Fifty years ago today, on Jan. 17, 1961, Americans gathered around their TV sets to watch President Dwight D. Eisenhower's farewell speech from the White House. He chose his words carefully, and warned Americans about the growth in economic power and political influence of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry.
"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. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes," he said.
