A Great Speech

I don't think speeches change the world. But changes in our world often start with a well articulated idea predicting, warning or envisioning a possible future, inspiring people to act.

President Dwight Eisenhower delivered one of my favorite speeches that I return to for its clarity and insight. He was elected in 1952 as the 34th President of the United States, serving two terms. He bade farewell after 5 decades of public service in a bizarre but incredibly prescient speech from the oval office on January 17th. This is an excerpt from that speech.

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.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. 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.