana, Tanzania, Colombia, the Philippines, Chile, and St. Lucia). On September 22, Congress approved the legislation and authorization of the Peace Corps. By 1963, the Peace Corps had extended to 44 countries. In 1966, the Peace Corps had over 15,000 field workers.