Age of Danger

"We live not in an instant of danger, but in an age of danger," said Dwight Eisenhower, as he faced the microphones in the White House for his first presidential speech directly to the people of the U.S. The President had turned down television for the old-fashioned radio, so that he could concentrate on careful reading of the two tough propositions he wanted to make clear. The propositions: 1) because the Communist danger is still very real, the Administration has decided on a policy of no tax cuts until next January (TIME, May 25) and must ask Congress to extend the unpopular excess profits tax when it expires next June 30; 2) because the danger is without visible end, the U.S. must trim back to a defense force which it can support economically, must cut some $5.2 billion out of the Truman defense budget--mostly from the Air Force.

Honest Formula. "The Soviet leaders . . . have hoped to force upon America and the free world an unbearable security burden leading to economic disaster," said the President. "It is fact that there is no such thing as maximum military security short of total mobilization of all our national resources. Such security would compel us to imitate the methods of the dictator . . . There is, I believe, only one honest, workable formula . . . a defense strong enough both to discourage aggression and beyond this to protect the nation--in the event of any aggression--as it moves swiftly to full mobilization."

Obviously trying to head off critics who are alarmed about prospective cuts in the Air Force program (from 143 wings to a thin 120 wings), Ike said pointedly: "With all this in mind, we are putting a major emphasis on air power . . . Our revised budget will provide the Air Force with more than 40% of all defense funds for 1954 . . . Buttressing this strength are those additional funds allocated to Naval air power for 1954--totaling more than half of the Navy budget. This means that almost 60-c- out of every dollar will be devoted to air power and air defense . . ."

Magic Numbers. "I most deeply believe that it is foolish and dangerous for any of us to be hypnotized by magic numbers . . . There is no given number of ships--no specific number of divisions--no special number of billions of dollars--that will automatically guarantee our security . . . Today three aircraft with modern weapons can practically duplicate the destructive power of all the 2,700 planes we unleashed in the great breakout attack from the Normandy beachhead . . . I [speak] to you . . . not only as your President but as one whose life has been devoted to the military defense of our country."

The President's speech was a forceful attack on the whole gigantic problem of U.S. economy and defense. The tax program gave clear answer to critics who have wondered if Eisenhower would use his enormous prestige with the voters to push for specific legislation. But his defense of the Air Force cuts, despite the personal guarantees of a great ex-soldier, did not satisfy defense-minded critics in Congress (see below).

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.