Orval Faubus

Orval Eugene Faubus (7th January 1910 - 14th December 1994) was the 36th governor of Arkansas from 1955 to 1967.

Little Rock crisis
In 1957, the US Supreme Court ruled that the separation of schools for Black and White people was unlawful, and that schools should be racially integrated. As a result, nine Black students known as the Little Rock Nine were allowed to attend the Little Rock Central High School, a White school, for the first time. However, Faubus, in direct conflict with the orders of the Supreme Court, illegally deployed the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the Black students from entering. He later defended his actions and claimed that he was concerned that the Federal government would have him arrested. President Dwight Eisenhower assured him that the Constitution would be upheld, and entered into talks with Faubus, who ultimately withdrew the National Guard after Eisenhower sent the state police to make sure the students could attend. However, a mob soon formed threatening to attack the school if the Black students continued to attend. Faubus then dismissed the state police when they attempted to protect the students, leading many to suspect he had organised the attack. As a result, Eisenhower used his power to take control of the Arkansas National Guard and have them protect the students. Faubus retaliated by shutting down all high schools in Little Rock for the entire academic year.

Presidential campaign
In 1960, the segregationist political party known as the National States' Rights Party nominated Faubus as a presidential candidate, alongside John G. Crommelin for vice president. However, Faubus lost the election by a landslide to John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. George Wallace later considered running alongside him in the 1968 election, but ultimately selected General Curtis LeMay due to public hostility towards Faubus, later losing the election to Richard Nixon anyway.

Death
Faubus died of prostate cancer on 14th December 1994. He is buried in the Combs Cemetery in Arkansas.