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Congressional Record - Senate, Regarding the Significance of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Speech the Military-Industrial Complex
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16972243
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Congressional Record - Senate, Regarding the Significance of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Speech the Military-Industrial Complex
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Eisenhower, Dwight D.: Papers, Post-Presidential
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574 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD SENATE January 19, 1966 was previously with the U.S. Depart- sources and livelihood are all involved; so is This point is stressed in an assessment ment of Justice, has been appointed as the very structure of our society. of the Dirksen-Ford appearance by the director of the Legislative Reference "In the councils of government, we must able columnist, Roscoe Drummond. He Service by the Librarian of Congress and guard against the acquisition of unwar- ranted influence, whether sought or un- points to several gains for the Nation- I look forward to many years of associ- sought, by the military-industrial complex. more resourcefulness by the Republican ation with him. The potential for the disastrous rise of mis- Party in its public advocacy, a wider I want to express my personal appreci- placed power exists and will persist. national audience for Republican views, ation as well as that of the Senate to Dr. "We must never let the weight of this and the fact that "Mr. DIRKSEN and Mr. Elsbree for his devoted service to the combination endanger our liberties or demo- FORD spoke constructively without any Congress during a period in which this cratic processes. We should take nothing outdated partisan opposition for the body, because of its heavy legislative re- for granted Only an alert and knowledge- able citizenry can compel the proper mesh- sake of opposition." sponsibilities, has placed great burdens ing of the huge industrial and military ma- Mr. President, the tests of Senator on the Legislative Reference Service. I chinery of defense with our peaceful methods DIRKSEN'S and Representative FORD'S re- hope that his retirement will be a happy and goals, so that security and liberty may marks were printed in the CONGRES- and fruitful one. prosper together. SIONAL RECORD yesterday and appear on "Akin to, and largely responsible for the pages 512 to 514 of the House proceed- sweeping changes in our industrial-military ings. I commend their reading to all SIGNIFICANCE OF PRESIDENT EI- posture, has been the technological revolu- Americans, regardless of party. SENHOWER'S SPEECH ON THE tion during recent decades. "In this revolution, research has become I ask unanimous consent, Mr. Presi- MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX central; it also becomes more formalized, dent, to have inserted in the RECORD Mr. Mr. DOUGLAS. Mr. President, 5 years complex, and costly. A steadily increasing Drummond's article which appeared in ago Monday, President Eisenhower made share is conducted for, by or at the direction the Washington Post this morning. his famous speech on the military-indus- of, the Federal Government. There being no objection, the article "Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in trial complex. Many have forgotten that was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, his shop, has been overshadowed by task speech. But the American Veterans as follows: forces of scientists in laboratories and testing Committee has reminded us of the speech fields. In the same fashion, the free univer- THE GOP SPEAKS OUT and of its significance. sity; historically the fountainhead of free (By Roscoe Drummond) I ask unanimous consent that their ideas and scientific discovery, has experi- The voice of the Republican Party in Con- statement on this anniversay, which in- enced a revolution in the conduct of research. gress is being lifted to better effect than at cludes General Eisenhower's words, be Partly because of the huge costs involved, any time since it lost the White House 6 a Government contract becomes virtually a printed at this point in the RECORD as years ago. substitute for intellectual curiosity. For a reminder to all of us of that speech. The very concept of a Republican state every old blackboard there are now hundreds of the Union address-delivered on prime There being no objection, the state- of new electronic computers. television time by Senator EVERETT DIRKSEN ment was ordered to be printed in the "The prospect of domination of the Na- and Representative GERALD FORD-shows the RECORD, as follows: tion's scholars by Federal employment, proj- GOP is becoming more resourceful in its pub- STATEMENT ON FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESI- ect allocations, and the power of money is lic advocacy. That is a gain in itself. DENT EISENHOWER'S FAREWELL ADDRESS BY ever present-and is gravely to be regarded. Still anemic in its 1-to-2 minority status, SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE MILITARY- "Yet, in holding scientific research and the GOP voice may not be more widely heed- INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX OF THE AMERICAN discovery in respect, as we should, we must ed in Congress, but it is being more widely VETERANS COMMITTEE also be alert to the equal and opposite dan- heard in the country. That's another gain. ger that public policy could itself become Five years ago, last Monday-on January Mr. DIRKSEN and Mr. FORD spoke construc- the captive of a scientific-technological elite. 