Kennedy established the Peace Corps by executive order in March 1961. Its stated purpose was “to promote world peace and friendship through a Peace Corps, which shall make available to interested countries and areas men and women of the United States qualified for service abroad and willing to serve, under conditions of hardship if necessary, to help the peoples of such countries and areas in meeting their needs for trained manpower.” Kennedy named his brother-in-law, Robert Sargent Shriver Jr., as the Peace Corps first director.