White House Desegregation Meetings
1963 White House Desegregation Meetings
Correspondence between National Bar Association, NAACP, and Assistant Attorney General Burke Marshall on Desegregation.
Burke Marshall Personal Papers. Assistant Attorney General Files, 1958-1965 (bulk 1961-1964). Civil Rights Act of 1964. White House desegregation meetings, 1963: 28 May-22 October
Eisenhower Presidential Library.
1963
Texas Rangers pose in front of effigy at Mansfield High School
Texas Rangers stand in front of Mansfield High School, where an effigy of an African American hangs above the front door.
On August 31, 1956 segregationists gathered at the Mansfield High School to prevent African American students from registering for the upcoming school year. The same day Governor Allan Shivers dispatched Texas Rangers to Mansfield as a sign to maintain law and order. The memorandum instructed Colonel Garrison to “arrest anyone, white or colored, whose actions are such as to represent a threat to the peace" (see footnote below). The first day of school and final day of registration was Tuesday, September 4. Captain Crowder dispatched a total of nine Texas Rangers on site that Tuesday morning as a precautionary measure for crowd control (see footnote below). No African American students registered or attended Mansfield High School in 1956.
Bibliography: Robyn Duff Ladino, Desegregating Texas Schools: Eisenhower, Shivers, and the Crisis at Mansfield High (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1996), 102, 111
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
1956
Texas Ranger in Mansfield
The Texas Rangers were deployed to Mansfield.
Governor Allan Shivers ordered Texas Rangers to be dispatched in an effort to maintain order at the school as segregationists gathered to protest the federal court order to integrate students in 1956. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) viewed the use of the Texas Rangers as an attempt to maintain segregation. Leaders of the NAACP saw the governor’s actions as contrary to the Supreme Court order. Governor Shivers blamed the problem at Mansfield on the NAACP and commented that “the paid agitators ought to be put in jail” (see footnote). The back and forth exchanges between both sides indicated the divisive nature of the integration issue as Mansfield became a battleground that challenged the “separate but equal” law when the NAACP filed Jackson v. Rawdon on October 7, 1955.
Bibliography: Robyn Duff Ladino, Desegregating Texas Schools: Eisenhower, Shivers, and the Crisis at Mansfield High (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1996), 117-118.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
1956
Telegram Joe Pool to Allan Shivers 1956-08-31
Telegram
A telegram from State Representative Joe Pool asking Governor Shivers to call a special legislative session to outlaw the NAACP in Texas. Many citizens around the state shared the Governor’s opinion that the Mansfield crisis was instigated by the NAACP and actions needed to be taken to ensure they did not have their way. Rep. Pool also suggested strengthening segregation and marriage laws and the consideration of interposition in light of court rulings in favor of integration.
"Telegram Pool to Shivers," Box 532, Texas Governor Allan Shivers, Texas State Library and Archives Commission at Austin.
1956-08-31
Telegram from Texas Citizen to White House 1958-07-24
telegram
One Texan describes how Allan Shivers would be fit for the position of Chief of Staff of the White House, since Shivers is a statesmen and could handle the problems that arrive in the White House. This demonstrates Shivers political influence among Texans.
Telegram from TX citizen suggesting Shivers to succeed the current Chief of Staff, June 24, 1958, Eisenhower, Dwight D.: Records as President, 1952-61, General File, Shivers Allan, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Abilene, Kansas.
1958-06-24
Telegram Early Northrup to Allan Shivers 1956-08-31
Telegram
Telegram suggesting the governor and attorney general ban the NAACP from operating in Texas for instigating riots.
"Telegram Northrup to Shivers 1956-08-31," Box 532, Texas Governor Allan Shivers, Texas State Library and Archives Commission at Austin.
1956-08-31
Telegram Dwight Eisenhower to Allan Shivers 1952-10-03
Telegram
A telegram from Dwight Eisenhower to Allan Shivers thanking him for a speech in Eisenhower's favor and support in his presidential campaign. In addition the telegram invites Shivers to Eisenhower's birthday at San Antonio.
"Telegram Eisenhower to Shivers 1952-10-03," Box 523, Texas Governor Allan Shivers, Texas State Library and Archives Commission at Austin.
1952-10-03
Students in front of Mansfield school bus
Five African American students planned to enroll at Mansfield High School.
Five African American students who planned to enroll in Mansfield High School stand in front of a Mansfield Independent School District bus. Students include Gracie Smith, Hattie Neal, Floyd Moody, John Hicks, and Charles Moody. The segregated school system in 1956 required African American students in Mansfield to attend I.M. Terrell High School in Fort Worth. Students would catch the Trailways bus from Mansfield to downtown Fort Worth and then walk about twenty blocks to the high school. The system made it difficult for students to participate in extracurricular activities and left students arriving home late in the evening. Inadequate bussing for students was one of many deficiencies found in the “separate but equal” clause for school districts. The Mansfield school board denied multiple improvement requests by the African American community, prompting the NAACP to petition the courts to force integration at the high school.
Courtesy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library, Arlington, Texas
1956-08-31
Statement by Attorney General on Proposed Civil Rights Legislation
Civil Rights Act of 1957
Brownell outlines the items that he wants in the act.
Eisenhower Presidential Library
Senate Judiciary Committee
1957-02-14
State of the Union Speech 1956-01
State of the Union
Dwight D. Eisenhower discusses progress on the civil rights subject. Eisenhower claims that discrimination is "disappearing" in pubic facilities, and now every citizen has an equal opportunity to serve it's country. This demonstrates Eisenhower's perception on the progress of civil rights among African Americans.
State of the Union speech on civil rights issues, January 1956, Eisenhower, Dwight D.: Papers as President of the United States, 1953-61 (Ann Whitman File), Speech Series, Box 14, State of the Union Jan. 1956 (1), Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Abilene, Kansas.
1956-01