In his 1961 farewell address, the 34th President of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower coined the term the ‘Military-Industrial Complex.’ He was concerned with the possibility of a power imbalance because of the, “relationship between the military, and corporations that had become dependent upon military contracts.” Eisenhower’s anxiety about the growing scope and cost of Americas defence industry came after a successful military career, and at the end of a presidency which included the rapid amplification the US’s defence and military services. Also, from an significant increase in nuclear stockpiling, in an attempt to remain level with their military counterparts. Eisenhower’s aim was to make his successors and the American people aware of the risks of promoting defence policies that could undermine American democracy, and would take …show more content…
The US was already spending more on its defence than the total net income all US corporations of the time. Eisenhower oversaw a steep decline in defence spending during his eight years in office, cutting traditional military funding and instead channelling support into nuclear arms development. He agreed that the armed forces needed be ready and powerful enough to warn off potential enemies, and that military power and the development of arms was necessary for the protection of people, and the maintenance of peace. However, he argued that defence spending should not encouraged by big companies who are seeking commercial gain, evident when he said, “we must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes.” Eisenhower feared that the public would fall for the trick of waging endless war to increase the country’s prosperity, apparent in his statement, “the potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will