Press release from September 23, 1957 in which President Dwight D. Eisenhower addresses the ongoing school integration crisis at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Eisenhower affirms the laws of the United States, pledges the government's full power to enforce the rulings of the federal courts, urges that a "sense of justice and fair play prevail," and expresses his confidence in the citizens of Little Rock and Arkansas to respect the law. The Little Rock school district voted to integrate its schools in 1957. Governor Faubus, opposed to integration, sent members of the Arkansas National Guard to prevent African American students--the "Little Rock Nine"--from entering Little Rock Central High School on September 4. Federal courts ordered Governor Faubus to remove the troops and permit the nine students to enter the school on September 23, 1957. However, because of the rioting that continued outside, the students were removed from the school after three hours. President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered troops from the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock to restore order and to protect the students. After a single year of integration, Governor Faubus closed the Little Rock public high schools to avoid further integration. The United States Supreme Court declared Faubus' action illegal and the public schools reopened August 1959.

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Collection: Papers of James C. Hagerty, Press Secretary to the President, 1953-1961, Series: Subject Files Series, Box Number: 6, Folder Title: Integration--Little Rock, 1957 (1).

Rights Status: Unrestricted

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Forms part of: Presidential Timeline of the Twentieth Century.