ABSTRACT
R. Sargent Shriver was foremost an energy source. He radiated a sense of purpose that infused all who were drawn into his embryonic universe of peace and brotherhood. Shriver enjoyed the invigorating presence of strong-willed personalities among his associates. He believed from the outset that the Peace Corps would require the finest staff available and set out to recruit men and women who, though relatively young, had established themselves in their fields as exceptionally bright and innovative. Establishing the Peace Corps, recruiting talented staff, and the logistics of training volunteers and landing them in jobs were tangible tasks requiring sound organization, a dash of imagination, and, of course, a lot of midnight oil. The election of 1968 abruptly ended Vaughn's love affair with the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps suffered in many ways during the eight-year Blatchford-Balzano administration, but no more clearly than in the lack of leadership provided in the field.
