This excerpt is from a 1957 speech by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 1 . . . For a few minutes this evening I want to speak to
you about the serious situation that has arisen in Little Rock. . . . 2 In that city, under the leadership of demagogic extremists, disorderly mobs have deliberately prevented the carrying out of proper orders from a Federal Court. . . . 3 This morning the mob again gathered in front of the Central High School of Little Rock, obviously for the purpose of again preventing the carrying out of the Court’s order relating to the admission of Negro children to that school. 4 Whenever normal agencies prove inadequate to the task, and it becomes necessary for the Executive Branch of the Federal Government to use its powers and authority to uphold Federal Courts, the President’s responsibility is inescapable. 5 In accordance with that responsibility, I have today issued an Executive Order directing the use of troops under Federal authority to aid in the execution of Federal law at Little Rock, Arkansas. Based on the excerpt from President Eisenhower’s speech, how did the historical circumstances shape his point of view? A.Court orders directing presidential action caused him to see the need for military action. A. Court orders directing presidential action caused him to see the need for military action. B.Increasing resistance to court decisions made him more willing to assert executive power. B. Increasing resistance to court decisions made him more willing to assert executive power. C.Growing northern support for integration caused him to send federal troops into segregated cities. C. Growing northern support for integration caused him to send federal troops into segregated cities. D.Rapid responses from southern leaders made him more willing to wait patiently for state officials to protect citizens. D. Rapid responses from southern leaders made him more willing to wait patiently for state officials to protect citizens.
