“WHEREAS certain persons in the state of Arkansas, individually and in unlawful assemblages, combinations, and conspiracies, have willfully obstructed the enforcement of orders of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas with respect to matters relating to enrollment and attendance at public schools, particularly at Central High School, located in Little Rock School District, Little Rock, Arkansas….”

This is the opening paragraph of Executive Order 10730 , titled “Providing Assistance for the Removal of an Obstruction of Justice within the State of Arkansas.” President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued this order 68 years ago this week, on Sept. 23, 1957.

In the summer of 1957, Little Rock’s school board voted to desegregate its high school to comply with the U.S

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