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

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preoccupied with death, not life and with self-centeredness not service, the ACCL stands for a more compelling tradition: protection of all human life, compassion for the unborn and the aged, caring for the helpless and the handicapped. As we search for that dimly perceived goal of justice, the ACCL can well serve as a compass for our conscience.” 46 Congressman James Oberstar of Minnesota deemed ACCL’s programs “the way to wage the battle” to pass the Human Life Amendment. In fact, many legislators, Republicans and Democrats alike (provided they were against abortion), praised ACCL’s efforts in Congress. 47 In tune with these sentiments, ACCL attained much success at the turn of the decade in promoting, lobbying for, and testifying on social welfare legislation offering alternatives to abortion, including an “adolescent pregnancy bill, pregnancy disability benefits bill, and maternal and child health legislation,” which were all eventually passed. 48 By 1981, the group boasted a congressional advisory committee and over 3,500 contributors in all fifty states. 49 46 Eunice Kennedy Shriver, quoted in ACCL Pamphlet, ACCL Records, Box 15, Folder: Mailings/Pamphlets, Gerald R. Ford Library. 47 Senator Mark O’Hatfield (R-Ore.) said, “I continue to rely heavily on the sound judgment of those involved with ACCL and appreciate especially their commitment to work for alternatives to abortion,” Representative John Breaux (D-La. 7) asserted, “ACCL’s approach to the legislative battle on abortion is the best way the message can be delivered to Congress. It is a nation al effort that I find many Members of Congress agree with. I’m looking forward to working with you and other members of the organization during this 95 th Congress,” and Representative Albert H. Quie (R-Minn. 1) said, “It was truly a pleasure to work with ACCL during the 94 th Congress. Your cause is vital; your knowledge, thorough; and your politics, savvy. In looking at the 94 th Congress, the most important pro-life item was the seven days of hearings on constitutional solutions to the Supreme Court’s decisions. It was only through the efforts of ACCL that the hearings were able to be organized so the greatest impact could be made…[I]f ACCL’s approach to the problem can be spread, I feel the cause in the end will be successful.” All quoted in “Praise from civic leaders for the work of American Citizens Concerned for Life…,” ACCL Records, Box 15, Folder: Letters Re: ACCL Organization from Late 1974, Gerald R. Ford Library. 48 “Some Accomplishments of American Citizens Concerned For Life,” handout, ACCL Records, Box 17, Folder: ACCL Admin File: Programs – Accomplishments Jan 1981, Gerald R. Ford Library. 49 “American Citizens Concerned for Life 1981-1982 Campaign for Human Life Objectives,” page 2, ACCL Records, Box 29, Folder: ACCL Admin File: Fundraising, Gerald R. Ford Library; and William C. Hunt, American Citizens Concerned for Life 1981-1982 Campaign for Human Life Objectives, December 1981, ACCL Records, Box 29, Folder: ACCL Admin File: Fundraising, Gerald R. Ford Library. Note: Hunt estimated “we need at least 25,000 [members] to continue our task,” perhaps highlighting the dim prospects for antiabortion success in the 1980s. 81
On multiple levels, ACCL became a prominent voice like the NRLC, but one that was broader and more widespread. Informed by their MCCL past, ACCL activists were well aware that a broad-based and flexible approach to pro-life activism was the most successful avenue to navigate. While the abortion issue became politicized after the Roe decision, causing some groups to revert to partisan tactics, ACCL maintained a nonreligious, non-partisan approach and instead focused on a moral and medical perspective. These tactics led the group to great recruits and success, just as its founders enjoyed in their MCCL years. Through this exposure and success in spreading its message, other organizations and even the government began to reach out to ACCL leaders for more prominent and prestigious positions. In the early 1980s, Mecklenburg departed the organization to assume roles in other pro-life organizations and in government agencies. Joseph Lampe assumed the role of ACCL executive director and president in 1981 and Judith Fink continued her work in ACCL leadership positions as well. 50 By this time, ACCL leaders were able “to attract a cross section of the intellectual and spiritual elite in America,” and could call upon doctors, pastors of many faiths, journalists, researchers, leaders of other pro-life groups, professors, senators, and congressmen from around the country as members of its board to help shape its broad-based and universal pro-life goals. 51 The group was on the whole 50 Telegram from Joseph A. Lampe, Executive Director of ACCL, to Emily Fahey of Billings, MT, 9 March 1981, ACCL Records, Box 29, Folder: Telephone Scripts, Gerald R. Ford Library. 51 Some of the figures listed on the ACCL board included: Matthew J. Bulfin, M.D. (President, American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians & Gynecologists), Sidney Cornelia Callahan (author), Dr. Calvin J. Eichhorst (Pastor and Ecumenical Leader, American Lutheran Church), Hymie Gordon, M.D. (Professor and Chairman, Department of Medical Genetics, Mayo Clinic), Mark O. Hatfield (US Senator, Oregon), Rev. Robert R. Holbrook (President, Baptists for Life), David W. Louisell (Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley), Fred Mecklenburg, M.D. (Clinical Assistant Professor of OB-GYN, University of Minnesota), John T. Noonan (professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley), David Novak, Ph.D. (Author and Rabbi, Beth Thlah Congregation, Baltimore), Grace Olivarez, J.D. (Institute of Social Research and Development, University of New Mexico), Albert H. Quie (Congressman, Minnesota), 82
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 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: women, which would become the speci
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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