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

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calling themselves the National Democrats for Life formed in the days following the adoption of a pro-choice plank by the Democratic Platform Committee. When “millions of Americans were appalled” at such an act, Governor Richard Kneip, State Representative Joanne Durn of Wisconsin, and State Senator H. Darrell Darby founded and co-chaired the group with the goal of reopening the platform for discussion. 67 This minority lost; however, the group did not end its efforts there, convinced that “[i]t was easy for party leaders to dismiss our demands for they were unaware of the strength of pro-life sentiment within the Party.” The group became a permanent organization, with representatives in each state who would serve as a rallying point for pro-life Democrats. In addition, like Nixon, Ford appealed to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and met with them to communicate his government would have “a responsibility to protect life.” 68 Nixon did not run on a platform of pro-life championing either, but did appeal to Catholics by communicating his anti-abortion stance to them. Ford, however, was criticized for this action, believed to have “put himself in the position…of pursuing political profit from a religious issue…a tactic usually considered deplorable,” according to one Minneapolis Tribune writer. 69 Nixon was successful in swaying anti-abortion voters; however, many pro-life voters were still Democrats in 1976, especially in light of issues on economics and foreign policy. In the fall of 1976, Carter won the election by a small margin, capturing 49.9% of the popular vote, compared to Ford’s 47.9%. 70 While the candidate with the more pro-life plank lost in the 1976 election, it 67 H. Darrel Darby, “National Democrats For Life Formed,” handout, ACCL Records, Box: 35, Folder: ACCL Political File: 76 Pres. Camp. – Carter (3), Gerald R. Ford Library. 68 Critchlow, 204. 69 Tom Wicker, “Abortion: a lesser issue,” Minneapolis Tribune, 13 September 1976, ACCL Records, Box 45, Folder: ACCL Political File: 76 Pres. Campaign – GOP Campaign, Gerald R. Ford Library. 70 Critchlow, 204. 61
should be noted that pro-life activists and organizations on an individual and group level were increasingly tracking candidates who would support their cause. After the Roe decision, pro-life activists found the enactment of a Human Life Amendment a crucial, and often their principal, cause. Indeed, according to a 1973 resolution, the NRLC’s “first program priority… [wa]s the development and implementation of a political campaign to effect passage of a Human Life Constitutional Amendment.” 71 In order pass the amendment in Congress, a sufficient number of pro-life members needed to support it; therefore, pro-life groups threw more of their efforts behind electing pro-life sympathizers to office. MCCL newsletters told their readers to “consider platforms, candidates before voting Nov. 2” in 1976. 72 Again, while the presidential candidate most sympathetic to the pro-life cause did not emerge victorious in the fall of 1976, many Congressional candidates did. 73 No strong evidence lies in the archives that pro-life groups were strongly disappointed with Ford’s loss. In fact, Dr. Mildred Jefferson, then President of the NRLC, proclaimed “[t]he right-to-life movement has won a great moral victory in the 1976 political campaigns…there were more victories than defeats.” 74 Of the presidential campaign, she said, “[t]he right-to-life movement made the presidential campaign a contest to the bitter end and almost won the victory for President Ford,” but 71 “Resolution of Program Priorities of NRLC, Inc., 8 December 1973, ACCL Records, Box 9, Folder: NRLC – Bylaws Revision 1974 (1), Gerald R. Ford Library. 72 “Pro-lifers should consider platforms, candidates before voting Nov. 2,” MCCL Newsletter, page 2, October 1976, MCCL Archives, Minneapolis, MN. 73 For example, Senator S.I. Hayakawa of California defeated incumbent Democrat John V. Tunney, Senator John Danforth defeated former Democratic Missouri Governor Warren Hearnes, and Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana (who still holds the seat today) defeated incumbent Democrat Vance Hartke. These incoming pro-life Republican Senators were all elected for the first time in 1976, and all defeated pro-choice Democrats. Dr. Mildred F. Jefferson, “Statement on the Outcome of the 1976 Political Campaigns,” 3 November 1976, ACCL Records, Box 10, Folder: NRLC – 1976 (4), Gerald R. Ford Library. 74 Dr. Mildred F. Jefferson, “Statement on the Outcome of the 1976 Political Campaigns,” 3 November 1976, ACCL Records, Box 10, Folder: NRLC – 1976 (4), Gerald R. Ford Library. 62
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 and 28: the actions of new twentieth-centur
Page 29 and 30: of the MCLTP. 3 In the early 1970s,
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: the 1976 Republican Party Platform,
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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