EDWIN A. WALKER
(Edwin Anderson Walker)
This quotation illustrates the extreme paranoia and irrationality of many of the ultra-conservative, right wing extremists of the day. It also has three of the classic ultra right wing conspiracy scenarios that are still claimed by the most extreme rightists: American leaders are giving U. S. Sovereignty to the United Nations; Many American leaders are anti-Christian and appoint more; civil rights is a communist idea and civil right demonstrations (riots) are inspired and/or controlled by communists.
This quotation illustrates not only the virulent racism of some people of the era, but General Walker had been the commander of the Federal Troops that President Eisenhower had to depend upon in the Little Rock desegregation law enforcement. Radical segregationists held key positions at the time in the military and FBI. When it came to segregation, many of the Federal officials sworn to uphold the law, thought desegregation wrong and positively evil as Walker did, and opposed or undermined the law.
Edwin Anderson Walker — known as Ted Walker — was a United States Army officer who served in World War II and the Korean War. He became known for his staunch conservative political opinions and was criticized by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower for promoting a personal political opinion while in uniform. Walker resigned his commission in 1959, but Eisenhower refused to accept his resignation and gave Walker a new command of the 24th Infantry Division in Augsburg, Germany. Walker again resigned his commission in 1961 after being publicly and formally admonished by the Joint Chiefs of Staff for allegedly referring to Eleanor Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman as "pink" in print and for violating the Hatch Act of 1939 by attempting to influence the votes of his troops. President John F. Kennedy accepted his resignation, making Walker the only US general to resign in the 20th century.
