Top of page

Pic of the Week: Inspiring a Sense of Service

Share this post:

Ann Compton (left) moderates a discussion between Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao (center) and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. Photo by Shawn Miller.

The Peace Corps and its ideals—service to country and the cause of peace—was the subject of discussion at the Third Annual Daniel K. Inouye Distinguished Lecture, held in the Coolidge Auditorium on May 18.

Elaine L. Chao, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings reflected on their Peace Corps service, their leadership experiences, and why the ideals of the Peace Corps remain relevant five decades after its founding. Ann Compton, former White House correspondent for ABC News, moderated the exchange. Chao is a former director of the Peace Corps, and Reed is a former volunteer.

This year’s lecture was planned with the Kennedy Center and the Peace Corps to recognize the centennial of the birth of President John F. Kennedy and values he held in common with Daniel K. Inouye, Hawaii’s first U.S. representative and a U.S. senator for nearly half a century. The lecture is the third in a five-year series being hosted by the Library’s John W. Kluge Center with the Daniel K. Inouye Institute.

A web recording of the event is available here.

Comments (2)

  1. Hello,

    I think Peach Corp is a great opportunity to explore Job Services. Congratulation to people who finish school then work out of the US Offices and have a work a job employment to start their own. School, then awards people for a living allowances to move into your own apartment. Then receive a finish bonuses check from Peace Corp Agency. I applaud Congress for attending peace corps to help make everyone their presences good celebration and thanks for all the announcements of service trainer’s and volunteers. Thanks for the news discussions on the white house on the moderate exchange. I think I to- will like to become part of a program and get elective service or votes or former meetings someday. I great leadership is sharing, is sharing ideas in discussion. It was nice that the State Department was apart of the Peace Corp. Celebration and all other guests.

    Sincerely,
    Angelina Montague.

  2. I once tried to volunteer for the Peace Corps. At the time, I was in my mid-20s. I had over 10 years experience as a commercial beekeeper. I was told by the woman who spoke with me on the phone that the Peace Corps was not interested in my services, as I had no college degree. I really wanted to serve my country in this way. I was very disappointed.

Add a Comment

This blog is governed by the general rules of respectful civil discourse. You are fully responsible for everything that you post. The content of all comments is released into the public domain unless clearly stated otherwise. The Library of Congress does not control the content posted. Nevertheless, the Library of Congress may monitor any user-generated content as it chooses and reserves the right to remove content for any reason whatever, without consent. Gratuitous links to sites are viewed as spam and may result in removed comments. We further reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to remove a user's privilege to post content on the Library site. Read our Comment and Posting Policy.


Required fields are indicated with an * asterisk.