Good Morning...Ike warns us all

[Okla-homey]

and I don't mean Tina's first husband either.

January 17, 1961 Eisenhower warns of “military-industrial complex”

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/9853/ikeacsike6027f7jw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

On this day in 1961, exactly one year after Homey's birth in Ardmore, Dwight D. Eisenhower ends his presidential term by warning the nation about the increasing power of the “military-industrial complex.”

His remarks, issued during a televised farewell address to the American people, were particularly significant since “Ike” had infinite credibility having famously served the nation as supreme military commander of the Allied forces during WWII. Eisenhower urged his successors to strike a balance between a strong national defense and diplomacy in dealing with the Soviet Union.

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/7364/ikeeisenhowerddt9qj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

He did not suggest arms reduction and in fact acknowledged that “the bomb” was an effective deterrent to nuclear war. However, cognizant that America’s peacetime defense policy had changed drastically since his military career, Eisenhower expressed concerns about the growing influence of what he termed the “military-industrial complex.”

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/3201/ikeacsike60014f2sx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Before and during the Second World War, American industries had successfully converted to defense production as the crisis demanded, but out of the war, what Eisenhower called a “permanent armaments industry of vast proportions” emerged. “This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience” Eisenhower warned, “[while] we recognize the imperative need for this development….we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications…we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence...The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/2769/ikeeisenhwrhm0vp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Born in Denison TX, Ike grew up in this house in Abilene, Kansas, Pretty tiny for a family with six kids actually.

Eisenhower cautioned that the federal government’s collaboration with an alliance of military and industrial leaders, though necessary, was vulnerable to abuse of power. Ike then counseled American citizens to be vigilant in monitoring the military-industrial complex. “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.”

Now all the above is the part liberals have used to beat up "peace through strength" advocates ever since 1961. Unfortunately, no one ever seems to remember Ike's warning against the "instant gratification" credit card powered consumer society we've become.

In the same speech, Ike recommended restraint in consumer habits, particularly with regard to the environment. “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 asking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage.”

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7515/ikeacsike195339f8od.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Ike welcoming Winston Churchill to the White House during Churchill's last visit to the United States

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9526/ikeeisenhowerpainting6kx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Ike was an amatuer artist. This is an unfinished watercolor of Culzean (pronounced Cu-lane') Castle in Scotland. The Scottish people made it possible for Ike to have permanent access to a suite of rooms in the castle whenever he wanted it. Today, if you have the means, you can book that same suite for your own Scottish vacation.


http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2899/insane7zo8ms.jpg

[Ross33]

Happy Birthday Homey.

[Ike]

you're welcome.



just kidding.

and since this is the SO History thread, I'll add my own little piece to it as well:

Today one of the greatest (in my mind anyway) of our founding fathers would be 300 years old. Scientist, Inventor, Writer, Philosopher, and Diplomat Benjamin Franklin was born on this day in 1706. Happy Birthday Ben, I'll have a drink for you today.

[sooneron]

Homey's getting old!

Interesting little snippet about Ike there. I have very little knowlege of the man. I had no idea he had some of those views.

[lexsooner]

and I don't mean Tina's first husband either.

January 17, 1961 Eisenhower warns of “military-industrial complex”

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/9853/ikeacsike6027f7jw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

On this day in 1961, exactly one year after Homey's birth in Ardmore, Dwight D. Eisenhower ends his presidential term by warning the nation about the increasing power of the “military-industrial complex.”

His remarks, issued during a televised farewell address to the American people, were particularly significant since “Ike” had infinite credibility having famously served the nation as supreme military commander of the Allied forces during WWII. Eisenhower urged his successors to strike a balance between a strong national defense and diplomacy in dealing with the Soviet Union.

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/7364/ikeeisenhowerddt9qj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

He did not suggest arms reduction and in fact acknowledged that “the bomb” was an effective deterrent to nuclear war. However, cognizant that America’s peacetime defense policy had changed drastically since his military career, Eisenhower expressed concerns about the growing influence of what he termed the “military-industrial complex.”

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/3201/ikeacsike60014f2sx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Before and during the Second World War, American industries had successfully converted to defense production as the crisis demanded, but out of the war, what Eisenhower called a “permanent armaments industry of vast proportions” emerged. “This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience” Eisenhower warned, “[while] we recognize the imperative need for this development….we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications…we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence...The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/2769/ikeeisenhwrhm0vp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Born in Denison TX, Ike grew up in this house in Abilene, Kansas, Pretty tiny for a family with six kids actually.

Eisenhower cautioned that the federal government’s collaboration with an alliance of military and industrial leaders, though necessary, was vulnerable to abuse of power. Ike then counseled American citizens to be vigilant in monitoring the military-industrial complex. “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.”

Now all the above is the part liberals have used to beat up "peace through strength" advocates ever since 1961. Unfortunately, no one ever seems to remember Ike's warning against the "instant gratification" credit card powered consumer society we've become.

In the same speech, Ike recommended restraint in consumer habits, particularly with regard to the environment. “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 asking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage.”

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7515/ikeacsike195339f8od.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Ike welcoming Winston Churchill to the White House during Churchill's last visit to the United States

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9526/ikeeisenhowerpainting6kx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Ike was an amatuer artist. This is an unfinished watercolor of Culzean (pronounced Cu-lane') Castle in Scotland. The Scottish people made it possible for Ike to have permanent access to a suite of rooms in the castle whenever he wanted it. Today, if you have the means, you can book that same suite for your own Scottish vacation.


http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2899/insane7zo8ms.jpg

I don't understand why Americans keep falling for the hawkish rhetoric every time the military industrial complex creates an enemy so it can keep itself in business. When he finally could speak his mind freely upon his retirement, Eisenhower, an American hero and stauch conservative, warned against this entity which is alive and well and operating today. Whenever I read some article about some terrifying military threat, I always take it with a grain of salt and remember what Ike told Americans. Do we all so quickly forget our history? When he could finally say what he wanted, Ike chose specifically to pass along this message. I trust Ike had very good reason to do so.

[soonerscuba]

IMO, the best Republican president of the 20th century.

[SoonerProphet]

my grandad, a tailgunner/engineer in a B-26 and a pow in wwii, always named his bird-dogs ike and mamie. wasn't a big fan of promotion freezing and a few other policies he put in place after the war.

needless to say, i never shared those views and always argued with him when the gip was in office...i sure miss my papa.

[Okla-homey]

IMO, the best Republican president of the 20th century.

Closest thing to a libertarian president we're ever likely to have, may God bless him. I'm proud he was in the White House when I was born.

Just one point essential to make. Ike's reference to minding the military-industrial complex was, I believe, motivated primarily by the fact that prior to the advent of nuclear weapons, we had time to mobilize and convert our economy into a wartime mode because the Atlantic and Pacific always kept the threat at bay until we could go offensive -- as we did in WWII after the Japanese sucker punch at Pearl. That all changed as soon as the Russians exploded their own nuclear device -- forever.

I believe Ike was saying that now, we must remain ready to go offensive with little or no warning. That means large, capable standing forces. That means bazillions of defense dollars constantly in play. That kind of money easily corrupts. Ergo, the guys who make the procurement and development decisions in government AND the guys who sell the stuff to the Pentagon bear watching. I've worked there. He was right.