DescriptionVideotaped oral history interview with the Rev. John Rex. After graduating from Bowdoin College in Maryland, Rex volunteered for the Peace Corps and served in Ethiopia from 1962 to 1964. Forty years later, he reenlisted in the Peace Corps, serving in Namibia from 2003 to 2004.
Interview conducted via Zoom on May 10, 2024 by Stephen Fagin. The interview is fifty minutes long.
Curatorial Commentary
Sadly, just one year after this oral history was recorded, the Rev. John Rex passed away at the age of 84 on May 14, 2025. - Stephen Fagin, Curator
The Rev. John Rex made several donations and contributions to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. These include correspondence and travel, orientation, and training materials related to the Peace Corps. In 2006, he recorded an oral history with the JFK Library to share his experience in the Peace Corps. A recording and transcript of the interview can be viewed on the JFK Library website: Rex, John (1962-1964): Oral history interview | JFK Library.
In 2023, Rex wrote an article about his experiences on November 22, 1963. He references a letter that he wrote to his family with his reaction to the tragic news. The article may be viewed on the Peace Corps Worldwide website: John Rex (Ethiopia) Remembers — – Peace Corps Worldwide.
- Riley Harris, Collections Cataloger
While the assassination of President Kennedy had a profound impact on the United States, it was also significant on a global scale. The Museum's Collection includes oral histories with individuals who share their memories of the assassination from outside of the United States, including countries in Asia, Africa, and South America. The Collection includes numerous international newspapers and magazines. A selection of these objects may be found in the Museum's online collections database: Search "world response" (Objects) – Search – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. - Riley Harris, Collections Cataloger
