Telegram, Georgia Senator Richard B. Russell to President Dwight D. Eisenhower

TY- WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC *PPT 27 19.57 MRS WHITMAN, NEWPORT FOLLOWING TELEGRAM FROM SENATOR RUSSELL. The WA580 GOVT PD N. SN WASHINGTON DC SEP 26 717PME A THE PRESIDENT THE WHITE HOUSE AS A CITIZEN, AS A SENATOR OF THE UNITED STATES, AND AS CHATRMAN OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES, I MUST VIGOROUSLY PROTEST THE highHanded AND ILLEGAL METHODS BEING EMPLOYED BY THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES !UNDER YOUR COMMAND WHO ARE CARRYING OUT YOUR ORDERS TO MIX THE RACES IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. IF REPORTS OF REPUTABLE PRESS ASSOCIATIONS AND NEWS WRITERS ARE TO BE BELIEVED. THESE SOLDIERS ARE DISREGARDING AND OVERRIDING THE ELEMENTARY RIGHTS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS BY APPLYING TACTICS WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN COPIED FROM THE MANUAL ISSUED THE OFFICERS OF MITLER'S STORM TROOPERS. THE OVERPOWER - ING MILITARY NIGHT YOU HAVE ASSEMBLED THERE MAKES SUCH ACTIONS AS THESE NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS DESCRIBE COMPLETELY INEXCUSABLE UNLESS THE PURPOSE BE TO INTIMIDATE AND OVERAWE ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY WHO ARE OPPOSED TO MIXING THE RACES BY FORCE. THESE DISPATCHES AGREE THAT AN UNARMED CITIZEN HAD HIS HEAD CRACKED BY A RIFLE BUTT WHILE STANDING PEACEFULLY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY MORE THAN ONE BLOCK REMOVED FROM THE SCHOOL AFTER HE HAD TOLD YOUR TROOPERS THAT HE WAS THERE WITH THE CONSENT OF THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY. ANOTHER ACCOUNT RELATES THAT THREE OR MORE CITIZENS WERE PUSHED DOWN A STREET, WITH BAYONETS AT THEIR THROATS, WHILE A BELLICOSE SERGEANT SHOUTED AGAIN AND AGAIN QUOTE KEEP THE BAYONETS AT THEIR THROATS UNQUOTE. AN ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCH FROM LITTLE ROCK DATED TOBAY STATES THAT EIGHT PERSONS ARRESTED (BY YOUR TROOPERS AT VENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL YESTERDAY HAD BEEN HELD IN JAIL INCOMMUNICADO OVERNIGHT WITHOUT ANY CHARGES HAVING BEEN FILED AGAINST THEM AND HAD BEEN DENIED THE RIGHT TO CALL A LAWYER. THE DISPATCH FURTHER STATES THAT EFFORTS TO FIND OUT WHAT WOULD BE DONE WITH THE EIGHT PEOPLE WERE FRUITLESS, AND BOTH THE FBI AND THE UNITED STATES MARSHAL DISCLAIMED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE CASE.