Eisenhower's farewell address
Encyclopedia
Eisenhower's farewell address (sometimes referred to as "Eisenhower's farewell address to the nation") was the final public speech of Dwight D. Eisenhower
as President of the United States, delivered in a television broadcast on January 17, 1961. Although the speech is best-known for its warning about the growing military-industrial complex
, it also contained warnings about planning for the future and the dangers of massive spending, especially deficit spending
. This speech and Eisenhower's Chance for Peace speech
have been called the "bookends" of his administration.
deepened. Three of his national budgets
had been balanced, but spending pressures mounted. The recent presidential election
had resulted in the election of John F. Kennedy
, and the oldest American president in a century was about to hand the reins of power to the youngest elected president.
The only general to be elected president in the 20th Century, he famously warned the nation about the "military-industrial complex
":
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
as President of the United States, delivered in a television broadcast on January 17, 1961. Although the speech is best-known for its warning about the growing military-industrial complex
Military-industrial complex
Military–industrial complex , or Military–industrial-congressional complex is a concept commonly used to refer to policy and monetary relationships between legislators, national armed forces, and the industrial sector that supports them...
, it also contained warnings about planning for the future and the dangers of massive spending, especially deficit spending
Deficit spending
Deficit spending is the amount by which a government, private company, or individual's spending exceeds income over a particular period of time, also called simply "deficit," or "budget deficit," the opposite of budget surplus....
. This speech and Eisenhower's Chance for Peace speech
Chance for Peace speech
The Chance for Peace speech was an address given by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower on April 16, 1953, shortly after the death of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin...
have been called the "bookends" of his administration.
Background
Eisenhower served as a president for two full terms (eight years), and was the first U.S. president to be term-limited from seeking re-election again. He had overseen a period of considerable economic expansion, even as the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
deepened. Three of his national budgets
United States federal budget
The Budget of the United States Government is the President's proposal to the U.S. Congress which recommends funding levels for the next fiscal year, beginning October 1. Congressional decisions are governed by rules and legislation regarding the federal budget process...
had been balanced, but spending pressures mounted. The recent presidential election
United States presidential election, 1960
The United States presidential election of 1960 was the 44th American presidential election, held on November 8, 1960, for the term beginning January 20, 1961, and ending January 20, 1965. The incumbent president, Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower, was not eligible to run again. The Republican Party...
had resulted in the election of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, and the oldest American president in a century was about to hand the reins of power to the youngest elected president.
The speech
As early as 1959, Eisenhower began working with his brother Milton and his speechwriters to develop his final statement as he left public life. It went through at least 21 drafts. The speech was "a solemn moment in a decidedly unsolemn time", warning a nation "giddy with prosperity, infatuated with youth and glamour, and aiming increasingly for the easy life."The only general to be elected president in the 20th Century, he famously warned the nation about the "military-industrial complex
Military-industrial complex
Military–industrial complex , or Military–industrial-congressional complex is a concept commonly used to refer to policy and monetary relationships between legislators, national armed forces, and the industrial sector that supports them...
":
Legacy
Although it was much broader, Eisenhower's speech is almost entirely remembered for its reference to the military-industrial complex. The phrase gained acceptance during the Vietnam era. Despite Eisenhower's warnings, a number of the fears raised in his speech have come true, as noted by a number of commentators.External Links
- Video of television broadcast of speech
- Fifty Years After Eisenhower’s Farewell Address, A Look at Prophets of War - video report by Democracy Now!Democracy Now!Democracy Now! and its staff have received several journalism awards, including the Gracie Award from American Women in Radio & Television; the George Polk Award for its 1998 radio documentary Drilling and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria's Oil Dictatorship, on the Chevron Corporation and the deaths of...