Interview with William Reese, November 9, 2021

Partial Transcript: This is Evelyn Ganzglass. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Somalia from 1966 to 1968. Today is November 9, 2021. And, I'm interviewing William Reese. Um, Bill, why don't you introduce yourself as well?

Segment Synopsis: Reese served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Brazil for 3 years starting in 1971. Reese was in a community development program in Salvador, Bahia. Reese then became a Peace Corps staff member for 5 years in Brazil, ending up as acting country director. In 1979, Reese transferred to Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C. where he worked for another two and a half years dealing with Latin American affairs.

Keywords: Loret Ruppe; Peace Corps directors; Peace Corps staff; Salvador (Brazil); Training; Traveling

Subjects: International travel; Latin America; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--1970-1980; Peace Corps (U.S.)--1980-1990; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Brazil; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: Why did you join the Peace Corps to start out with?

Segment Synopsis: Reese attended Stanford University and became interested in Latin American affairs, American foreign policy, and Brazil. As a senior in college, Reese applied to the Peace Corps, to graduate school, and received a draft notice. Initially, Reese was offered a Peace Corps posting in Venezuela but turned it down as he wasn't interested in serving in a sports related program. Reese had also been accepted for graduate school at George Washington University and at Colombia University. Reese started graduate school at George Washington University but was dissatisfied there. An acquaintance, who was a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and had joined the Foreign Service, advised Reese to re-activate his Peace Corps application and talk to the Brazil desk officer. Subsequently, Reese was invited to serve in Brazil and was assigned to a community development program in Bahia state.

Keywords: Advice; Application process; Applications; Applying; Bahia (Brazil); Colombia University; Decisions; George Washington University; Graduate schools; History; Influences; Interests; Invitations; John F. Kennedy; Military drafts; Peace Corps staff; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Stanford University; Undergraduate education

Subjects: Brazil; France; Ghana; Interpersonal relations; Latin America; Parents; Peace Corps (U.S.); Political science; Universities and colleges; Venezuela; Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in community development; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.); West Germany

Partial Transcript: And I arrived there and went to work in a large--after training, in a--what was a huge invasion community.

Segment Synopsis: Reese's assignment was to do community organizing in Alagados, a large, deteriorated urban area which was being re-developed. Reese's job involved organizing residents to move into new, partially developed housing which was being built in the area. Reese enjoyed his work and extended for a third year. Reese says he learned a lot and had to deal with numerous government agencies.

Keywords: Barack Obama; Extensions; History; Learning; Pre-service training

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in community development; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Where was the training at that point?

Segment Synopsis: Reese's pre-service training occurred in Salvador. Reese's cohort had 18 trainees. Three other Volunteers were assigned to the same project and location as Reese. The remaining cohort members were assigned to community development projects in rural areas of the state. The trainees were housed in separate boarding houses frequented by college students from other parts of the state. Reese and his site mates were required to reside in Alagados, the deteriorated area where they worked. Reese describes how the deterioration of the neighborhood had evolved. Reese says that the language instruction was excellent and the training overall was very good.

Keywords: Acclimation; Assignments; Bahia (Brazil); Cohorts; Cultural training; French (Language); History; Housing; Language training; Portuguese (Language); Rural areas; Salvador (Brazil); San Francisco (Calif.); Site mates; Site visits; Students; Technical training; West Coast

Subjects: Acculturation; Brazil; Language and languages; Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in community development; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: We were assigned to, uh, uh, a Brazilian state agency that was part of similar state agencies in other, other, uh, parts of the country.

Segment Synopsis: Reese and his 3 site mates worked in conjunction with the 18 existing neighborhood societies which encompassed the 150,000 people living in the deteriorated area, Alagados. Reese lived alone in a house but took many of his meals with a local family. These 4 Volunteers each lived alone and worked with different neighborhood societies but were in close proximity to each other. Reese says that safety was not a concern for them as they were accepted by the local people.

Keywords: Acceptance; Counterparts; Deaths; Living alone; Local people; Locals; Peace Corps staff; Population; Safety; Site mates; Site visits

Subjects: Interpersonal relations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: So, what did you do in your spare time?

Segment Synopsis: Reese didn't work set hours as many of the people he interacted with didn't have jobs with a fixed schedule. Reese describes some of the living conditions of people in the neighborhood.

