September 23, 1957

The Little Rock Nine entered Central High School through a side door. The mob outside, which was controlled only by the Little Rock (Pulaski County) police, became unruly when it learned of the students’ entry, and the Nine had to be escorted back out of the building. In response to the disturbances, Little Rock mayor Woodrow Mann asked the federal government for assistance, and President Eisenhower issued Executive Order 10730, sending units of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock and federalizing the Arkansas National Guard.