Eisenhower's Farewell Address Theme of Power

With great power comes great responsibility. Peter Parker knew it. Ike knew it.

It's hard to appreciate that until WWII, The U.S. wasn't the superpower we now know it to be. Eisenhower saw the rise of the nation's global power and influence after the war, and that's one of the most important themes in his farewell address. The power of the United States military, the power of new weapons and technology—he knew they had the ability to heal the wounds of the world and the power to destroy it. He saw the growing influence of special interest groups and industry, and was worried that they'd come to have way too much influence on government policies if left unchecked.

Eisenhower knew a thing or two about how power can be abused. He'd seen the results firsthand while overseeing post-war Germany and visiting a ravaged Europe and Russia. He saw Stalin turning European countries into vassal Soviet states. Now that most of the world could be obliterated with the press of a nuclear button, he believed it fell to the U.S. to see that that didn't happen.

Like Uncle Ben said, "Just because you can beat him up, it doesn't give you the right to." Ben must have heard that farewell address.

1. What did Eisenhower think was the proper role of American influence in the world, including military influence?
2. How do you think the rise of nuclear weapons affected Ike's view of American power?
3. What would Ike think about the current activities of U.S. military/intelligence agencies?
4. In hindsight, was Ike's interventionist approach during the Cold War the best way forward (look, for instance, at the long-term effects of the Iranian/Guatemalan coups)?

Ike saw the U.S.'s power as a major force for good in the world.

Ike wasn't sure at all if the nation would use its new global economic and military power wisely.