Source: President Eisenhower’s Farewell Address, 1960. President Eisenhower replaced President Truman in 1953. After serving two terms in office and overseeing the escalation of the arms race, Eisenhower warned the nation of the dangers of what he called the “military-industrial complex” in his farewell address in 1960. According to Eisenhower, the military-industrial complex was a country’s economic interest in developing and building its military, which was becoming the major focus of the U.S. government by 1960. Eisenhower's speech is below: Throughout America’s adventure in free government, such basic purposes have been to keep the peace; to foster progress in human achievement, and to enhance liberty, dignity and integrity among peoples and among nations . . . Progress toward these noble goals is persistently threatened by the conflict now engulfing the world. It commands our whole attention, absorbs our very beings . . . A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment . . . But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation (acting in the moment) 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 more than the net income of all U.S. corporations. 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 (urgent, necessary) need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave (serious) implications. Our toil (hard work), resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society. In the councils of

Question

Source: President Eisenhower’s Farewell Address, 1960. President Eisenhower replaced President Truman in 1953. After serving two terms in office and overseeing the escalation of the arms race, Eisenhower warned the nation of the dangers of what he called the “military-industrial complex” in his farewell address in 1960. According to Eisenhower, the military-industrial complex was a country’s economic interest in developing and building its military, which was becoming the major focus of the U.S. government by 1960. Eisenhower's speech is below: Throughout America’s adventure in free government, such basic purposes have been to keep the peace; to foster progress in human achievement, and to enhance liberty, dignity and integrity among peoples and among nations . . . Progress toward these noble goals is persistently threatened by the conflict now engulfing the world. It commands our whole attention, absorbs our very beings . . . A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment . . . But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation (acting in the moment) 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 more than the net income of all U.S. corporations. 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 (urgent, necessary) need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave (serious) implications. Our toil (hard work), resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society. In the councils of

May 25, 1950

Lavrentiy Beria

Writing a letter to Stalin in response to the U.S. explosion of a hydrogen

The purpose of the letter is to inform Stalin about the U.S. development of a hydrogen bomb and to propose that the Soviet Union should also start working on its own hydrogen bomb program.

Soviet Union

©Success Academy Charter Schools World History III: The Contemporary World, Unit 4: The Cold War government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted (undesired) 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. Who: What: Where (Soviet or US) When: Why/CI:

Answer 1

Who: President Dwight D. Eisenhower

What: Farewell Address warning about the dangers of the military-industrial complex
Where: United States
When: 1960
Why/CI: Eisenhower warned about the potential for the military-industrial complex to have unwarranted influence and the potential for misplaced power, which could endanger democratic processes and liberties.