Taken from an earlier comment of mine here: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5j3goa/why_did_eisenhower_a_military_man_feel_it_was/

I would say when taken out of context it might seem that way. But when we consider that he was not arguing against defense contracting per se, but making clear the need for a forceful hand at the top it takes on a new light.

IKE thought he was such a hand, but that JFK was not, hence putting people on blast and setting JFK up to be scrutinized on the subject. Especially after IKE downsized the conventional forces in favor of strategic and nuclear assets with his "New Look".