17, 1961-President Dwight D. Eisenhower in tively and responsibly without any outdated "It is the task of statesmanship to mold, his farewell radio and television address to partisan opposition for the sake of opposi- to balance, and to integrate these and other the American people spoke out on a matter tion. That's a third gain. forces, new and old, within the principles he considered of significant long-range con- It seems to me that, in sum, that well of our democratic system-ever aiming to- sequence to this Nation. He coined the served the interests of the country and of ward the supreme goals of our free society." phrase, "the military-industrial complex." their own party by doing three things above The American Veterans Committee whole- General Eisenhower's entire life gave him all else: heartedly endorses General Eisenhower's re- a unique background to discuss this vital 1. They put the brand of "moderate Re- marks and intends to use its energy and re- subject. Certainly, no one else in our recent publicanism" on the whole range of party sources to study the military-industrial history knows better, both from a military policy and thus prepared the way to make a complex in its many ramifications for the and a civilian vantage point, all the relation- political recovery in the elections this fall. Nation. ships involved in this area of national life. 2. They identified the GOP unreservedly Today, as 5 years ago, it would be well for with the cause of racial justice and stricter the Nation to recall his words. enforcement of all civil rights laws. REPUBLICAN STATE OF THE UNION "A vital element in keeping the peace is 3. They gave the President unwavering our Military Establishment. Our arms must MESSAGE IS A GAIN FOR ALL support-better support than he is getting be mighty, ready for instant action, so that AMERICA from some highly placed Democrats-for the no potential aggressor may be tempted to unyielding goals in Vietnam-securing the Mr. HRUSKA. Mr. President, earlier risk his own destruction. independence of South Vietnam by negotia- "Our military organization today bears lit- this week the capable minority leader, tion if possible and by military action if tle relation to that known by any of my Mr. DIRKSEN, and his colleague in the necessary. predecessors in peacetime, or indeed by the House, Mr. FORD, went before network As the Senate minority leader, Senator fighting men of World War II or Korea. television cameras in the Old Supreme DIRKSEN clearly spoke for more than the "Until the latest of our world conflicts, the Court Chamber to present the Repub- minority in every crucial position he took United States had no armaments industry. on Vietnam. He spoke for the country and lican appraisal of the state of the Union American makers of plowshares could, with what he said cannot fail to be a source of message. time and as required, make swords as well. strength to President Johnson, both in his But now we can no longer risk emergency It is not an exaggeration to say that conduct of the peace initiative and in his improvisation of national defense; we have the occasion was historic. For the first conduct of the war. been compelled to create a permanent arma- time, the leaders of the opposition party Mr. DIRKSEN gave to the Democratic ad- ments industry of vast proportions. Added were formally presenting their own ministration reassuring evidence that it will to this, three and a half million men and continue to have Republican backing on views of the state of the Union and of- women are directly engaged in the Defense these two vital prongs of U.S. policy. This fering their own proposals for progress. Establishment. We annually spend on mili- was the heart of his assurance: tary security more than the net income of The appearance was important in an- "Let the peace efforts continue. Who can all U.S. corporations. other sense. It reasserted the vitality object to any honorable effort to secure peace "This conjunction of an immense military of the two-party system. Thoughtful where young blood is involved. establishment and a large arms industry is Members of both great political parties "Let the military effort continue. It dem- new in the American experience. The total onstrates our determination to keep. our have shown increasing concern over influence-economic, political, even spirit- word. Let it be intensified, 'if necessary, as the imbalance between the parties which ual-is felt in every city, every State house, sound military judgment dictates." every office of the Federal Government. We now exists in the Congress today. Our On the whole front of the Vietnam peace recognize the imperative need for this devel- system of government was designed to effort and the Vietnam war effort, it is evi- opment. Yet we must not fail to compre- function best with only a narrow divi- dence that Senator DIRKSEN is going to be an hend its grave implications. Our toil, re- sion in the strength of the parties. invaluable ally of the President-as long as