Oral history transcript, R. Sargent Shriver, interview 4 (IV), 2/7/1986, by Michael L. Gillette

Title:

Oral history transcript, R. Sargent Shriver, interview 4 (IV), 2/7/1986, by Michael L. Gillette

Number of Pages:

50

Description:

Middle- and upper-class American fear and hostility toward the poor; closing Job Corps centers in 1968 due to budget cuts; formal evaluation of the Office of Economic Opportunity programs; comparison of Bill Haddad and Edgar May as head of the OEO Office of Inspection; Shriver’s desire to be made aware of any problems that occur within his organizations; Shriver wanting to see many more participants in the Job Corps; the importance of moving Job Corps students from their homes to Job Corps centers; examples of educational, social and health-related skills that were taught in Job Corps; placement for Job Corps graduates; how Shriver developed the idea for Head Start; the Head Start advisory committee; how Lady Bird Johnson became involved in supporting Head Start; initial funding for Head Start; Charles Goodell’s support for Head Start; Shriver’s belief in doing his job without bothering the president and his belief that his employees should do their jobs without his interference; the impact of LBJ’s teaching experience in Cotulla, Texas; Head Start Director Dr. Julius Richmond and early Head Start office facilities; why Congress could support programs like Head Start but not Community Action; giving leadership roles to intended program participants; bypassing local government to fund War on Poverty programs federally; Shriver’s reluctance to turn Head Start over from OEO to another government department; the work-study program; how Head Start became a year-round program that involved parents; attacks against the Child Development Group in Mississippi; perceived inequalities in programs intended to help the poor; Shriver’s respect for LBJ and southern politicians.

Contributor:

Shriver, Sargent, 1915-2011

Collection:

LBJ Library Oral Histories

Collection Description:

Go to List of Holdings

Series:

Transcripts of LBJ Library Oral Histories

See Also:

See all online interviews with R. Sargent Shriver

Relation:

Go to Interviewee bio page

Rights:

Possibly copyright restricted: see deed at end of transcript for details