During his farewell address in January of 1961, President Eisenhower said the following regarding the “immense military establishment” and “large arms industry” that was beginning to characterize America:

“We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society. 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 misplaced power exists and will persist.”

It is in this speech that President Eisenhower first coined the term “military-industrial complex” to describe the state of the economy during the Cold War. Eisenhower reiterates that although military involvement and spending is vital for national security, it is important that the American people recognize the magnitude of this development and ensure that power is kept in check. This statement can be seen as a warning to the nation that the ever-expanding defence industry and its very close ties to the government could lead to (1) excessive defence spending, (2) misplaced power, and (3) a shift in national priorities away from the needs of civilians and towards defence and war. The Minutemen Missiles in South Dakota illustrate all three of these categories.

The Minutemen Missiles were an investment, costing just over $75.7 million. While this is less costly than the Titan sites, it illustrates the US government’s willingness to spend large—sometimes excessive—amounts on defence and security (Heefner). In South Dakota, the spending was largely justified because of the economic opportunities it brought to an area that otherwise had “little organic job creation” (Heefner). As the Minutemen project created jobs in construction, maintenance, and security, aspects of the local economy became dependent on military spending. This makes defence contractors (companies like Boeing, for example) even more powerful because of how involved they are in government and the economy—exactly what President Eisenhower was warning against. This perpetuates a never-ending cycle of military spending, and less regard for the lives of nearby civilians. Similar to how the Nevada Testing Site was selected, the government selected Western South Dakota to house the Minutemen Missiles because of its “maximum strategic efficacy” and with little regard to the needs of locals. In fact, any locals that voiced reluctance to the placement of the Minutemen Missiles was labeled “unpatriotic” (Heefner). 

The Cold War looked different from other wars in history—it was rooted in technology, and there were no “fallen soldiers” that war memorials are typically based on. But, as Heefner illustrates, there was still sacrifice (for example, from those that worked the “invisible, thankless jobs” at the Minutemen site)—it just took on a different form. She writes: “Cold war sacrifice has a different meaning—a sacrifice of patience and vigilance; the tedium of waiting and watching. It was also a sacrifice of space and security, as ranchers were asked to cede title to their property and communities were asked to shelter nuclear weapons.” The heroes of the Minutemen Missiles project are not just those working in the government, but also the ranchers who sacrificed their land and the civilians who lived alongside the missiles. It is important that we honor these individuals. While the silo may not look like much from I-90, it is a historical monument that invites people to ponder deep questions and reflect on the stories of those that worked with the project and lived around it. As people look down into the silo at the missile, it can also serve as a sobering reminder of the magnitude of destructive power that was largely kept away from the public eye. As Heefner says, “Monuments are markers of the sacrifices made by others to make the present possible and a reminder that sacrifice may need to be made again.”

Outside source: https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/president-dwight-d-eisenhowers-farewell-address