255 



philosophy, strategy and tactics; (b) while making the Corps a semi- 

 autonomous agency, insisted that it be subject to general policy direc- 

 tion and supervision of the Secretary of State. 



Language training 



The only substantive facet of the proposal which was challenged 

 at any length in the Congress related to language training. Senator 

 Carl Curtis of Nebraska, citing examples of ineffective foreign service 

 due to a lack of adequate language training, proposed the Peace Corps 

 l)e required to give each volunteer a speaking knowledge of the par- 

 ticular language of his place of assignment, and where such language 

 was written, an ability to read and write it.*^- The Peace Corps felt the 

 amendment to be unduly '"restrictive" and objected to it. Spokesmen 

 said that although they agreed with the objectives of the amendment, 

 u* * * j|. ^yQi^ifi impose an impossible burden and unbearable cost on 

 the Peace Corps." *^^ Moreover, it would unduly lengthen the training 

 program, and would be astronomical in cost. Their alternative was 

 to focus on a program of training "* * * so that each Peace Corps 

 volunteer [would] be able to engage in simple conversation in the 

 primary language of the country of assignment.'' '^'^ They would not 

 require fluency in speaking and writing. The Peace Corps reservations 

 were noted and agreed to, and the Curtis amendment was replaced 

 with a requirement of "reasonable proficiency'' in language. 



Enactment of the Peace Corps legislation 



Opposition to the final passage of the legislation came from those 

 Members unwilling to create another foreign aid agency, or who 

 objected to the size of the proposed organization, or who preferred 

 to wait until the interim Peace Corps, operating under Executive 

 Order, had completed a full year of operation under funding from the 

 President's foreign aid contingency fund. Although the bulk of objec- 

 tions were offered by Republican Members, the final vote for i^assage 

 was substantially bipartisan.*'^ 



VI. Assessment of Consequexces 



As of 1968, the Peace Corps had been in existence for 7 years. Con- 

 gressional support remained substantial with appropriations rising 

 from $30 million in fiscal year 1962 to $107,500,000 in fiscal year 1968. 

 From its inception until 1967, 28,000 volunteers had served overseas. 



The Peace Corps itself has endeavored to improve its organization 

 and overseas operations. For example, in October 1965, the Congress 

 amended the Peace Corps Act at the request of Sargent Shriver so 

 that no staff' members above the grade of GS-9 would be permitted 

 to remain employed in the organization longer than 5 years. The in- 

 tention of this amendment was to avoid ''bureaucratic arteriosclerosis," 

 and to encourage the employment in Washington headquarters of 



«- Congressional Record (Aug. 25, 1961), p. 15941. 



M U.S. Peace Corps, Differences between S. 2000 (S) and H.R. 7500 (H) as passed by 

 Senate and House. Sept. 18, 1961. Attachment : "Peace Corps Language Training," non- 

 published, p. 2. 



e^bid., p. 1. 



«5 The Peace Corps bill was passed in the House on Sept. 14, 19i61, 288 yeas to 97 nays. 

 (Democrats. 206 yeas to 29 nays: Republicans. 82 yeas to 68 nays.) The key roUeall vote 

 on the bill In the Senate was on the Hickenlooper amendment, proposing to reduce the 

 fiscal year 1962 appropriation authorization from $40 million to .^25 million. It was 

 rejected by a vote of 32 yeas to 54 nays. (Democrats, 8 yeas to 51 nays; Republicans, 24 

 yeas to 8 nays.) 



