The Growth of American Power Through Cold and Hot Wars 343their cordial wartime relations and quickly fell into a cold war against each
other, with the Americans holding a large advantage. U.S. leaders created
military and economic institutions and policies to expand their influence, and
punished countries that chose to go a different way–such as Guatemala or
Vietnam. At home, the government used fear to promote national security and
made liberty a secondary, if that, concern. But, for those who created and
coordinated the cold war, the ruling class, their work paid off handsomely. The
U.S., as George Kennan had put it, was able to “maintain this position of dis-
parity” and acquire huge wealth and power. Even as the American people had
their rights and liberties restricted, the economy grew at a rapid pace so wages
and benefits increased and the average worker–at least the white male–was
able to have a well-paid job and perhaps even a home and car.
But, still, the cold war was exacting a heavy price. With massive defense
budgets and deficits, along with the need for global economic stability, the
new president elected in 1953, Dwight Eisenhower, believed that global poli-
tics had to change. In March 1953, Stalin died, providing Eisenhower with an
opening to approach the cold war in new ways. Barely a month later, the new
president gave a speech titled “The Chance for Peace” in which he seemed to
argue that it was time to seriously tone down the rivalry between the U.S.
and the communist world. Eisenhower’s words were stirring. While still point-
ing out the Soviet danger, the president took aim at the priority given to
national security and militarization:
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signi-
fies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed.
This world in arms in not spending money alone.
It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the
hopes of its children.
The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in
more than 30 cities.
It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population.
It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals.
It is some 50 miles of concrete highway.
We pay for a single fighter with a half million bushels of wheat.