“Military-Industrial Complex” Speech

Dwight David Eisenhower: “Military-IndustrialComplex” Speech delivered 17 January, 1961
Good evening, my fellow Americans.
謝意First, I should like to express my gratitude to the radio and television networks for theopportunities they have given me over the years to bring reports and messages to ournation. My special thanks go to them for the opportunity of addressing you this evening.
仕えてThree days from now, after half century in the service of our country, I shall lay down the厳粛なresponsibilities of office as, in traditional and solemn ceremony; the authority of the授ける

継承者

Presidency is vested in my successor . This evening, I come to you with a message of
告別

leave-taking and farewell, and to share a few final thoughts with you, my countrymen.
Like every other -- Like every other citizen, I wish the new President, and all who will labor
神の祝福with him, Godspeed. I pray that the coming years will be blessed with peace and prosperity
for all.
Our people expect their President and the Congress to find essential agreement on issues of
決議

great moment, the wise resolution of which will better shape the future of the nation. My
よそよそしい薄弱な

own relations with the Congress, which began on a remote and tenuous basis when, long
ウエストポイントago, a member of the Senate appointed me toWest

軍学校～に及んでいる

Point , have since ranged to the親交intimateduring the war and immediate post-war period, and finally to the mutually

相互依存

interdependent during these past eight years. In this final relationship, the Congress andthe Administration have, on most vital issues, cooperated well, to serve the nation good,
党派主義

それ故

rather than mere partisanship , and so国事

have assured that the business of the nation

should go forward. So, my official relationship with the Congress ends in a feeling -- on mypart -- of gratitude that we have been able to do so much together.
We now stand ten years past the midpoint of a century that has witnessed four major wars
虐殺

among great nations. Three of these involved our own country. Despite these holocausts ,America is today the strongest, the most influential, and most productive nation in the際立ったworld. Understandably proud of this pre-eminence, we yet realize that America's leadership
比類なきand prestige depend, not merely upon our unmatchedmaterial progress, riches, andmilitary strength, but on how we use our power in the interests of world peace and humanI

“Military-Industrial Complex” Speech改善betterment.
Throughout America's adventure in free government, our basic purposes have been to keep
育むthe peace, to foster progress in human achievement, and to enhance liberty, dignity, and
品位

あまり努力しない

integrity among peoples and among nations. To strive
見透かすfor less would be unworthy of a

ごう慢さ理解free and religious people. Any failure traceable to arrogance, or our lack of comprehension,
負わせる

耐え難いor readiness to sacrifice would inflict upon us grievous hurt, both at home and abroad.
飲み込む

Progress toward these noble goals is persistently threatened by the conflict now engulfing
値する

存在そのもの

the world. It commands our whole attention, absorbs our very beings. We face a hostile
無神論者の無慈悲な狡猾なideology global in scope, atheistic in character, ruthless in purpose, and insidious inmethod. Unhappily, the danger it poses promises to be of indefinite duration. To meet it
一時的なsuccessfully, there is called for, not so much the emotional and transitory sacrifices ofcrisis, but rather those which enable us to carry forward steadily, surely, and without
不満

くびきcomplaint the burdens of a prolonged and complex struggle with liberty the stake . Only
挑発

thus shall we remain, despite every provocation, on our charted course toward permanent
peace and human betterment.
Crises there will continue to be. In meeting them, whether foreign or domestic, great or繰り返し生じる

small, there is a recurring temptation to feel that some spectacular and costly action could
become the miraculous solution to all current difficulties. A huge increase in newer
信じられないくらいのelements of our defenses; development of unrealistic

programs to cure every ill inagriculture; a dramatic expansion in basic and applied research -- these and many otherpossibilities, each possibly promising in itself, may be suggested as the only way to the roadwe wish to travel.
熟考する

But each proposal must be weighed in the light of a broader consideration: the need tomaintain balance in and among national programs, balance between the private and thepublic economy, balance between the cost and hoped for advantages, balance between theclearly necessary and the comfortably desirable, balance between our essential
requirements as a nation and the duties imposed by the nation upon the individual, balance
between actions of the moment and the national welfare of the future. Good judgment seeksbalance and progress. Lack of it eventually finds imbalance and frustration. The record ofmany decades stands as proof that our people and their Government have, in the main,understood these truths and have responded to them well, in the face of threat and stress.
But threats, new in kind or degree, constantly arise. Of these, I mention two only.

