("Icebound" wrote)
snip
"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of
unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the
military-industrial 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."

---- President Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican), 1961.


It is my understanding that Ike wanted to use the term
Congressional-Military-Industrial Complex (or something similar) but was
talked out of it. It was the critical role Congress plays, in that
corrupting process, that Eisenhower was warning future generations to be on
guard against.

Again, it is my understanding that the gist of the threat was gutted when
'Congressional' was removed from the text.

Also, I seem to recall that Ike wrote a fair amount of that speach himself.


Montblack