Note 36 — Chapter IV · WHO IS ATTACKED IN THE MEMORANDUM?

Ibid., p. 13437, col. 1,b. President Eisenhower said: “Accordingly, should departmental instructions be so phrased as unduly to prohibit desirable military participation in these educational efforts respecting the Communist menace, I suggest that your committee recommend their restudy with view to appropriate revision. The Reds are well aware of the integrity, patriotic motives, and high qualifications of our military. I suspect they would be delighted if we should prevent such people from spreading the truth about Communist imperialism.

“Pertaining at least indirectly to this subject, I have heard of accusations alleging that military education is so narrow as to make service personnel incapable of grasping the whole complex of dangers confronting our country. It is hinted that the entire officer corps has become politically infected, and prone to be disloyal to the Commander in Chief. I, for one, want to be on record as expressing my indestructible faith and pride in our armed services—even though their loyalty, patriotism, and breadth of understanding needs no defense from me or anyone else” (Military Cold War Education and Speech Review Policies, Part 1, p. 7.)

“I believe, therefore, that your committee will render valuable service by rejecting the recent spate of attacks upon the competence and loyalty of the military and by disapproving any effort to thrust them, so to speak, behind an American iron curtain, ordered to stand mutely by as hostile forces tirelessly strive to undermine every aspect of American life.” (ibid., p. 7).

Admiral Arthur W. Radford also thought that the military ought to be used in the cold war. He further emphasized that attacks on the military could hurt morale and that it was the duty of civilian authorities to defend the military against “unwarranted and unjust civilian attacks” (ibid., part 2, pp. 707-708).