Faubus was by no means eager to see Little Rock become the first capitol of the former Confederacy to integrate its schools. He hit upon an elaborate ruse to delay matters. He persuaded a White Citizens group of Central High mothers to file suit to block integration on the grounds of recently passed anti-integration initiatives. A local magistrate who was a Faubus appointee would rule favorably. Then the case would be appealed to the federal district judge, who had agreed to delay integration while he ruled on the legality of the Arkansas laws. Unfortunately at the last instant the federal judge dismissed himself from the case. He was replaced by Judge Ronald N. Davies of North Dakota, who summarily dismissed the suit and ordered the desegregation to proceed as scheduled.
This left Faubus scrambling for plan B. Eventually he would call out the National Guard, ostensibly to prevent violence. One problem with this strategy was that no angry mob appeared on opening day sufficient to justify this use of martial law. It seems clear in retrospect, that despite his bravado, Johnson's scruples prevented him from crossing the line into actual bloodshed. There is even evidence - though not conclusive - that Faubus or his supporters deliberately orchestrated an outbreak of violence on March 23, so as to force the federal government to nationalize the Guard and assume direct responsibility for the protection of the black students. According to a police survey of the 400 cars in the vicinity, 129 were from out of state. If one takes into account the cars of students and residents of the vicinity, then perhaps as many as half the mob present that day appear to have been deliberately imported for the occasion.
All of this had the desired effect of forcing the federal government to accept the full onus of integration, thereby taking Faubus off the hook. There is no indication, however, that Faubus ever seriously believed he had a chance to actually prevent the desegregation. It is hard to escape the conclusion that his actions represent the most cynical sort of ploy. Few could rival Faubus's skills and instincts as a politician; unfortunately, those instincts led him to behave as a politician at a moment in history when Arkansas needed a statesman.
Faubus would go on to serve an unprecedented six terms as governor and amass an extraordinary record in many areas, but he would never escape the blemish left by the Central High crisis. Unlike George Wallace, who was willing to admit his mistakes late in life, Faubus stuck by his story that his calling out of the Guard was motivated solely by his fear of potential violence. When he came out of retirement for one last hurrah against an all-but-invincible Bill Clinton, everyone expected Faubus to take the high road in a final effort to repair his legacy. Two months into the campaign, however, once the old juices were flowing, he couldn't resist the temptation to race bait Clinton on an obscure matter of policy. Even at the end the old warrior knew only one way to play the game and that was to win at all costs.
See also this article form the Arkansas News: Ernest Green Describes Experience at Central High School.
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