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Eisenhower's farewell address (sometimes referred to as "Eisenhower's farewell address to the nation") was the final public speech of
Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was the 34th president of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionar ...
as the 34th
president of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...
, delivered in a television broadcast on January 17, 1961. Perhaps best known for advocating that the nation guard against the potential influence of the
military–industrial complex The expression military–industrial complex (MIC) describes the relationship between a country's military and the Arms industry, defense industry that supplies it, seen together as a vested interest which influences public policy. A driving fac ...
, a term he is credited with coining, the speech also expressed concerns about planning for the future and the dangers of massive spending, especially
deficit spending Within the budgetary process, deficit spending is the amount by which spending exceeds revenue over a particular period of time, also called simply deficit, or budget deficit, the opposite of budget surplus. The term may be applied to the budg ...
, the prospect of the domination of science through federal funding and, conversely, the domination of science-based public policy by what he called a "scientific-technological elite". Eisenhower played a significant role in the creation of this "elite" and its position of power, and thus there is an element of irony in his warning against it. This speech and Eisenhower's Chance for Peace speech have been called the "bookends" of his administration. Susan Eisenhower
"50 Years Later, We're Still Ignoring Ike's Warning"
''The Washington Post'', January 16, 2011, p. B3.


Background

Eisenhower served as president for two full terms from January 1953 to January 1961, 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 War The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...
deepened. Three of his national budgets had been balanced, but spending pressures mounted. Eisenhower's defense policies, based around a high-technology strategy, played a significant role in expanding the size of the defense research industry. 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 speech

As early as 1959, Eisenhower began working with his brother Milton and his speechwriters, including his chief speechwriter Malcolm Moos, to develop his final statement as he left public life. It went through at least 21 drafts.John Milburn
"Papers shed light on Eisenhower's farewell address"
Associated Press, December 10, 2010. The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2010.12.10.
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." Despite his military background and being the only general to be elected president in the 20th century, he warned the nation with regard to the corrupting influence of what he describes as the " military-industrial complex".


Scientific-technological elite

He also expressed his concomitant concern for corruption of the scientific process as part of this centralization of funding in the Federal government, and vice versa:


Legacy

Although it was much broader, Eisenhower's speech is remembered primarily for its reference to the military-industrial complex. The phrase gained acceptance during the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
era and 21st-century commentators have expressed the opinion that a number of the fears raised in his speech have come true. The speech has been adapted as an oratory for orchestra and orator. The speech was depicted in the opening of the 1991 film '' JFK''. In 2025, President
Joe Biden Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...
invoked the "military-industrial complex" phrasing from Eisehower's address in his own farewell address, saying that he was "concerned about the potential rise of a tech-industrial complex that could pose real dangers for our country.""Full Transcript of President Biden's Farewell Address"
''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
''.


References


Notes


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!'' is an hour-long TV, radio, and Internet news program based in Manhattan and hosted by journalists Amy Goodman (who also acts as the show's executive producer), Juan González, and Nermeen Shaikh. The show, which airs live ...
''
As delivered transcript, complete audio and video of the speech
at AmericanRhetoric.com {{United States presidential farewell addresses Eisenhower's farewell address Farewell Address Eisenhower's farewell address Eisenhower's farewell address Eisenhower's farewell address Eisenhower, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Dwight D.