President Eisenhower's Notes on Governor Faubus's Visit
10/8/1957
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President Dwight D. Eisenhower dictated these notes on October 8, 1957, concerning the visit of Governor Orval Faubus on September 14, 1957. The men talked about the Little Rock school integration controversy for two hours at the Naval Base in Newport, Rhode Island.
On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that segregated schools were "inherently unequal" and ordered that U.S. public schools be desegregated "with all deliberate speed." In the summer of 1957, Little Rock, Arkansas, made plans to desegregate its public schools.
In September, nine Black students – collectively known as the "Little Rock Nine" – enrolled at Central High School in Little Rock. The ensuing struggle between segregationists and integrationists, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, and the federal government (especially President Dwight D. Eisenhower himself) became known as the "Little Rock Crisis."
The night before school was to start, on September 2, Governor Faubus announced that he had called out the state's National Guard to surround Little Rock Central High School and preserve order. He explained that he was taking this action to protect citizens and property from possible violence by protesters he claimed were headed in caravans toward Little Rock.
On September 4, the nine Black students attempted to enter Central High. The students had planned to meet and enter as a group; though one student, Elizabeth Eckford, did not receive this news and attempted to enter the school by herself, only to be threatened and harassed by an angry mob of segregationists. The students were turned away and denied entry by the Arkansas National Guard. That evening, Governor Faubus revealed that he had ordered the National Guard to prevent the Black students from entering.
President Eisenhower, who was vacationing in Newport, RI, invited meet Governor Faubus to meet him at the Naval Base at Newport to discuss the tense situation. In the meeting, Faubus indicated that he would respect the desegregation order. Eisenhower therefore suggested that Faubus not necessarily withdraw the National Guard troops, but instruct them to preserve order and allow the Black students to attend Central High.
However, once back in Little Rock, Governor Faubus withdrew the National Guard. A few days later, when the Black students entered the school, a full-scale riot erupted. The situation was quickly out of control, as Governor Faubus failed to stop the violence. Finally, Congressman Brooks Hays and Little Rock Mayor Woodrow Mann asked the federal government for help, first in the form of U.S. marshals.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, as the chief law enforcement officer of the United States, was presented with a difficult problem. He was required to uphold the Constitution and the laws, but he also wanted to avoid a bloody confrontation in Arkansas. He issued Executive Order 10730, placing the Arkansas National Guard under federal control, and sent 1,000 U.S. Army paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division to assist them in restoring order in Little Rock.
On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that segregated schools were "inherently unequal" and ordered that U.S. public schools be desegregated "with all deliberate speed." In the summer of 1957, Little Rock, Arkansas, made plans to desegregate its public schools.
In September, nine Black students – collectively known as the "Little Rock Nine" – enrolled at Central High School in Little Rock. The ensuing struggle between segregationists and integrationists, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, and the federal government (especially President Dwight D. Eisenhower himself) became known as the "Little Rock Crisis."
The night before school was to start, on September 2, Governor Faubus announced that he had called out the state's National Guard to surround Little Rock Central High School and preserve order. He explained that he was taking this action to protect citizens and property from possible violence by protesters he claimed were headed in caravans toward Little Rock.
On September 4, the nine Black students attempted to enter Central High. The students had planned to meet and enter as a group; though one student, Elizabeth Eckford, did not receive this news and attempted to enter the school by herself, only to be threatened and harassed by an angry mob of segregationists. The students were turned away and denied entry by the Arkansas National Guard. That evening, Governor Faubus revealed that he had ordered the National Guard to prevent the Black students from entering.
President Eisenhower, who was vacationing in Newport, RI, invited meet Governor Faubus to meet him at the Naval Base at Newport to discuss the tense situation. In the meeting, Faubus indicated that he would respect the desegregation order. Eisenhower therefore suggested that Faubus not necessarily withdraw the National Guard troops, but instruct them to preserve order and allow the Black students to attend Central High.
However, once back in Little Rock, Governor Faubus withdrew the National Guard. A few days later, when the Black students entered the school, a full-scale riot erupted. The situation was quickly out of control, as Governor Faubus failed to stop the violence. Finally, Congressman Brooks Hays and Little Rock Mayor Woodrow Mann asked the federal government for help, first in the form of U.S. marshals.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, as the chief law enforcement officer of the United States, was presented with a difficult problem. He was required to uphold the Constitution and the laws, but he also wanted to avoid a bloody confrontation in Arkansas. He issued Executive Order 10730, placing the Arkansas National Guard under federal control, and sent 1,000 U.S. Army paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division to assist them in restoring order in Little Rock.
This primary source comes from the Collection DDE-EPRES: Eisenhower, Dwight D.: Papers as President of the United States.
National Archives Identifier: 186622
Full Citation: Diary Dictated by President Eisenhower on October 8, 1957, Concerning the Visit of Governor Orval Faubus on September 14, 1957; 10/8/1957; Staff Notes March 1958 (2); Dwight D. Eisenhower Diary, 1953 - 1961; Collection DDE-EPRES: Eisenhower, Dwight D.: Papers as President of the United States; Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, Abilene, KS. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/diary-eisenhower-faubus, May 2, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.