Statement by President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton on the Passing of Sargent Shriver

He was part of what brought them together. For our generation, he was part of what brought all of us together and made us want to make a difference. I hope I have done that in my life. I know he did in his. This is a beautiful statement. I knew it would be.

Statement by President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton on the Passing of Sargent Shriver

January 18, 2011 | New York, NY | Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton | Statements

"We are greatly saddened by the passing of Sargent Shriver. He leaves behind an astonishing legacy of people helped, lives transformed, and communities improved. Through his work and his passion, he helped build a better America and a more humane world. And he did it with boundless enthusiasm, infectious joy, and the deepest love for his family, his nation, and his work.

Sarge has been a presence in our lives for decades. We went into public service because of the example of leaders like Sarge, who translated President Kennedy’s call to service into action, leading first the Peace Corps and then the War on Poverty. As young activists, we were inspired by his leadership in the McGovern Campaign in 1972. He launched many of the organizations and efforts that became touchstones of our careers, opening access to legal services, child care and jobs for America’s working families. For the signing of the bill creating AmeriCorps, he offered the pen that President Kennedy had used to establish the Peace Corps. In 1994, we were honored to welcome Sarge to the White House to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Today, as we travel the world, we see Sargent Shriver’s lasting influence in the impact made by the nearly 200,000 Americans who have served in the Peace Corps. We see it at Head Start centers and Special Olympics competitions that give children the chance to begin living up to their God-given potential. And we see it in an ethic of service and responsibility that continues to animate Americans of all ages.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Shriver family, Sarge’s many devoted friends, and with the nation that has lost one of its most dedicated champions for equality and opportunity."