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These records pertain to the Bush Administration's policies on abortion.
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George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
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Chief of Staff, White House Office of
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Card, Andrew, Files
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02718
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02718-001
Folder Title:
Abortion
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G
15
16
3
2
BEVERLY HUBBLE TAUKE
ANDY - -
AC HAS SEEN
Heres the data we discussed.
what we desperately need is
Some Coordination among those who one
share the President's view so no
is the Lone Ranger out there -
And So that dwerse voices/.
Sources can contribute to a climate
more focused on "peasnit-loutter-
and jelly concerns.
Oa that turf, we win. Please
give me a call of you want to
Pressue this.
Bev
484-7134
KEY Domestic
and INTERNATIONAL
DATA: Abortion
"MAINSTREAMS"
MAINSTREAM AMERICA ON ABORTION:
WHERE IS THE PEANUT-BUTTER-AND-JELLY MIDDLE?
Harvard Law Professor Mary Ann Glendon, author of Abortion
and Divorce in Western Law, notes that most Americans find them-
selves in the "peanut-butter-and-jelly" middle on the abortion
issue, smushed between "two thin but very hard pieces of bread."
Just where is the "peanut-butter-and-jelly middle", and how
do their views contrast with those of vocal activists at either
extreme of the abortion debate?
Following are views of the American mainstream as defined
by CBS/New York Times (September 28, 1989), Gallup (July 12,
1989), Los Angeles Times (March 19, 1989 & July 1989), Newsweek
(July 17, 1989), TIME (July 17, 1989) and Boston Globe (March 31,
1989) polls.
########
* WHAT TYPES OF ABORTION ARE APPROVED BY MAINSTREAM AMERICANS?
CBS/NY TIMES
LA TIMES
1) LIFE OF THE MOTHER:
88% ("health
88%
danger")
2) RAPE
82%
84%
3) INCEST
84%
4 ) SEVERE DEFECT/DEFORMITY 65%
74%
########
* HOW DO THE "HARD CASE" ABORTIONS CITED ABOVE RANK AS "MOST
IMPORTANT" REASONS CITED BY WOMEN SEEKING ABORTIONS? (Source:
Allen Guttmacher Institute, affiliated with Planned
Parenthood.)
Victim of rape or incest
1%
Woman cited "possible health problem"
3%
(including range of severity)
Fetus has "possible health problem"
1%
(those confirmed by physician)
########
* WHAT DOES MAINSTREAM AMERICA FEEL ABOUT BIRTH-CONTROL
ABORTION, (which minimally comprises 95% of abortions performed
in America)?
CBS/NY TIMES
LA TIMES 3/89
BOSTON GLOBE
6% support
80% oppose
66% oppose
ABORTION: MAINSTREAM AMERICAWINTER 89-90
PAGE 2
* WHAT DOES MAINSTREAM AMERICA FEEL ABOUT PARENTAL
NOTIFICATION/CONSENT WHEN A MINOR DAUGHTER SEEKS AN ABORTION?
CBS/NY TIMES
NEWSWEEK
TIME
BOSTON GLOBE
83% approve
75% approve
72% approve
81% approve
notice
consent
consent
notice
########
* WHAT DOES MAINSTREAM AMERICA FEEL ABOUT VIABILITY TESTS FOR
LATE-TERM PREGNANCIES?
CBS/NY TIMES
NEWSWEEK
LA TIMES 7/89
TIME
2-to-1 favor
54% favor
57% favor
48%-to-38%
tests
favor
########
* WHAT DOES MAINSTREAM AMERICA FEEL ABOUT LAWS TO PROVIDE
COUNSELING FOR WOMEN TO ASSURE ACCESS TO DATA ON ALTERNATIVES
AND DANGERS RELATED TO ABORTION?
NEWSWEEK
TIME
88% favor
81% favor
########
* THE ECONOMICS OF ABORTION: Scrutinizing both mainstream
American attitudes and abortion clients economically, the
following picture emerges (LA TIMES poll, March 1989):
WHICH AMERICAN INCOME
>$40,000 INCOME: 42% approve
GROUPS FAVOR ABORTION?
