Retreat from Newport

It was a momentous confrontation, set before a backdrop of high feeling and history. The rebellious governor of the state of Arkansas, defying U.S. courts and U.S. law, went to plead his case before the President of the U.S. There was quiet, friendly talk behind closed doors; there were smiles and handshakes for the camera, then politely worded, carefully prepared statements. Through all of these devices the result was clear: the President of the U.S. had flatly insisted that the governor of Arkansas must bow to the law and withdraw from his position of rebellion.

The meeting began at 8:50 a.m. on a grey, sticky morning last weekend, after a marine helicopter put Arkansas' Governor Orval Faubus down on the lawn of Dwight Eisenhower's vacation headquarters at Newport, R.I. First the President and the governor talked alone for 20 minutes behind the drawn blinds of a tiny office. Then they moved to an adjoining room for a two-hour conference with Attorney General Herbert Brownell Jr., White House Staff Chief Sherman Adams, and Arkansas' Democratic Representative Brooks Hays, who had helped arrange the meeting (see below).

Smiling & Wan. At the outset, President Eisenhower characteristically asked everyone to speak frankly and freely. They did. The discussion ranged over the timing of school desegregation not only in Arkansas but throughout the South. Faubus explained at length the integration progress already made in Arkansas, at the state university in Fayetteville, in public transit systems, etc. Finally the governor made a significant request: that Little Rock integration be delayed (a mere year's postponement would get Faubus past next July's Democratic primary, when he hopes to win renomination for a third term).

President Eisenhower's answer was direct. The Federal Government would work firmly and patiently through the courts to enforce the desegregation ruling of the Supreme Court. There could be no backing away from this position. Therefore there could not be, and there was not, any agreement, implied or stated, to delay integration in Little Rock. For his part, Orval Faubus did not promise to remove the National Guard from Little Rock's Central High School and permit Negro children to enter. But there was a general understanding that some time this week Faubus would begin withdrawing the Guard and turning law enforcement back to Little Rock authorities.

After the conference a smiling President and a wan governor walked down the stairs into a cluster of newsmen. "The President and I have had a very friendly and constructive conference," said Faubus. Said President Eisenhower: "Good to see you." Replied Faubus: "Thanks." Then they parted.

Clear & Contrite. That afternoon President Eisenhower and Governor Faubus issued separate statements. The President made clear what he considered the key point of the conference: "The Governor stated his intention to respect the decisions of the U.S. district court, and to give his full cooperation in carrying out his responsibilities in respect to these decisions . . . I am sure it is the desire of the Governor not only to observe the supreme law of the land but to use the influence of his office in orderly progress of the plans which are already the subject of the order of the court." Governor Faubus' statement had the sound of retreat: "The people of Little Rock are law-abiding, and I know that they expect to obey valid court orders. In this they shall have my support."

Then Governor Faubus flew back to Little Rock, where political trouble awaited him on both hands. He had infuriated his former liberal following by calling out the National Guard in the first place. Now he stood to infuriate segregationists if he withdrew the Guard. Orval Faubus had not exactly surrendered at Newport. But he was withdrawing to a position that he had yet to prepare.

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