Brief Summary
The Set-Up
Eisenhower was president for eight years, and a lot happened under his watch (for starters: The Korean Armistice, the creation of the interstate highway system, the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the creation of NASA, the beginning of the nuclear arms race and the beginning of nuclear arms control efforts). A few days before his term was up, he delivered a nationally televised farewell speech to give the American people a few words of advice.
The Text
Ike had a couple of pointed criticisms (or warnings, depending on how you look at it), but he couched them in very polite and inspirational rhetoric about the ideals of America, the position of leadership the country held in the post-WWII world, and how peace and brotherhood are just the best.
The criticisms/warnings:
- Don't let the weapons business and special interests run the country.
- Don't gobble up all the resources, because most of those belong to the future citizens of this country, aka our children.
- World peace has to be the mission of America, so don't get side-tracked.
TL;DR
Stay true to your ideals, America; don't lose your soul fighting evil.