Press Release, President Eisenhower's Telegram to Governor Orval Faubus

IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 5, 1957 James C. Hagerty, Press Secretary to the President THE WHITE HOUSE U. S. Naval Base Newport, Rhode Island THE PRESIDENT TODAY SENT THE FOLLOWING TELEGRAM TO THE HONORABLE ORVAL E. FAUBUS, THE GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS The Honorable Orval E. Faubus Governor of Arkansas Little Rock, Arkansas Your telegram received requesting my assurance of understanding of and cooperation in the course of action you have taken on school integration recommended by the Little Rock School Board and ordered by the United States District Court pursuant to the mandate of the United States Supreme Court. When I became President, I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. The only assurance I can give you is that the Federal Constitution will be upheld by me by every legal means at my command. There is no basis of fact to the statements you make in your telegram that Federal authorities have been considering taking you into custody or that telephone lines to your Executive Mansion have been tapped by any agency of the Federal Government, At the request of Judge Davies, the Department of Justice is presently collecting facts as to interference with or failure to comply with the District Court's order. You and other state officials -- as well as the National Guard which, of conise, is uniformed, armed and partially sustained by the Government -- will, I am sure, give full cooperation to the United States District Court. Dwight D. Eisenhower ########