Washington warned against military spending
Presidents Day arrives right after the Trump administration released a budget with massive military spending, including for nuclear arms. If we heed the warnings from the two most notable presidential farewell addresses, George Washington’s and Dwight Eisenhower’s, we would have a strategy of peace and disarmament instead.
President Washington, who led our country to victory in the Revolutionary War, cautioned against too much military spending. Washington warned of “those overgrown military establishments which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.”
Washington knew the costs of war. In the farewell address he emphasized “avoiding occasions of expense by cultivating peace.”
Washington believed the United States needed to be an example to the world of a peacemaker. This was an important part of his farewell address, which was published in newspapers. He said, “Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be, that good policy does not equally enjoin it — It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and at no distant period, a great nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence.”
Every year the U.S. Senate reads aloud Washington’s farewell address. Surely one must wonder what Washington would think of our involvement in Yemen as we support the Saudi coalition that is fighting the Houthi rebels.
Washington’s farewell address inspired many presidents, including Dwight Eisenhower. In 1961, Ike made his final speech to the nation warning of the military-industrial complex.
Washington advised against foreign entanglements. Our military aid to the Saudis has prolonged Yemen’s civil war, leaving over 20 million victims in hunger. Washington would advise us to be a peacemaker and humanitarian in Yemen, not enabling the fight.
Washington’s farewell address inspired many presidents, including Dwight Eisenhower. In 1961, Ike made his final speech to the nation warning of the military-industrial complex. Eisenhower saw how those who profited from armaments and war could seek to increase military spending. That was dangerous to the country and our peace efforts.
Ike said: “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.”
Eisenhower encouraged the public to stay involved and question such calls for increased military spending. Ike said “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.”
Not achieving a lasting peace was a great disappointment to Ike. He knew the horrors of war and the burdens on citizens for maintaining defense. He said, “Disarmament, with mutual honor and confidence, is a continuing imperative. Together we must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose.”
Although Eisenhower was a general, he was dedicated to peace. He ended the fighting of the Korean War just months into office and held peace talks with the Soviets at Geneva in 1955. Eisenhower’s administration started arms control initiatives including Atoms for Peace, Open Skies and efforts to achieve a nuclear test ban treaty. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty has still yet to be ratified by the Senate.
In wrapping up his farewell address Ike said, “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 do what little I can to help the world advance along that road.” We can all do our part as citizens advocating for peace.
But today we remain engaged in wars and excessive military spending. A dangerous nuclear arms race looms with a huge price tag.
On Presidents Day let’s listen to Washington, Eisenhower and their final words of wisdom and peace for our nation.