Missiles, Motels, and the Military-Industrial Complex

President Dwight Eisenhower, in his 1961 farewell address, advised the country to guard themselves against the “unwarranted influence” of the military-industrial complex. Despite being a military leader and a hero of World War II, the President recognized that the growing collaboration between the military, the government, and the growing defense industry—if left unchecked—could overwhelmingly influence national policy. Within his farewell address, President Eisenhower warned that “the potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”

The Minutemen Missiles in South Dakota are an example of the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned of. The government’s investment in “42,000” miles of freeway “designed to provide an efficient means of moving large numbers of military personnel and huge quantities of military equipment and supplies” significantly impacted the local regions of the Great Plains (Heefner 181). Many miles of the new freeways crossed through South Dakota, leading to the development of local tourist locations, fast food chains, and motels that still litter South Dakota’s landscape and influence its economy today. Utilizing these new freeways, the government strategically constructed and maintained “150 Minuteman Missile silos” across the state (181). While the placement of these silos where optimized for military efficiency—being spaced far enough apart from one another to decrease the likelihood of attack, within striking distance of the Soviet Union, and far enough away from the oceans to avoid a naval attack—they were placed without local needs in mind. Often, these silos were constructed in inconvenient places for local farmers and ranchers, sometimes “right in the middle of valuable fields rather than in corners or on less valuable grazing land” (188). The government often acquired the pre-selected lands through direct purchase or through eminent domain, regardless of the needs and wants of the actual land owners. This was done even in spite of protest from South Dakotans, who formed coalitions that tried to fight against the military’s intrusion, such as the Minuteman Area Landowners Association (MALA). This acquisition of land exemplifies the military-industrial complex, where the government prioritized military defense needs over the rights of its citizens, even when a reasonable compromise could have been reached. President Eisenhower cautioned against the dangers of such concentrated power, as it sets a troubling precedent that could undermine democratic principles and elevate military interests above the welfare of the public.

I think that a silo was preserved as a national historic site with the National Park Service because it is an important part of South Dakota history. Even more so however, I believe that it highlights the tensions between the government, military, and local regions during the Cold War, adding important nuance to an oftentimes simplified story. By showcasing the histories of organizations such as the MALA that are often overlooked in Cold War history, the site could enhance people’s understanding of the military-industrial complex and the direct effects it had on local regions.