1957 / Little Rock

Eisenhower Calls in the Troops

Tags:: 1957,; civil rights,; Dwight D. Eisenhower,; letters,; Little Rock,; schools

WA0137 NL PD

LITTLE ROCK ARK SEP 30
THE PRESIDENT
THE WHITE HOUSE

WE THE PARENTS OF NINE NEGRO CHILDREN ENROLLED AT LITTLE
ROCK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR
ACTION IN SAFE GUARDING THEIR RIGHTS HAVE STRENGTHENED
OUR FAITH IN DEMOCRACY STOP NOW AS NEVER BEFORE WE HAVE
AN ABIDING FEELING OF BELONGING AND PURPOSEFULNESS STOP
WE BELIEVE THAT FREEDOM AND EQUALITY WITH WHICH ALL MEN
ARE ENDOWED AT BIRTH CAN BE MAINTAINED ONLY THROUGH
FREEDOM AND EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF DEVELOPMENT
GROWTH AND PURPOSEFUL CITIZENSHIP STOP WE BELIEVE THAT
THE DEGREE TO WHICH PEOPLE EVERYWHERE REALIZE AND ACCEPT THIS CONCEPT WILL DETERMINE IN A LARGE MEASURE AMERICAS TRUE GROWTH AND TRUE GREATNESS STOP YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED ADMIRABLY TO US THE NATION AND THE WORLD HOW PROFOUNDLY YOU BELIEVE IN THIS CONCEPT STOP FOR THIS WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL AND RESPECTFULLY EXTEND TO YOU OUR HEARTFELT AND LASTING THANKS STOP MAY THE ALMIGHTY AND ALL WISE FATHER OF US ALL PLEASE GUIDE AND KEEP YOU ALWAYS

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Published In

Ways of Learning

About the Text

A telegram sent to President Dwight D. Eisenhower by parents threatened with death if they brought their children to the Little Rock Central High School. Eisenhower sent federal troops to restrain a white, brick-throwing mob. By noon, local police were forced to evacuate the nine students.

If the heavens were all parchment, and the trees of the forest all pens, and every human being were a scribe, it would still be impossible to record all that I have learned from my teachers.