Eisenhower Atoms For Peace

Words: 1319
Pages: 6

In the tense times of the Cold War, when the threat of a nuclear war still hangs over the heads of humanity, fearing for the worst to happen, humanity braced itself for the looming shadow of nuclear catastrophe. In response to this first-hand threat, arms control emerged as a beacon of hope for society, opening a pathway towards peace and stability. Stemming from the urgent need to reduce the risks of nuclear proliferation and prevent catastrophic conflicts, global arms control initiatives have become a critical necessity. However, as nations worked to achieve this goal of cooperation and strategic restraint, unintended consequences began to emerge. Despite these challenges, the maintenance of arms control globally has been aided by the imperative of …show more content…
Eisenhower expressed the desire of his country to pursue a constructive path of engagement instead of a destructive route for conflict. Eisenhower emphasizes, "My country wants to be constructive, not destructive." It wants agreements, not wars, among nations. It wants itself to live in freedom and in the confidence that the people of every other nation enjoy equally the right of choosing their own way of life" (Eisenhower). Eisenhower emphasizes the urgent need to address the risk posed by nuclear proliferation in favor of international agreements rather than wars. His vision for a free and confident living world where nations live with respect for one another reflects the broader goal of the arms control initiative,which is to bring diverse countries and cultures together for the betterment of the world. Similar to Eisenhower's remarks on nuclear weaponry, President John F. Kennedy echoed his predecessor by acknowledging the impact of nuclear weapons on the world. President John F. Kennedy, in his "Address on the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty" speech, reflects on how "Eighteen years ago the advent of nuclear weapons changed the course of the world as well as the