The Pre-Roe Pro-Life Movement in Minnesota and New York

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Chapter 2: The Minnesota Pre-Roe Story: A Debate Spurred by the Opposition, and Furthered by MCCL Liberalizing Abortion Law: Minnesota Council for the Legal Termination of Pregnancy Those in favor of the liberalization of Minnesota’s 1873 abortion law inadvertently caused the mobilization of actors that would form and develop Minnesota anti-abortion groups like MCCL. One of the strongest and most prominent pro-abortion groups to emerge in the pre-Roe period was the Minnesota Council for the Legal Termination of Pregnancy (MCLTP), now known as the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws Pro-Choice Minnesota (NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota). Student Carolyn Qualle and fellow activists and neighbors formed MCLTP in December of 1966 due to personal experiences, newspaper reports of the negative effects of illegal abortions, and the growing knowledge of the problems doctors and women faced when considering an illegal abortion. 1 For the next six years, the group would press for the revision of what they deemed as Minnesota’s “archaic abortion law.” 2 MCLTP gained significant momentum after it obtained support from various medical associations for liberalized abortion laws in the 1960s and sponsored two major pieces of state legislation in 1969. The American Psychiatric Association and the American Nurses Association released statements supporting a revised abortion law, adding to the credibility and ranks 1 “MCLTP,” [~1971], Box 2, Folder: MN NARAL brochures, undated and 1967-1983, NARAL Pro-Choice MN Records. 2 Ibid. 23
of the MCLTP. 3 In the early 1970s, faced with the pressure of a new, unified, and highly-organized MCCL, MCLTP hired lobbyists, built a stronger grassroots organization, and formed new relationships with state legislators to advance its mission of abolishing the 1873 Minnesota statute. 4 In addition, the organization successfully sought alliances with other groups, including the Minnesota State Medical Association, the Minnesota Psychiatric Association, Planned Parenthood, and the Minnesota Welfare Association, to expand the scope of the discussion and the ranks of Minnesota’s most prominent pro-abortion group. 5 MCLTP sought to cultivate public interest in reform by proposing and endorsing state legislation to liberalize abortion access. Soon after its formation in 1966, the handful of members drafted a 1967 bill based on the ALI 1959 proposal and obtained legislative support in the 1969 and 1971 sessions. However, letters written by Robert McCoy, the MCLTP Coordinator, indicate the group recognized the need to spread its message beyond the metropolitan area to attain success with the bill. MCCL founders identified McCoy, a long-time family planning advisor, as the most prominent advocate of the pro-abortion camp in the 1960s and 1970s in Minnesota. 6 As such, MCCL and Minnesota anti-abortion activists noted his actions and continuously brainstormed how 3 APA and ANA Public Statement Copies: 1967 and 1968, Box 2, Folder: Kay Taylor Files: Cor. & Misc. und. 1969-1978, Katherine Taylor Wood Papers. 4 Tom Berg to Katherine Taylor, 27 August 1972, Correspondence, Box 2, Folder: Kay Taylor Files: Cor. & Misc. und. 1969-1978, Katherine Taylor Wood Papers. The letter thanks Ms. Taylor for her campaign contribution and for being “the first person that has helped out as a result of the abortion issue.” The box also contains letters from Stanley A. Anebo of the 34 th district of the Minnesota House (undated) and George S Pillsbury of the 33 rd district to Katherine Taylor (25 August 1972). 5 Pamphlets of and Correspondence with Listed Groups, Box 1, Folder: Legislation: Minnesota 1967-1969, Katherine Taylor Wood Papers. 6 Mary and Robert Joyce interview. 24
Page 1 and 2: Abortion as a “Medical Problem Br
Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents Acknowledgements
Page 5 and 6: Abbreviations ACCL - American Citiz
Page 7 and 8: this first neighborhood grassroots
Page 9 and 10: in New York, California, and Colora
Page 11 and 12: is a unique and important one to te
Page 13 and 14: major factors led to MCCL’s victo
Page 15 and 16: Well before Blackmun’s 1972 Mayo
Page 17 and 18: Chapter 1: The Pre-History of the C
Page 19 and 20: practice. The law as it stands is t
Page 21 and 22: would have functioned independently
Page 23 and 24: instances also increased awareness
Page 25 and 26: threat of abortion criminalization
Page 27: the actions of new twentieth-centur
Page 31 and 32: from the Great Depression in its se
Page 33 and 34: underestimated his opponents, as MC
Page 35 and 36: who shared a “communitarian ethic
Page 37 and 38: However, the Council did not offer
Page 39 and 40: issue-based and activist politics f
Page 41 and 42: Blake and Fred Mecklenburg and lobb
Page 43 and 44: yet united front against abortion l
Page 45 and 46: anti-abortion movement, but also be
Page 47 and 48: emerging organizations across the c
Page 49 and 50: the 1970s, and an additional thirte
Page 51 and 52: When news of Roe and Doe broke, MCC
Page 53 and 54: their efforts prior to the decision
Page 55 and 56: the part of state groups and create
Page 57 and 58: physical space in Minneapolis and r
Page 59 and 60: 58 of them were enacted. 37 Even fo
Page 61 and 62: looms as a menace to all mankind an
Page 63 and 64: War.” 56 President Gerald Ford di
Page 65 and 66: the 1976 Republican Party Platform,
Page 67 and 68: should be noted that pro-life activ
Page 69 and 70: with us.” 81 Needless to say, by
Page 71 and 72: ecord of being vindictive.” 90 Ca
Page 73 and 74: decades of involvement. Yet before
Page 75 and 76: nationwide effort organized by the
Page 77 and 78: in drastic (at the extreme, irrecon
Page 79 and 80:
and increase political effectivenes
Page 81 and 82:
willing to be window dressing - no
Page 83 and 84:
Warren Schaller, and others to form
Page 85 and 86:
women, which would become the speci
Page 87 and 88:
On multiple levels, ACCL became a p
Page 89 and 90:
multi-issue approach was a tactic a
Page 91 and 92:
asserted, “often a few key people
Page 93 and 94:
Lampe, and others) split to form AC
Page 95 and 96:
nomination. Jefferson’s tactics w
Page 97 and 98:
administration. 82 Lampe took over
Page 99 and 100:
and was also a member of Planned Pa
Page 101 and 102:
As previously explored, Mecklenburg
Page 103 and 104:
million; Schweiker’s stance and a
Page 105 and 106:
Almost immediately after her appoin
Page 107 and 108:
The last straw came when Mecklenbur
Page 109 and 110:
on the national scene cautiously, m
Page 111 and 112:
abortion debate she encountered as
Page 113 and 114:
Conclusion Supreme Court Justice Ha
Page 115 and 116:
legislatures, and celebrated occasi
Page 117 and 118:
ecognized nationwide as “one of t
Page 119 and 120:
Bibliography Archives and Interview
Page 121 and 122:
Gorney, Cynthia. Articles of Faith.
Page 123:
Press, Eyal. Absolute Convictions:
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The Pre-Roe Pro-Life Movement in Minnesota and New York

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