II“Military-Industrial Complex” Speech

A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must bemighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his
知られているown destruction. Our military organization today bears little relation to that known
前にあったものによって

any of my predecessors in peacetime, or, indeed, byいかなるof

知られているthefighting men of World War

II or Korea.
軍需産業

Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry.
鋤American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well.
行き当たりばったり

But we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense. We have been
compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this,three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment.
純利益

We annually spend on military security alone more than the net income of all UnitedStates co-operations -- corporations.
結合

Now 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 -州議会議事堂

is felt in every city, every Statehouse, every office of the Federal government. We recognize
the imperative need for this development. Yet, we must not fail to comprehend its grave
労苦生計

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
軍産複合体

influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military- industrial complex. The potential
場違いなfor the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let theweight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take
思い込みを避けるべきだ

nothingfor

市民

granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper

かみあいmeshingof the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peacefulmethods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.
類似の姿勢

Akin to, and largely responsible for the sweeping changes in our industrial-military posture,VShas been the technological revolution during recent decades. In this revolution, researchhas become central; it also becomes more formalized, complex, and costly. A steadily
increasing share is conducted for, by, or at the direction of, the Federal government.
孤独な下手にいじくりまわす

Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been overshadowed by task forcesof scientists in laboratories and testing fields. In the same fashion, the free university,III

“Military-Industrial Complex” Speech
源泉

historically the fountainheadof free ideas and scientific discovery, has experienced arevolution in the conduct of research. Partly because of the huge costs involved, a
補助金

代わりに

government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity. For every
黒板

old blackboard there are now hundreds of new electronic computers. The prospect of領域配置

domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations , and the考慮する

power of money is ever present -- and is gravely to be regarded.
Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be
国政alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive ofa scientific-technological elite.
形成する

It is the task of statesmanship to mold, to balance, and to integrate these and other forces,
new and old, within the principles of our democratic system -- ever aiming toward thesupreme goals of our free society.
Another factor in maintaining balance involves the element of time. As we peer into衝動

刹那的に

society's future, we -- you and I, and our government -- must avoid the impulse to live
生きる

安逸を盗む

only for today, plundering for our own ease and convenience the precious resources of
抵当にする

tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking
the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all
破産した

generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow.
During the long lane of the history yet to be written, America knows that this world of ours,
ever growing smaller, must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be,
連帯instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect. Such a confederation must be
one of equals. The weakest must come to the conference table with the same confidence as
do we, protected as we are by our moral, economic, and military strength. That table,
傷つくthough scarred by many fast frustrations -- past frustrations, cannot be abandoned for thecertain agony of disarmament -- of the battlefield.
Disarmament, with mutual honor and confidence, is a continuing imperative. Together we
収拾するmust learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent
purpose. Because this need is so sharp and apparent, I confess that I lay down my official
失望

responsibilities in this field with a definite sense of disappointment . As one who has
隣り合わせになる

witnessed the horror and the lingering sadness of war, as one who knows that another war
could utterly destroy this civilization which has been so slowly and painfully built overIV

“Military-Industrial Complex” Speech
thousands of years, I wish I could say tonight that a lasting peace is in sight.
Happily, I can say that war has been avoided. Steady progress toward our ultimate goal has
been made. But so much remains to be done. As a private citizen, I shall never cease to dowhat little I can to help the world advance along that road.
So, in this, my last good night to you as your President, I thank you for the many
opportunities you have given me for public service in war and in peace. I trust in that -- inthat -- in that service you find some things worthy. As for the rest of it, I know you will findways to improve performance in the future.
You and I, my fellow citizens, need to be strong in our faith that all nations, under God, will
揺るぎない

reach the goal of peace with justice. May we be ever unswerving in devotion to principle,
熱心なconfident but humble with power, diligent in pursuit of the Nations' great goals.
To all the peoples of the world, I once more give expression to America's prayerful andcontinuing aspiration: We pray that peoples of all faiths, all races, all nations, may havetheir great human needs satisfied; that those now denied opportunity shall come to enjoy it希求する

to the full; that all who yearn for freedom may experience its few spiritual blessings. Those
who have freedom will understand, also, its heavy responsibility; that all who are
鈍感な災難

insensitive to the needs of others will learn charity; and that the sources -- scourges ofpoverty, disease, and ignorance will be made [to] disappear from the earth; and that in the
良い折に

goodness of time, all peoples will come to live together in a peace guaranteed by thebinding force of mutual respect and love.
Now, on Friday noon, I am to become a private citizen. I am proud to do so. I look forward
to it.
Thank you, and good night.

V