Sargent Shriver

Robert Sargent Shriver Jr., born on November 9, 1915, in Westminster, Maryland, was a prominent American diplomat, politician, and activist. He was a member of the distinguished Shriver family and became connected to the Kennedy family through his marriage to Eunice Kennedy in 1953. Shriver's legacy is marked by his pivotal role in the establishment of the Peace Corps and his leadership in various anti-poverty initiatives during the 1960s.

After graduating from Yale University and Yale Law School in 1941, Shriver initially opposed U.S. involvement in World War II, contributing to the America First Committee. However, he enlisted in the United States Navy before the attack on Pearl Harbor and served in the South Pacific, notably participating in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Following his military service, he worked as an assistant editor for Newsweek, where he met his future wife, Eunice.

In the political arena, Shriver was instrumental in his brother-in-law John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign and played a key role in the formation of the Peace Corps after Kennedy's election. Following the assassination of Kennedy, Shriver served as the director of the Office of Economic Opportunity from October 1964 to March 1968, where he was the architect of several significant programs, including the Job Corps, Head Start, and VISTA.

In 1972, Shriver was selected as the Democratic Party's vice presidential nominee, replacing Thomas Eagleton on the ticket with George McGovern, although they faced a significant defeat in the election against Richard Nixon. He briefly pursued the Democratic presidential nomination in 1976 but withdrew after the initial primaries.

After his political career, Shriver returned to law, becoming a partner at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson. He also served as president of the Special Olympics and had a brief stint as a part-owner of the Baltimore Orioles. Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2003, Shriver passed away in Bethesda, Maryland, on January 18, 2011.