Dwight David Eisenhower Farwell Address

1. Dwight David Eisenhower Farwell Address By: Christina Bailey

2. Background Info. • October 1890 – March 1969 • Attended West Point • Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe in WWII(where he showed diplomacy and leadership skills) • President of Columbia University, after war • 1951 First Supreme Commander of NATO • 34th President of the United States of America-Republican

3. Major Issues Military Man Continued many of the New Deal programs Balanced Budget Desegregation of the Armed Forces World Peace Cold War Intended Audience The American People The entire World His successors Historical Context

4. Dwight David Eisenhower Farwell Address Main Points • Eisenhower gives thanks to Congress for coming together to solve major issues so that things may continue forward. • A Warning. We, as a free nation, must place checks on the military-industrial complex so that it does not become the problem. That the power we need to protect us and the free world could end up destroying life as we know it. • The growth of military and the permanent armaments industry • Technology and science being controlled by the government • That for American to continue in the path of peace and freedom we must have a ready military-industrial complex.

5. Main Points Continued • We must make decisions now that will effect future generations. It is our responsibility to conserve our resources and protect our form of government against threats so that future generations can prosper with freedom and in peace. • “As we peer into society’s future, we-you and I, and our government- must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive and for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow.” • The world needs to learn to come together and solve differences with intelligence, not war.

6. Quotes • “Understandably proud of this pre-eminence, we yet realize that America’s leadership and prestige depend, not merely upon our unmatched material progress, riches and military strength, but on how we use our power in the interest of world peace and human betterment.” • “Good judgment seeks balance and progress; lack of it eventually finds imbalance and frustration.” • “But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions.” • “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.” • “Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been overshadowed by task forces of scientist…” • “As we peer into society’s future, we-you and I, and our government- must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow.”

7. Historical Significance: • Many were shocked by his warning regarding the military-industrial complex because he was a military man. • Set the movement for settlement before war. Questions: • Was there a real need for the military-industrial complex then? Now? Did fear play a role in the need? • Did you find it shocking that a military man would give these warnings? • Was Eisenhower’s warning taken seriously and have changes been placed into effect to ward against the complex?

8. Compare Eisenhower with Burke (Thinking of future generations, conserving our resources. How does the Military-industrial-congressional complex affect academia (college professors and their grants and research)?