Clinton Honors 'Little Rock 9'

On a day of home-state memories, President Clinton today recalled the courage of the "Little Rock Nine," the black students who braved threats and jeers from white mobs 41 years ago to integrate the Arkansas capital's Central High School.

At a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Mr. Clinton signed legislation that designates Central High a national historic site. He said the Little Rock Nine "broke through the doors of apartheid."

"Because of all of them, Central High has become a hallowed place, a place every bit as sacred as Gettysburg and Independence Hall," the president said.

With six of the Little Rock Nine attending the ceremony, Mr. Clinton also hailed the special recognition they won this year when Congress awarded the nine its most prestigious civilian award - the Congressional Gold Medal. The president did not present the actual gold medals because they are not yet ready.

Ernest Green, one of the Little Rock Nine who now lives in Washington, said: "None of us expected this to occur in September 1957. We simply thought we were doing the right thing."

Later, Mr. Clinton flew to Bentonville, Arkansas, to help dedicate a new regional airport terminal, a project started while he was governor.

About 120 people have received Congressional Gold Medals. The first was George Washington. Others include Irving Berlin, Walt Disney, Bob Hope, John Wayne, and Mother Teresa.

Joining the president for the ceremony was retiring Sen. Dale Bumpers, D-Ark., who sponsored the legislation.

In 1957, Gov. Orval Faubus defied a federal court desegregation order and called out a unit of the National Guard to stop the nine black teenagers from attending Central High. They made it in the door when President Eisenhower ordered in Army paratroopers to escort the youngsters.

Mr. Clinton was 11 years old at the time and attended a segregated school 50 miles away in Hot Springs.

Last year, the nine returned to Central High, accompanied by Mr. Clinton, to mark the 40th anniversary of the day they entered the school.

By designating Central High a national historic site, its preservation will be managed by the Interior Department, although administration of the school will remain under local control.

Now in their mid-50s, the nine are Melba Patillo Beals of San Francisco; Elizabeth Eckford of Little Rock; Green; Gloria Ray Karlmark of the Netherlands; Carlotta Walls LaNier of Inglewood, Colorado; Terrence Roberts of Pasadena, California; Minnijean Brown Trickey of Ontario, Canada; Jefferson A. Thomas of Columbus, Ohio; and Thelma Jean Mothershed Wair of Belleville, Illinois.

In his first trip out of Washington since Election Day, Mr. Clinton was headlining a large ceremony to open a new Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Terminal near Bentonville. Aides said he wanted to emphasize the importance of air transport to the economy of the 21st century.

By ROBERT BURNS