WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (UPI) -- President Eisenhower cautioned Americans in a solemn farewell address tonight against letting a military-scientific industrial elite exert unwarranted influences over the government during the struggle with world communism.
Ending 50 years if national service in war and peace, the President also told the nation it faced a long struggle against the "hostile ideology" of communism.
He advised the people not to be tempted by what might appear be some "miraculous solution."
The 70-year-old chief executive who eight years ago began his administration on a religious note opened his nationwide radio-TV speech with prayerful words for his successor John F Kennedy. He closed with a prayer for all peoples.
In the heart of his 20-minute address he called attention to the rise since World War II of an "immense" military establishment and arms industry which while imperative to defend the country carries with it "grave implications"
Influence Felt Everywhere
He said its influence already is felt in every city state and Federal office. He appealed to an "alert" citizenry to "take nothing for granted" and make sure that this "military-industrial complex" does not dominate the government.
Likewise he said the nation must forge ahead in scientific search and development. But again he warned that the influence of the scientific community must be molded within the democratic system.
The old soldier's solemn warning against undue government influence by these group came as something of a surprise to Washington. It had expected a more nostalgic leave-taking by the President.
But there was only slight remembrance of things past as the President bade "my last good night to you as your President" from a White House office that already had been stripped of most of his personal belongings including his oil paintings.
He pledged that he would "never cease to do what little I can" to achieve peace and disarmament with mutual honor and confidence. The world, he added, must never abandon the conference table scarred as it may be for "the certain agony of the battlefield."
The President whose White House lease runs out Friday when Kennedy moves in delivered his speech at the end of a busy day in which he greeted a smiling Japanese housemaid, signed a historic treaty with Canada and urged new actions by Congress.
New to America
Pointing to the rise of the military establishment and arms industry in recent years he said that defense spending now runs higher than the net income of all U.S. corporations. Then he added:
"This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. 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 displaced power exists and will persist. W must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberty or democratic processes."
The chief executive also said the Federal government is assuming a steadily-increasing role in scientific research.
"The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations and the power of money is ever present and is gravely to be regarded," he declared.
"Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect as we should, we must also be alert to equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of scientific-technological elite."
Disarmament Drag Deplored
Eisenhower said he was leaving office with a definite sense of disappointment because of the 'relative lack of progress in disarmament negotiations with Russia. It was in this connection he pledged to do what he could for peace.
Eisenhower wished President-Elect Kennedy and his Administration "Godspeed" and voiced a prayerful hope the coming years will be blessed with peace and prosperity.
