PEACE CORPS IN THE 21 ST CENTURY: A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS

11million by 2003. The Peace Corps, Clinton noted, “is a remarkable tradition thatemphasizes that our country is about more than power and wealth. It is also about thepower of our values and the power of a helping hand, the ethic of service, and theunderstanding that we have an obligation not only to our own people, to people aroundthe world to help them make the most of their own lives.” 30At the end of the 20 th century, the Peace Corps moved into its own building inWashington, D.C. This move was a visible sign of its importance as a fully-supported,fully-functioning governmental organization. During his two terms as president, Clintonappointed three Peace Corps directors, two of whom were RPCVs, fulfilling one ofSargent Shriver’s dreams. Shriver hoped that “in the not too distant future, every officein the Peace Corps will be occupied by a returned Volunteer.” 31The 45 years of Peace Corps have seen many changes. According to the ForeignOperations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2006, thePeace Corps received only $322 million, which is “well below the requested $345 millionrequested by President Bush.” 32Clinton’s idea of a $365 million budget has yet to bemet. Today’s recruitment of 7,700 volunteers fails to meet the 10,000 volunteer mark.President George W. Bush pledged, in his 2002 State of the Union address in the wake ofSeptember 11 th that he wanted to increase the volunteer numbers to 14,000. 33Even withthe continued rhetorical support of many presidents since Kennedy, the Peace Corps hasnot been given the monetary support needed to reach its expansion goals. In the post-September 11 th moment, the organization remained under-supported and underrecognizedby the American government, people, and media. Today the organizationstands in the shadow of the 1960s Peace Corps. Not only has it suffered from political