Presidential X-Files: Dwight Eisenhower and the Military Industrial Complex
Although he had been a career soldier for pretty much all of his adult life, towards the end of his Presidency, Dwight Eisenhower developed a mistrust for those whose financial interests were tied to national defense spending. On January 17, 1961, Eisenhower addressed the nation on television for his farewell address. In the speech, he warned Americans to be on guard against what he called "the Military Industrial Complex". In the speech Eisenhower also expressed concerns about the dangers of massive spending generally, especially deficit spending, as well as about Federal influence on scholars, and about a "technological elite".
When he delivered this speech, Eisenhower had served two full terms as President and was the first president to be term-limited. He had presided over a period of considerable economic expansion, as well as over the growing Cold War. Three of his national budgets had been balanced, but spending pressures mounted, especially from the Department of Defense. His farewell speech followed the election of John F. Kennedy. It was a time of significant transition as the oldest American president in a century was about to hand the reins of power to the youngest man ever elected president. Eisenhower was concerned about Kennedy's lack of experience and his susceptibility to being influenced by his generals. Sometime in 1959, Eisenhower had decided to make a final statement as he left public life.
In the speech Eisenhower expressed concern over a lack of planning for the future. In the speech he told Americans that they "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 for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow."
Eisenhower warned the nation about the potentially harmful and corrupting influence of what he termed the "military-industrial complex". He said:
"Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense. We have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security alone more than the net income of all United States corporations. Now this conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence, economic, political, even spiritual, is felt in every city, every Statehouse, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet, we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources, and livelihood are all involved. So is the very structure of our society. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."
Here is a brief excerpt from that speech, along with some comments by historian Michael Beschloss:
Eisenhower also said that "the prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocation, and the power of money is ever present and is gravely to be regarded... [I]n holding scientific discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite."
Eisenhower's speech is remembered primarily for its reference to the military-industrial complex. The phrase gained increased usage during the Vietnam era and man have expressed the opinion that a number of the fears raised in his speech have come true. An excellent 2005 documentary directed by Eugene Jarecki entitled Why We Fight follows up on the remarkable foresight that Eisenhower showed in giving this warning. Eisenhower's granddaughter Susan appears prominently in the film.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, total world spending on military expenses in 2018 was $1.822 trillion. 36% of this total, roughly $649 billion, was spent by the United States. The privatization of the production and invention of military technology has led to a complicated relationship with significant research and development of many technologies. In 2011, the United States spent more on its military than the next 13 nations combined. Today the U.S. federal government is spending about $1 trillion annually on defense-related purposes.
When he delivered this speech, Eisenhower had served two full terms as President and was the first president to be term-limited. He had presided over a period of considerable economic expansion, as well as over the growing Cold War. Three of his national budgets had been balanced, but spending pressures mounted, especially from the Department of Defense. His farewell speech followed the election of John F. Kennedy. It was a time of significant transition as the oldest American president in a century was about to hand the reins of power to the youngest man ever elected president. Eisenhower was concerned about Kennedy's lack of experience and his susceptibility to being influenced by his generals. Sometime in 1959, Eisenhower had decided to make a final statement as he left public life.
In the speech Eisenhower expressed concern over a lack of planning for the future. In the speech he told Americans that they "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 for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow."
Eisenhower warned the nation about the potentially harmful and corrupting influence of what he termed the "military-industrial complex". He said:
"Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense. We have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security alone more than the net income of all United States corporations. Now this conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence, economic, political, even spiritual, is felt in every city, every Statehouse, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet, we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources, and livelihood are all involved. So is the very structure of our society. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."
Here is a brief excerpt from that speech, along with some comments by historian Michael Beschloss:
Eisenhower also said that "the prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocation, and the power of money is ever present and is gravely to be regarded... [I]n holding scientific discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite."
Eisenhower's speech is remembered primarily for its reference to the military-industrial complex. The phrase gained increased usage during the Vietnam era and man have expressed the opinion that a number of the fears raised in his speech have come true. An excellent 2005 documentary directed by Eugene Jarecki entitled Why We Fight follows up on the remarkable foresight that Eisenhower showed in giving this warning. Eisenhower's granddaughter Susan appears prominently in the film.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, total world spending on military expenses in 2018 was $1.822 trillion. 36% of this total, roughly $649 billion, was spent by the United States. The privatization of the production and invention of military technology has led to a complicated relationship with significant research and development of many technologies. In 2011, the United States spent more on its military than the next 13 nations combined. Today the U.S. federal government is spending about $1 trillion annually on defense-related purposes.