June 11, 1963, Alabama Governor George Wallace, in an attempt to keep his campaign promise of “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever,” stood and blocked the door of the Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama when two black Students attempted to register. Then Deputy Attorney General George Katzenbach confronted Wallace and asked him to step aside. Wallace immediately cut him off, and gave a speech about State’s Rights. Katzenbach then phoned President John F. Kennedy, who ordered the Alabama National Guard federalized and had them brought to the University. Major General Henry Graham approached Governor Wallace and said, “Sir, It is my sad duty to ask you to step aside under the orders of the President of the United States.” Wallace then moved, and the two black students, Vivian Malone Jones and James Hood registered as students at the University of Alabama. It was a major victory for civil rights.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:16:10 +0000
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