Do these speeches show basic agreement or disagreement a bout the goals of national policy? Use specific examples from the speeches to illustrate your ideas.
"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 – 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 implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society".
Eisenhower wanted to improve the arms that the united states had by becoming more technologically advanced and making the US stronger by increasing the amount of supplies we had.
JFK wanted to use mental tactics and well thought out moves before using weapons.
In this sentence he states that arms are necessary and we will have to eventually fight but the reason that we are fighting is also impoartant and it is good to be smart in the decisions that we make.
"Now the trumpet summons us again—not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are—but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"—a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself".
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So. . more agreement or disagreement in your informed opinion? Eisenhower is famous in this address for warning against the growing power of the military industrial complex-a by product of the Cold War but not one that Eisenhower believes is necessarily good for the nation. In fact, his doubts about this industry and its overwhelming power are what prompt him to deliver this farewell address (in the same vein as George Washington). Kennedy is definitely more lofty in his speech--the difference between a farewell and an inauguration I guess! And he does commit the US to prepare for a long and difficult struggle in the battle against the forces that are keeping human progress at bay: oppression, poverty, disease. He's not embracing the idea of war in this speech though recognizing that at times war is unavoidable if your goals are to protect and promote liberty. You've chosen good quotes for the basis of your comparison. Now I want to read more of the comparison!
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