Telephone Calls

TELEPHONE CALLS Newport September 24, 1957. and Note : of the many calls between the Attorney General and the President, only a few can be monitored. Below is gist of one at 8:35 the morning after the President issued a Proclamation to the citizens of Little Rock. The President pointed out to the Attorney General, who agreed, that while he was working on a statement to be issued, that statement could not be issued unless or until something happened in Little Rock this morning. The President has softened, too, the stateme nt sent up from Washington, i. e., instead of starting out with statement that the "law has been defied", he has substituted phrase about his sympathy being with the people, etc. The President queried whether he ought to stay in the office this morning. Both he and the Attorney General felt not, that it would look as though he was frozen waiting for something to happen, and it would be better if he went abuut his normal routine. Brownell pointed out this was not the first time in history that similar things had happened, the Whiskey Rebellion, for instance, nad once or twice in labor disputes. In the statement nothing is cited specifically, but the President thinks perhaps a reference might be made to "like mergencies. 11 Brownell said that Max Taylor is anxious to try the use of the National Guard before calling in troops. The President said of course, but that he did not thing the units of the National Guard in Little Rock should be used, because it might be a case of brother against brother. He suggested using other National Guard troops stationed throughout Arkansas. Brownell said that would take time -- 6 to 9 hours but the President, and Mr. Brownell, agreed that in this case time was not of the essence. The President said it did not make any difference if the troops were on the scene Wednesday or Thursday. Jim Hagerty then talked to Mr. Brownell -- the main question will be the statement by Governor Faubus that the Federal Government has no right to intervene. Jim will simply cite Titles 332, second part of 333 and 334, and not try to interpret.