<$20,000 INCOME: 24% approve
RELIGIOUS INTENSITY: Stronger
among low income strata, a key
OPPOSE ABORTION
attitude determinant. Those
BY 2-to-1 RATIO
who describe religion as "very
important" in their lives:
ACTUAL ABORTION CLIENTS
35% ACTUAL ABORTION
BY INCOME: "Contrasted with
CLIENTS EARN INCOMES
the widespread perception that
EXCEEDING $40,000
abortion clients come from the
low end of the socioeconomic
ladder... (they) tend to be
better educated, working full
time, earning good salaries..
single, a baby boomer and living
in a metropolitan area."
(LA TIMES, March 19, 1989)
ABORTION: MAINSTREAM AMERICAWINTER 89-90
PAGE 3
HOW DOES AMERICA'S PEANUT-BUTTER-AND-JELLY MIDDLE
COMPARE TO THE GLOBAL MAINSTREAM?
* ON THE GLOBAL SCENE, WHICH NATIONS IN THE WESTERN WORLD ALLOW
AMERICAN-STYLE EARLY-THROUGH-LATE-TERM BIRTH CONTROL
ABORTION? (Source for following section is Abortion and
Divorce in Western Law, Harvard University Press.)
- None in the Western World. Not England, France, West
Germany, Italy, Greece, Canada or 13 other Western nations.
- None in the Soviet Bloc. Not East Germany, Bulgaria,
Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia, or the USSR, etc.
########
*
WHAT WESTERN NATIONS HAVE ABORTION LAWS COMPARABLE TO
AMERICAN-STYLE BIRTH-CONTROL ABORTION BUT LIMITED TO EARLY
PREGNANCY? (p.14)
"ELECTIVE" BIRTH CONTROL
ELECTIVE BIRTH CONTROL ABORTION
ABORTION IN EARLY PREGNANCY
THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY:
ONLY:
Austria
U.S.A.
Denmark
Greece
Norway
Sweden
########
* WHAT WESTERN NATIONS BY LAW REJECT ROUTINE BIRTH-CONTROL
ABORTION? (p.14)
ABORTION ILLEGAL -
"HARD GROUNDS"
"SOFT GROUNDS"
must strictly defend
ABORTION ONLY -
ABORTION IN EARLY
medical necessity:
serious health
PREGNANCY ONLY -
risk, disease,
Exceptional
defect, or rape/
hardship
incest grounds:
demonstrated:
Belgium
Canada
England
Ireland
Portugal
Finland
Spain
France
Switzerland
West Germany
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
########
ABORTION: MAINSTREAM AMERICAWINTER 89-90
PAGE 4
*
WHAT TYPES OF ABORTION RESTRICTIONS ARE MOST COMMON IN OTHER
WESTERN NATIONS?
Western nations other than the U.S. typically require pre-
abortion procedures to protect the mother's full range of
rights, and to seek balance between competing interests of the
mother and the unborn child. France, for example, offers
70%-to-100% public financing of abortion, depending on
compelling grounds for abortion. Even with public financing,
however, France requires three pre-requisites (p.17)
########
FRANCE: 3 ABORTION PRE-REQUISITES,
EVEN WITH PUBLIC FINANCING OF ABORTION
1) READING OF RIGHTS: All women seeking abortions must be
presented a government brochure outlining all government
benefits and programs available to mothers and children,
adoption options and organizations offering assistance.
2) COUNSELING from a government approved service which cannot
be located in an abortion facility, thus diluting possible
bias or conflict of interest.
3) BRIEF ABORTION DELAY of one week required between an
elective abortion request and the actual procedure, except
for emergencies. (24-hours in some Western countries).
########
*
LEGAL STATUS OF THE UNBORN CHILD has met with singular debate
in West Germany, and is thus worth special notice. While
German legislators approved abortion-on-demand, the West
German Constitutional Court overturned those laws. The Court
ruled that "life developing within the womb" is constitution-
ally protected by language stipulating that "everyone shall
have the right to life and inviolability of his person." The
court ruled that a woman's right to self-determination and
privacy is subordinate to human life rights of the unborn
child.
Given West Germany's "spiritual-moral confrontation" with
the political system of the Third Reich, the Court which
emphasized every human being's "inherent worth
uncompromisingly demands unconditional respect for life
and
which therefore excludes destruction of such life without
legally justifiable grounds
Even a general change
of the viewpoints dominant in the populace on this subject--if
such a change could be established at all-would change
nothing," (page 30).