Keywords: Jobs; Schedules

Subjects: Emigration and immigration; Health; Lifestyles; Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Did you become friends with your neighbors?

Segment Synopsis: Reese got to know many local residents as his job was like that of a social worker. Reese enjoyed his work. Reese and two of his three site mates extended for a third year.

Keywords: Extensions; Friends; Resilience; Site mates

Subjects: Interpersonal relations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Did you get to travel to other parts of the country, as well?

Segment Synopsis: Reese went to Rio de Janeiro by bus once or twice. Reese also visited other Volunteers in Bahia. Once he became an Assistant Peace Corps Director, Reese traveled more extensively in Brazil.

Keywords: Bahia (Brazil); Changes; Distance; Jobs; Peace Corps directors; Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); Site visits; Traveling

Subjects: Brazil; Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: As you, as you think back at your Volunteer experience, what do you think your, your impact was in that community?

Segment Synopsis: Reese states that the project that he was part of was based on an experimental model of redevelopment. Over time, the infrastructure of the community improved, the government had more control over the physical growth of the community, and the people took more pride in their houses. So, Reese feels the project, in which the Volunteers played a small part, was a success.

Keywords: Counterparts; Houses; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Returning; Traveling

Subjects: Brazil; Careers; International travel; Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in community development; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Still thought I would leave after three years but do a third year and come home and go to law school and, and be a foreign service officer.

Segment Synopsis: Reese anticipated completing his extension year, returning to the U.S., getting a law degree, and joining the Foreign Service. When Reese became a regional director for the Peace Corps, he decided to focus his career on development rather than diplomacy. Reese describes some of his responsibilities as regional director. Also, Reese became more familiar with other aid organizations. When Reese left his Peace Corps staff position in Brazil, he decided to seek work doing development work in the private sector. Consequently, Reese worked for years for Partners of the Americas.

Keywords: Americans; Bahia (Brazil); Colorado; Decisions; Extensions; Georgia; Higher education; Jobs; Partners of the Americas; Pennsylvania; Pernambuco (Brazil); Recife (Brazil); Returning

Subjects: Brazil; Education, Higher; Non-governmental organizations; Nonprofit organizations; Peace Corps (U.S.); United States. Agency for International Development; Vietnam; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: Um, can you talk about what the transition was like from being a Volunteer to your, your first staff position?

Segment Synopsis: Initially, Reese served as assistant director overseeing programs in four states in Brazil. Reese was hired by the country director. Reese was 27 years old and younger than many of the 70 Volunteers in the region. Reese briefly describes his responsibilities and the types of programs involved. Reese feels he had a good relationship with the Volunteers. After a couple of years, Reese was hired to fill the vacancy as assistant director in the northeast region of the country. In addition, Reese served as acting country director and needed to commute to Brasilia. Reese did well and was transferred to Peace Corps headquarters as acting regional director focusing on training programs in Latin America.

Keywords: Ages; Bahia (Brazil); Belo Horizonte (Brazil); Brasilia (Brazil); Career paths; Changes; Espirito Santo (Brazil); Goias (Brazil); Illness; Jimmy Carter; Jobs; Language training; Learning; Mato Grosso (Brazil); Minas Gerais (Brazil); Peace Corps directors; Recife (Brazil); Richard Celeste; Salvador (Brazil); Sickness; Training; Traveling

Subjects: International travel; Interpersonal relations; Latin America; Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: So, what makes good training for a Peace Corps Volunteer?

Segment Synopsis: For Volunteers, language training is critical. In Brazil, Peace Corps developed its own book for learning Portuguese. Trainees with fluency in Spanish could be fast-tracked in Portuguese. Hiring the best teachers available is important. Reese comments that whether a Volunteer is successful depends a lot on individual motivation. Reese comments that acculturation was different for Black Volunteers in Brazil, as some of them believed they could blend in with the local population. Reese comments, however, that the Black Volunteers often were frustrated when they found the local Brazilian Black people had a subservient attitude towards the white locals.

Keywords: Acclimation; African Americans; Attitudes; Bahia (Brazil); Black Americans; Blending in; Books; Cultural training; Decisions; Expectations; Fluency; Foreign Service Institute (FSI); Invitations; Language Proficiency Index; Language skills; Language training; Local people; Locals; Motivation; Portuguese (Language); Professors; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Spanish (Language); Stanford University; Training centers

Subjects: Acculturation; Language and languages; Minorities; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Brazil; Social norms; Teachers; Universities and colleges; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: What's your sense of Peace Corps' role in, in this whole, uh, racism issue around the world? You know, it, it exists everywhere, just in different forms.

