Richard Reuter: Food for Peace

Changing The World Timeline
Richard Reuter: Food for Peace

President John F. Kennedy (in rocking chair) meets with the newly-appointed Director of Food For Peace, Richard W. Reuter in the Oval Office. July 24, 1962. Image source: Robert Knudsen. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston. JFKWHP-KN-C22860.

An unidentified administrative officer swears in Richard W. Reuter (left) as Director of Food for Peace. Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. August 1, 1962. Image source: Robert Knudsen. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston. JFKWHP-KN-22988.

An unidentified administrative officer swears in Richard W. Reuter (left) as Director of Food for Peace. Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. August 1, 1962. Image source: Robert Knudsen. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston. JFKWHP-KN-22988.

Director of Food for Peace, Richard Reuter (center-right), meets with Food for Peace staff in the Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. June 29, 1963. Image source: Cecil Stoughton. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston. JFKWHP-ST-328-1-63.

Director of Food for Peace, Richard Reuter (center-right), meets with Food for Peace staff in the Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. June 29, 1963. Image source: Cecil Stoughton. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston. JFKWHP-ST-328-1-63.

Newly-appointed Director of Food for Peace, Richard W. Reuter (center left), visits with his wife, Margaret Steinorth Reuter, and children at his swearing-in ceremony. Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. August 1, 1962. Image source: Robert Knudsen. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston. JFKWHP-KN-22990.

Newly-appointed Director of Food for Peace, Richard W. Reuter (center left), visits with his wife, Margaret Steinorth Reuter, and children at his swearing-in ceremony. Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. August 1, 1962. Image source: Robert Knudsen. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston. JFKWHP-KN-22990.

Humanitarian leader, pacifist and food executive Richard Reuter was born in Queens Village, NY in 1918 and graduated from Amherst College in 1938. With his wife Margaret, he worked to create C.A.R.E. (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere) in 1945 in the wake of World War II, to provide relief to war survivors. He served as C.A.R.E.’s Executive Director from 1955-1962.
Reuter was appointed by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 as a Special Assistant. He helped to create the Peace Corps and led the Food for Peace program in 1962, which managed agriculture surpluses through donations to developing countries. He continued to serve in that position under President Lyndon Johnson until 1965.
He later worked for Kraft Foods holding various positions, including vice president and director of purchasing from 1967-1984. Richard and Margaret moved to Lake Bluff in 1969 and raised four children. After retirement, Reuter represented Kraft Foods on Industry Council for Development, which was made up of seven large multi-national companies charged with supporting projects in developing countries.