Presidential Papers, Doc#379 To Ted Dalton, 10 October 1957. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
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Document #379; October 10, 1957
To Ted Dalton
Series: EM, WHCF, Official File 142-A-5-A
The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XVIII - The Presidency: Keeping the Peace
Part III: The Space Age Begins; October 1957 to January 1958
Chapter 6: Sputnik and "the fears of our own people"

 

Dear Ted:1 I deeply appreciate your telegram of September twenty-eighth. I believe the excerpt from the Republican platform contains some good logic. In fact, that language (after considerable consultation) had my personal approval, even after some of my consultants had made radically more drastic suggestions.2

However, in this particular situation the problem with which I was faced, while arising out of the integration plans of the Little Rock School Board, did not directly concern that matter. To be faithful to my oath as President I am compelled to prevent obstruction of the orders of a Federal Court. The troops were used only after State authorities had shown that they would not do anything to prevent such obstruction in that locality.3

Our free institutions depend upon a respect of all citizens of our Courts and their decisions. Chaos and anarchy will prevail if their orders can be flouted by mobs.

I am most anxious that a solution be evolved which will assure obedience to the orders of the United States District Court, the protection of the Negro children involved, and the maintenance of law and order. When these conditions prevail there the necessity for Federal troops will exist no longer.4

With warm regard, Sincerely

1 Dalton (LL.B. College of William and Mary 1926), a member of the state senate of Virginia since 1944, was a member of the Republican National Committee.

2 Dalton said he had argued against forced integration before the platform committee at the Republican National Convention in 1956. The excerpted statement read: "We believe that true progress can be attained through intelligent study, understanding, education and good will. Use of force or violence by any group or agency will tend only to worsen the many problems inherent in the situation" (same file as document).

Eisenhower rewrote this first paragraph (see Ann Whitman to Jack [Anderson], n.d., same file as document).

3 On the desegregation crisis at Central High School see no. 330; on Eisenhower's September 24 decision to send federal troops to Little Rock see no. 357. Dalton had urged withdrawal of the troops because, he said, Virginians and Southerners feel that this action is not "in keeping with that pledge." Not all Southerners reacted in the same manner (see, for example, nos. 371 and 378).

4 On October 14 Eisenhower would begin withdrawing the army forces and would release most of the National Guardsmen from federal service. Nine days later the African-American students would enter Central High without escort(see no. 374, n. 2).

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Ted Dalton, 10 October 1957. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 379. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/second-term/documents/379.cfm

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