Interview with Robert "Bob" James, November 3, 2022
Project: Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Robert James served as a married Peace Corps Volunteer in El Salvador in a community development program from 1976-78. He discusses being recruited by a friend, and praises in-country training and his host family. He discusses the disputed presidential election of 1977 and ensuing inter-military violence that took place throughout the country and the US embassy downplaying this violence. He discusses subsequent lack of El Salvadorian government support for the community development project he was working on under the Ministry of Interior and his moving to rural Osicala where he taught women’s nutrition and English and started a gardening program. He talks about encountering continued military violence, including the murder of his neighbor, and draws lessons for current threats to democracy. He talks about almost being imprisoned in Honduras. He concludes that he was more impact by people’s severe poverty and that all peoples share the same goals for their families.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview Keyword
Peace Corps (US) El Salvador (Country of Service) community development (Peace Corps program)1976-78 (years of service) disputed presidential election of 1977 between UNO candidate Ernesto Antonio Claramont Roseville and PCN candidate Gen. Carlos Humbertyo Romero Mena. Romero Mena was declared to have won, but according to witnesses, Claramont Roseville actually won with 75% of the vote. (historical context) American foreign policy (historical context) San Pedro Sula (Honduran city). 1976-78 (years of service)Interview Rights
All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.Interview Usage
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.Restriction
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.
Add this interview to your cart in order to begin the process of requesting access to a copy of and/or permission to reproduce interview(s).
James, Robert Interview by Evelyn Ganzglass. 03 Nov. 2022. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
James, R. (2022, November 03). Interview by E. Ganzglass. Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
James, Robert, interview by Evelyn Ganzglass. November 03, 2022, Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
Persistent Link for this Record: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt714wh7pr6ck