Letter from Eugene Allison to President Eisenhower

9/27/1957

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Eugene Allison, a World War II veteran, wrote this letter about school integration to President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Defense Secretary.

On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education that segregated schools are "inherently unequal." In September 1957, as a result of that ruling, nine African-American students enrolled at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The ensuing struggle between segregationists and integrationists, the State of Arkansas and the federal government, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, has become known in modern American history as the "Little Rock Crisis."

The crisis gained world-wide attention. When Governor Faubus ordered the Arkansas National Guard to surround Central High School to keep the nine students from entering the school, President Eisenhower ordered the 101st Airborne Division into Little Rock to insure the safety of the "Little Rock Nine" and that the rulings of the Supreme Court were upheld.

Transcript

President D. Eisenhower and Defense Secratary. [sic]

Dear Sirs.

Concerning the disagreement on intergration [sic] in Arkansas and America.

I aprove [sic] of the decision by the President to uphold the laws of the nation in order to bring about a peaceful solution to the entergration [sic] problem so all Americans can have the right to peacefully assemble and go to school without fear from agitators or Communists or Ku Klux Klan.

I am white and a totaly [sic] disabled Veteran of War II.

Though I am disabled, I am hereby volunteering to be of service to the United States of America in any way possable. [sic]

I am willing to give my services and my life if essential to preserve Democracy in

America an [sic] fulfill my obligation as a citizen so Americans need not live in fear of their lives from anyone or enemy nation.

I stand by for any orders I may receive any hour or minute of the Day or Night.

I only regret that at this time I cannot think of a suitable solution of the Problem.

I was in the Army Air Force but will do my best where ever [sic] I am needed.

I would like to work in the enteligence [sic] dept. in some way.

I await your repley. [sic]

Eugene Allison Age 35
1404 S Laramie
Peoria Ill.

This primary source comes from the Collection DDE-WHCF: White House Central Files (Eisenhower Administration).

National Archives Identifier: 6092837

Full Citation: Letter to President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Defense Secretary from Eugene Allison Regarding Integration of Schools; 9/27/1957; Bulk Mail Files, 1953 - 1961; Collection DDE-WHCF: White House Central Files (Eisenhower Administration); Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, Abilene, KS. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/allison-to-eisenhower, March 15, 2025]

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