Draft of President Eisenhower's Little Rock Speech
9/24/1957
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President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave this speech, broadcast on radio and TV, the day after issuing Executive Order 10730, that sent Federal troops to maintain order and peace while the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, AR, took place.
On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in Brown v. Topeka Board of Education that segregated schools were "inherently unequal" and ordered that U.S. public schools be desegregated "with all deliberate speed." Within a week of the 1954 decision, Arkansas was one of two Southern states to announce it would begin immediately to take steps to comply with the Brown decision.
The city of Little Rock made plans to desegregate its public schools. In September, nine African American students (who would come to be known as the "Little Rock Nine") enrolled at Central High School in Little Rock. The ensuing struggle between segregationists and integrationists, the Governor of the State of Arkansas and the Federal Government, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus became known as the "Little Rock Crisis."
On September 2, the night before school was to start, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus called out the state's National Guard to surround Little Rock Central High School and prevent any black students from entering. The Governor explained that his action was taken to protect citizens and property from possible violence by protesters he claimed were headed in caravans toward Little Rock. President Eisenhower arranged to meet Governor Faubus to discuss the tense situation. In their brief meeting, Eisenhower thought Faubus agreed to enroll the students, so he told Faubus that his National Guard troops could stay at Central High and enforce order. However, once back in Little Rock, Governor Faubus withdrew the National Guard.
A few days later, when the nine African American students entered the school, a riot erupted. Governor Faubus failed to stop the violence. Congressman Brooks Hays and Little Rock Mayor Woodrow Mann asked the Federal Government for help, first in the form of U.S. marshals.
Using Executive Order 10730, President Eisenhower placed 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. Topeka Board of Education that segregated schools were "inherently unequal" and ordered that U.S. public schools be desegregated "with all deliberate speed." Within a week of the 1954 decision, Arkansas was one of two Southern states to announce it would begin immediately to take steps to comply with the Brown decision.
The city of Little Rock made plans to desegregate its public schools. In September, nine African American students (who would come to be known as the "Little Rock Nine") enrolled at Central High School in Little Rock. The ensuing struggle between segregationists and integrationists, the Governor of the State of Arkansas and the Federal Government, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus became known as the "Little Rock Crisis."
On September 2, the night before school was to start, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus called out the state's National Guard to surround Little Rock Central High School and prevent any black students from entering. The Governor explained that his action was taken to protect citizens and property from possible violence by protesters he claimed were headed in caravans toward Little Rock. President Eisenhower arranged to meet Governor Faubus to discuss the tense situation. In their brief meeting, Eisenhower thought Faubus agreed to enroll the students, so he told Faubus that his National Guard troops could stay at Central High and enforce order. However, once back in Little Rock, Governor Faubus withdrew the National Guard.
A few days later, when the nine African American students entered the school, a riot erupted. Governor Faubus failed to stop the violence. Congressman Brooks Hays and Little Rock Mayor Woodrow Mann asked the Federal Government for help, first in the form of U.S. marshals.
Using Executive Order 10730, President Eisenhower placed 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: 12237735
Full Citation: Draft of President Dwight E. Eisenhower's Speech of September 24, 1957; 9/24/1957; Integration, Little Rock, September 24, 1957; Speech Files, 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/draft-eisenhower-little-rock-speech, April 27, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
