When the time was right, I let President Nixon know that we were ready for him. We walked across the hall into the Oval Office, where the president gathered his guests around his desk. ''We live in a great democracy where authority and responsibility are shared,'' I remember him saying. ''Just as decisions are made here in this office, decisions are made throughout the states and communities of our country. You are leaders in those communities and you have to step up to your responsibilities. '' They left the Oval Office inspired.

Over the next two months, we went through much the same process with representatives of five other states. The committees were coming together. They were talking about practical issues, like how to open the schools without violence.

The last state was Louisiana. It was August and the schools would soon be opening. Our meetings had been going so well that I suggested to the president that we hold the final one in New Orleans. I would do my part in the morning. He would fly down from Washington and do his part around noon. Then we would invite the co-chairmen from the seven states to join the president for an overall discussion of the school openings.

I remember the meeting in the Oval Office to discuss these proposed events. Vice President Agnew warned the president not to go. There you will be in that room, Mr. President, I recall him saying. Half the people there will be black; half will be white. Pictures will be taken. When the schools open, there will be blood running through the streets of the South, and if you go, this will be blood on your hands. This is not your issue. This is the issue of the liberals who have pushed for desegregation. Stay away.

The president looked at me. I told him what was obvious: I can't predict what will happen. The vice president may very well be right about violence, but you're the president of the whole country. We should do everything we can to see that the schools open and operate peacefully and well.

The president decided to go ahead.

The meeting with the Louisiana group began early on Aug. 14, 1970. The going was tougher than with any other delegation. It's one thing to gather across from the Oval Office and it's another thing to sit around a table in a hotel meeting room. The president was due to arrive about noon, but as the time drew near, I had not reached the level of agreement that I wanted. ''The president has just landed,'' came word from the Secret Service. ''The president is 10 minutes out.'' We took a break. I went to meet the president, the vice president's views in the back of my mind. ''Mr. President,'' I told him, ''I haven't got this group there yet. I'm afraid you're going to have to finish the job.''

The president came in. He listened. He talked. He emphasized the importance of having the schools open peacefully. If there were problems, children would suffer.