正在羅德島紐波特 (Newport, Rhode Island) 渡假的艾森豪總統安排會見法柏斯州長 以討論該地的緊張情勢。在他們的短短會面中，艾森豪以為法柏斯已經同意讓非裔美人學生入學，所以他告訴法柏斯他的國民警衛隊可以留在中央中學並執行法院命令。待法柏斯一回到小巖城，他下令國民警衛隊撤離該校 。幾天後，有九個非裔美人學生進入校內就讀，因而爆發了一場大規模暴亂。因為州長法柏斯未採取任何手段阻止暴力行為，情況很快地就失去控制。最後，小巖城市長只好直接求助艾森豪總統。
　

President Eisenhower, who was vacationing in Newport, Rhode Island, arranged to meet Governor Faubus there to discuss the tense situation in Little Rock. In their brief meeting, Eisenhower thought Faubus had agreed to enroll African American students, so he told Faubus that his National Guard troops could stay at Central High and enforce order. Once back in Little Rock, Governor Faubus withdrew the National Guard. A few days later, 9 African American students slipped into the school to enroll and a full scale riot erupted. The situation quickly ran out of control, as Governor Faubus did nothing to stop the violence. Finally, the mayor of Little Rock appealed directly to President Eisenhower for help.

2 / 3 頁