Orval Faubus, Governor of Arkansas, was seated at the head of a long table in the conference room next to his office. He was presiding at a routine public meeting of state-election commissioners. A beefy, cigar-chewing reporter sidled up to the Governor, whispered in his ear the news of the Supreme Court's decision. Faubus listened impassively, nodded and said nothing. Then he leaned toward State Attorney General Bruce Bennett, sitting at his side, and the two whispered, gestured, broke out laughing.
By late afternoon Faubus was ready to announce his plans. At 4:25 an aide left the Governor's office, filed...
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