Eisenhower's Farewell Address: Warfare Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Sentence)

Quote #4

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 now 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 more than the net income of all United State 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 state house, 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. (IV. 4-13)

Because modern-day America has inherited this machinery, it's hard to imagine the less "mobilized" past. The Founders never envisioned a standing army; they'd just call up the troops as needed when things got scary. Supporting a professional army would have been too expensive and, as James Madison said, "not a safe companion to liberty" (source). After WWII not only did we have a standing army, we had a massive arms business supporting it. Ike clearly thought we'd created a monster that now was invested in keeping itself big, powerful, and profitable.

Quote #5

Disarmament, with mutual honor and confidence, is a continuing imperative. Together we must learn how to compose difference, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose. Because this need is so sharp and apparent I confess that I lay down my official responsibilities in this field with a definite sense of disappointment. As one who has witnessed the horror and the lingering sadness of war—as one who knows that another war could utterly destroy this civilization which has been so slowly and painfully built over thousands of years—I wish I could say tonight that a lasting peace is in sight. 

Happily, I can say that war has been avoided. Steady progress toward our ultimate goal has been made. But, so much remains to be done. As a private citizen, I shall never cease to do what little I can to help the world advance along that road. (VI. 5-12)

This is really the crux of Ike's philosophy of war. America fought in WWII to end it. It fought the Cold War to protect the West from the Soviets. Always, in Ike's mind, war was fought for the purpose of a future peace. And in the case of the Cold War, it was fought only on the margins of the world stage, so that no hot war between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. would be risked. More than almost anyone, he knows how high the stakes are in this game.