President Eisenhower’s Farewell Address, 1961

As a Westpoint graduate, army officer, WWII general, NATO Supreme Commander, and president during the Korean Conflict, Eisenhower was well versed in the military strength of the nation over the course of decades and in various situations.

It might be surprising then to learn that in his farewell address he believed that disarmament ought to be a goal for the nation and world at large. He feared a military industrial complex might overpower the nation, since it was the first time in US history that a permanent armament industry existed.

We have included in this post a link to the speech in its entirety as well as a copy of the transcript with questions and answers for students.

Please view our 1950s PowerPoint if you would like a complete exploration of the decade.