Segment Synopsis: Reese notes that anyone going to another culture will need to make cultural adjustments, some of which are based on racial characteristics. Reese notes that the Volunteer population does not accurately reflect the racial diversity of the U.S.

Keywords: Acclimation; Adaptation; African Americans; Asian Americans; Black Americans; Cultural differences; Cultural training; Diversity in the Peace Corps; Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pelé); English (Language); Hawaii; Language barriers; Native Americans; Peace Corps staff; People of color; Placement; Portuguese (Language); Pre-service training; Puerto Rico; Recruiting; Recruitment; Understanding

Subjects: Acculturation; Africa; Language and languages; Latin America; Peace Corps (U.S.); Stereotypes; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: And usually everybody says, "Well, the next up level is the problem. Uh, they're not supporting sufficiently. They don't understand sufficiently." Whatever. Um, how do you, how do you deal with that in a Peace Corps structure?

Segment Synopsis: Previously, Peace Corps country directors were much more isolated from headquarters. Because of limited communication, more decisions had to be made by the local Peace Corps staff, for better or worse.

Keywords: Autonomy; Changes; Decisions; Isolation; Lack of communication; Perspectives; Problems; Relationships; Sargent Shriver; Technology; Telephone calls

Subjects: Brazil; Finance; Non-governmental organizations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Teachers; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: What are your thoughts about your whole staff experience?

Segment Synopsis: Reese characterizes his time as a Peace Corps staff member as a wonderful experience. This experience helped him as a senior director for Partners of the Americas. Reese acknowledges support he received from headquarters when he was a staff member in Brazil. Reese reflects that he is thankful that he decided to focus on development work, in part with the Peace Corps, rather than pursuing a diplomatic career.

Keywords: Career paths; Contacts; Deaths; Decisions; Friends; Peace Corps directors; Problems; Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); Rural areas; Sargent Shriver; Support; Telephone calls; Transportation; Veterans

Subjects: Brazil; Latin America; Peace Corps (U.S.); United States. Agency for International Development; Vietnam; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: You are--you have just joined the National Peace Corps Association board.

Segment Synopsis: In his previous jobs, Reese had hired hundreds of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Reese wanted to continue to support the Peace Corps. However, Reese feels that the predecessor to the National Peace Corps Association tended to oppose the Peace Corps director. Reese touches on the history of the Peace Corps, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the National Peace Corps Association.

Keywords: Bureaucracy; Changes; Conflict; Decisions; George C. Marshall; History; Improvements; Jobs; John F. Kennedy; Peace Corps directors; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Special occasions; Support

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--History; United States. Agency for International Development; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: What, what do you think the role of these anniversaries can--has been, can be, should be?

Segment Synopsis: After Reagan defeated Carter in the presidential election, the Peace Corps director, Richard Celeste, asked Reese to take over preparations for Peace Corps' 20th anniversary. Reese was not a political appointee and Celeste anticipated little support from the new administration for the anniversary celebration. A month later, Loret Ruppe started as the new Peace Corps director and supported the plans for the anniversary.

Keywords: Expectations; George Washington University; Georgetown University; Howard University; Jimmy Carter; Loret Ruppe; Peace Corps directors; Perceptions; Plans; Politics and government; Richard Celeste; Ronald Reagan; Sargent Shriver; Special occasions; Transition periods

Subjects: Africa; Latin America; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--History; Political campaigns; Universities and colleges; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: Without Peace Corps, I would have probably have joined the Foreign Service and had a nice career.

Segment Synopsis: Reese says that joining Peace Corps changed his life. Reese has a career focused on development and has hired hundreds of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Reese believes that the experiences that Returned Peace Corps Volunteers bring back to the U.S. are undervalued. As people recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Reese would like to see a re-evaluation of the Peace Corps as times have changed in the 60 years since its creation.

Keywords: Career paths; Coronavirus disease 2019; Decisions; First Goal; Future plans; Influences; International development; Professors; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Second Goal; Stanford University; Third Goal

Subjects: Brazil; COVID-19 (Disease); Non-governmental organizations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--2020-; United States. Agency for International Development; Universities and colleges; Voluntarism; Volunteers