Eisenhower was no stranger to war. Once a modest lieutenant general of the U.S. Army he became the supreme commander of U.S. forces in Europe during WWII. As the Soviet Union gained nuclear independence Eisenhower was sworn into the office of the presidency. For the first time the threat of the H-bomb was broadcast into the homes of Americans. In this speech Eisenhower initiates the idea for a peaceful resolution to the impending atomic war. He begins, "In this spring of 1953 the free world weighs one question above all others: the chance for a just peace for all peoples." (Eisenhower). He not only speaks to the American people but continuously directs his thoughts to those that choose Communism (Danzer et al).
In this speech we see Eisenhower willingness to move toward peace. He states, "The peace we seek, founded upon decent trust and cooperative effort among nations, can be fortified, not by weapons of war but by wheat and by cotton, by milk and by wool, by meat and timber and rice. These are words that translate into every language on earth. These are the needs that challenge this world in arms." (Eisenhower). He lists how redirecting the military budget can feed, house and educate thousands of people. This speech is a respectable attempt for peace that I believe will encourage a better understanding of the early years of the Cold War. It will also present to the student a view of presidential policy different from our current one.
I have chosen this speech for a number of reasons. Eisenhower does a formidable job of promoting his desire for peace. I hope that my students will be able to pick up on this fact and determine that trust between nations is crucial for peace. I also like the structure of the speech. Eisenhower begins with an introduction about the present situation of the world. He predicts various outcomes of each situation, then begins to formulate ways to end the threat of war by opening communication among nations and limiting the amount of resources sanctioned for war. Eisenhower also utilizes effective persuasive techniques in his speech. His use of pitch gives him the ability to stress words of importance. By pausing before points that are made he causes his audience to sit in anticipation.
By using this source my students will be able to list economic burdens of war. They will determine ways in which nations with opposing views can work together to limit their military while gaining each other's trust. It covers historical situations of World War II such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and U.S. and Soviet relations during and after 1945. He mentions conflicts in Korea and Germany which will be further discussed in the following speeches and his use of vocabulary words such as
armistice, rhetoric, oratory, propaganda and armaments
will continue to increase content specific vocabulary knowledge.
