When Dwight D. Eisenhower envisioned the Interstate Highway System, he wasn’t thinking about convenient road trips to Disney World or the nearest Cracker Barrel. No, Eisenhower—our five-star general turned president—had a far more serious purpose in mind: national defense. Yes, that’s right. The highway system you now associate with summer vacations, traffic jams, and highway rest stops stocked with suspiciously stale coffee was originally designed to protect the country. Imagine explaining that to the average person stuck on I-95 during rush hour.

Eisenhower’s vision wasn’t born out of some utopian ideal of seamless cross-country travel. It was a direct response to what he saw during World War II. While commanding American forces in Europe, Eisenhower noticed how efficiently the German Autobahn moved troops, supplies, and equipment. Now, say what you will about the Germans, but they knew how to build a road. Eisenhower realized the United States, with its patchwork of poorly connected roads, was woefully unprepared for a large-scale military mobilization. That realization stuck with him, and when he became president, he made it a priority to modernize our infrastructure—not for convenience, but for survival.

The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 wasn’t just a public works project; it was a strategic initiative to ensure that America could move troops and equipment quickly in the event of a national emergency. Think about that the next time you’re stuck behind an 18-wheeler hauling crates of soda. These highways weren’t just about getting from Point A to Point B—they were about ensuring Point A could defend itself against an invasion while Point B sent reinforcements.

Of course, the system also had civilian benefits, and Eisenhower wasn’t blind to them. It’s not like he didn’t appreciate that Americans would enjoy smoother travel or faster commerce. But those were secondary to the primary goal: national security. The system was designed with features that directly catered to defense needs. For instance, many stretches of highway are straight and flat enough to double as emergency landing strips for military aircraft. That’s not a happy coincidence; it’s by design. Eisenhower was thinking about how to keep the country safe, not just how to get the kids to grandma’s house faster.

Fast-forward to today, and the purpose of the Interstate System has been almost entirely forgotten. Most Americans don’t even know it was inspired by national defense, and instead, they view it as just another taxpayer-funded convenience. Worse, some people see it as a climate-change villain—those pesky roads enabling all those evil gas-guzzling SUVs to roam free. That’s the modern world for you: repurpose something designed to protect the country and then complain that it’s not environmentally friendly enough.

And let’s talk about the state of the system today. The Interstates were once the crown jewel of American ingenuity and determination, a testament to what this country could accomplish when we prioritized our collective interests. Now, they’re more like a patchwork quilt of potholes and construction zones. The same politicians who love to lecture us about infrastructure are the first to siphon off funds to pet projects that have nothing to do with actual roads. Meanwhile, China is building superhighways, and we’re stuck debating whether bike lanes should take priority over fixing bridges.

Eisenhower understood something that seems to elude modern leaders: infrastructure isn’t just about convenience or aesthetics. It’s about functionality and preparedness. The Interstate System wasn’t a vanity project; it was a lifeline. It was a way to ensure that in times of crisis, America could hold its own. It’s a pity that vision has been watered down to the point where most Americans have no idea what the system was really built for.

But maybe it’s time to remind them. The next time you’re cruising down the highway, dodging potholes and enduring endless construction delays, take a moment to think about Eisenhower. Think about a president who understood the importance of national defense and wasn’t afraid to invest in it. Think about what it means to have leaders with foresight, leaders who prioritize the long-term strength and security of the country over short-term political gains. And maybe, just maybe, think about how we could use a little more of that kind of leadership today.