Sargent Shriver orchestrated the development of the Peace Corps, establishing a legacy as the primary architect of American anti-poverty initiatives during the 1960s. His professional trajectory spanned military service, legal practice, and high-level diplomacy, eventually leading to a nomination for the vice presidency of the United States in 1972 on the Democratic ticket.
Education and Early Career
Born in 1915 in Westminster, Maryland, Shriver attended the Browning School and the Canterbury School before enrolling at Yale University. He graduated in 1934 and earned a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School. Early in his professional life, he worked in Washington, D.C., and served as an assistant editor for Newsweek. His legal career eventually included partnerships at prestigious firms such as Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Military Service
Despite initial reservations regarding United States involvement in World War II, Shriver volunteered for the United States Navy prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served as a lieutenant during the conflict, primarily in the South Pacific theater. He participated in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, where he sustained injuries that earned him a Purple Heart.
Political and Diplomatic Roles
Shriver became a central figure in the administration of John F. Kennedy, tasked with the founding of the Peace Corps. Following Kennedy's assassination, he continued his public service under President Lyndon B. Johnson. As director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, he launched programs including the Job Corps, Head Start, VISTA, and Upward Bound. He later served as the United States Ambassador to France from 1968 to 1970. In 1972, he replaced Thomas Eagleton as the vice-presidential nominee alongside George McGovern.
Philanthropy and Personal Life
A devout Catholic, Shriver engaged in extensive public service outside of government, including a tenure as president of the Special Olympics. His marriage to Eunice Kennedy, established in 1953, connected him deeply to the Kennedy family. Beyond his political duties, he was a part-owner of the Baltimore Orioles. Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2003, he died in 2011 in Bethesda, Maryland, and was interred at Saint Francis Xavier Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1915, Westminster
- Died: 2011, Bethesda
- Education: Yale University (1934), Yale Law School
- Military Rank: Lieutenant
- Notable Award: Presidential Medal of Freedom (1994)
- Political Position: United States Ambassador to France
- Burial Site: Saint Francis Xavier Cemetery
- Religion: Catholicism
Questions readers ask
What military decoration did Shriver receive during World War II?
He was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds sustained during the bombardment of Guadalcanal.
Which major anti-poverty programs did Shriver help establish?
As the architect of the 1960s War on Poverty, he founded the Peace Corps, Job Corps, Head Start, VISTA, and Upward Bound.
Achievements
- Presidential Medal of Freedom — 1994
- Educated at Canterbury School, Browning School and Yale University
- Worked as military officer, lawyer and diplomat
