CDCAN REPORT #016-2011: Sargent Shriver dies at 95

CDCAN DISABILITY RIGHTS REPORT

CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
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Note: my email was down for the past few days — apologize for delay in getting back to people and delay in getting reports out. Transferred everything to new computer — so things will be back to semi-normal now. Sort of. — Marty Omoto

SACRAMENTO, CALIF  (CDCAN) [Updated 01/18/2011  02:00 PM   (Pacific Time)]  -  Robert Sargent Shriver, father of former California First Lady Maria Shriver;  brother-in-law of John, Robert and Edward Kennedy; founding director of the Peace Corps and several War On Poverty programs in the 1960’s , died today at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.  Shriver, born November 1915, was 95 years old. Shriver announced in 2003 that he had Alzheimer's disease.

Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and wife Maria Shriver were reportedly both with Shriver at the time of his passing along with other immediate family members.

Shriver survived wife Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who passed away in August 2009 at age 88, just a few weeks before the death of brother-in-law Edward M. Kennedy.  The Shrivers were married in 1953.

Shriver is survived by five children: Robert Sargent Shriver III,  Maria Shriver), Timothy Shriver, Mark Kennedy Shriver, and Anthony Paul Kennedy Shriver.

Shriver Iconic Figure in American Politics and Public Policy

Shriver was an iconic figure in American politics and public policy, especially in his role as founding director of the Peace Corps under brother-in-law President John F. Kennedy, and his work in the Johnson Administration’s War On Poverty programs as founding director of the US Office of Economic Opportunity which included establishing community action agencies, legal services, and head start programs.

He was later appointed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 as US Ambassador to France while brother-in-law Robert F. Kennedy was launching his presidential campaign to oust LBJ.  Shriver continued in that post through the first year and half of the Nixon Administration.

Sargent Shriver on the cover of Time magazine.

Never Won Political Office

Shriver never won political office – though was mentioned as possible candidate for governor in his homestate of Maryland and the list of potential vice presidential nominees in 1964 and 1968.

He was selected by US Sen. George McGovern in August 1972 to replace Missouri Sen. Tom Eagleton as the Democratic vice presidential nominee who was forced to step down after it was disclosed publicly that he had electric shock therapy years before his nomination. 

McGovern/Shriver ended losing to Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew in a landslide defeat, winning only Massachusetts and the District of Columbia.

After brother-in-law Edward Kennedy announced in 1974 that he would not be a candidate for president in 1976, Shriver decided to run himself that year – but failed to win any of the primaries he entered and withdrew early in the race.  The 1976 Democratic presidential nomination ultimately went to a then unknown former Governor from Georgia, Jimmy Carter.

In recognition of his long public service and advocacy for the low income communities, people with developmental disabilities, and his work in establishing the Peace Corps,  President Bill Clinton awarded Shriver in 1994 the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.   Eunice Kennedy Shriver was a recipient in 1984 by President Reagan, and Edward Kennedy was a recipient, before his death, in 2009 by President Obama.  John F. Kennedy was given the award a month after his assassination in December 1964 by President Johnson.

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MANY, MANY THANKS FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT THAT MAKE THESE REPORTS, ALERTS, TOWNHALLS POSSIBLE TO: WESTSIDE REGIONAL CENTER, LANTERMAN REGIONAL CENTER, CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF ADULT DAY HEALTH CENTERS, VENTURA COUNTY AUTISM SOCIETY, RESPITE, INC., LOS ANGELES RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SERVING DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED ADULTS LARC RANCH, FEAT OF SACRAMENTO, EASTER SEALS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, EMMANUEL AND FAMILY, PEOPLE FIRST OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, BOB BENSON, the Pacific Homecare Services, Toward Maximum Independence, Inc (TMI), Friends of Children with Special Needs, Southside Arts Center, San Francisco Bay Area Autism Society of America, Hope Services in San Jose, FEAT of Sacramento (Families for Early Autism Treatment), Sacramento Gray Panthers, Bill Wong, Tri-Counties Regional Center, Life Steps, Parents Helping Parents, Work Training, Foothill Autism Alliance, Arc Contra Costa, Pause4Kids, Training Toward Self Reliance, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR) including CDR chapters, CHANCE Inc, Strategies To Empower People (STEP), Harbor Regional Center, Asian American parents groups, Resources for Independent Living and many other Independent Living Centers, several regional centers, People First chapters, IHSS workers, other self advocacy and family support groups, developmental center families, adoption assistance program families and children, and others across California.

As of January 13, 2012 - some friends donated a new laptop computer which will soon be up and running. Thanks so much - using a lap top with several keys missing or not working makes typing reports very difficult! Many thanks to Anna and Albert Wang.

About the Author

Marty Omoto

Executive Director of California Disability Community Action Network

CDCAN Disability Rights News goes out to over 55,000 people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, traumatic brain & other injuries, veterans with  disabilities and mental health needs, their families, workers, community organizations, including those in Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, African American communities, policy makers and others across California.