ABORTION:
INTERNATIONAL
COMPARISONS
Document Originally
Attached to
AMERICA'S ABORTION POLICY ON AN INTERNATIONAL SCALE:
ABORTION AND DIVORCE IN WESTERN LAW
By Harvard Law School Professor Mary Ann Glendon
(Harvard University Press, 1987, [617] 495-2480] )
How does America's abortion law stack up when compared to 20
Western nations as well as key communist societies?
That's the issue explored by Harvard Law School Professor
Mary Ann Glendon, initially through a series of Julius Rosenthal
Foundation Lectures at Northwestern University Law School.
Glendon, who champions extreme positions of neither the pro-life
nor pro-choice movements, makes the following observations:
* AMERICA OCCUPIES A GLOBAL EXTREME ON ABORTION POLICY:
America's abortion-on-demand policies are more extreme than those
of Western Europe as well as the Soviet Bloc nations. Of these
nations, only America has allowed abortion-on-demand throughout
pregnancy, permitting but not requiring protective measures for
the fetus at the point of viability.
* ABORTION AS ROUTINE BIRTH CONTROL IS REJECTED BY LAW in
England, Switzerland, Greece, West Germany, Portugal and Spain,
which require certification by doctors of grounds for abortion
(page 21).
* MID-TO-LATE-TERM ABORTIONS: "Austria, Denmark, Greece and
Norway all forbid abortion after the first trimester except for
serious reasons, while Sweden places the cut-off point for
elective abortions
at 18 weeks," (page 22).
* ABORTION MILLS: "Only in America has a vast profit-making
industry grown up around abortion," (page 20) with so-called
"abortion mills" being a uniquely American phenomenon. France,
for example, publically finances abortions at a 70%-to-100% rate,
depending on circumstances (page 17). But such procedures must
take place in government-approved facilities where by law
abortions "cannot exceed 25% of all surgical and obstetrical
operations.'
* TO CITE A NATION WHERE ABORTION LAWS ARE "AS INDIFFERENT TO
UNBORN LIFE" as in the United States, one must look beyond the
West, beyond Europe, even beyond the Soviet bloc, to nations
where economic and population concerns "override(s) both women's
liberty and fetal life
In China, for example
(page 24).
* WARSAW PACT NATIONS: "The Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and
East Germany all forbid abortion after the first trimester except
for serious reasons, while Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania in
recent years have made their abortion laws more restrictive,"
(page 24).
* LATE-TERM FETUS CONSIDERATION: Women's choice/elective
abortion is allowed during some phases of pregnancy in only five
Western nations other than the United States (Austria, Denmark,
U.S./WESTERN ABORTION LAW
PAGE 2
Greece, Norway and Sweden). However, of those six Western
"elective" nations, only America "does not require regulation to
protect the fetus" at the point of viability (page 22).
* PRE-ABORTION REQUIREMENTS: Demonstrating greater legal
protection of both the mother and the unborn child, Western
nations other than the U.S. characteristically require
pre-abortion procedures. Even with its 70%-to-100% public
financing of abortion, France has carved out a middle way
requiring (page 17) :
1) READING OF RIGHTS: All women seeking abortions must
be presented a government brochure outlining all government
benefits and programs available to mothers and children,
adoption options and organizations offering assistance;
2) COUNSELING from a government-approved service which
cannot be located in an abortion facility, thus diluting
possible bias or conflict of interest;
3) BRIEF ABORTION DELAY of one week required between an
elective abortion request and the actual procedure, except
for emergencies.
* CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF A FETUS: In a reverse of the U.S.
experience, it was the West German Court which banned abortion-
on-demand previously approved by legislators. The West German
Constitutional Court ruled that "life developing within the womb"
is constitutionally protected by language stipulating that
"everyone shall have the right to life and inviolability of his
person." The court ruled that a woman's right to self-determi-
nation and privacy is subordinate to human life rights of the
unborn child.
Given West Germany's "spiritual-moral confrontation" with
the political system of the Third Reich, the Court emphasized
every human being's "inherent worth
which uncompromisingly
demands unconditional respect for life
and which therefore
excludes destruction of such life without legally justifiable
grounds
Even a general change of the viewpoints dominant in the
populace on this subject--if such a change could be established
at all-would change nothing," (page 30).
RESPONSES TO "ABORTION AND DIVORCE IN WESTERN LAW"
"
Dynamite
blows to bits the often-heard contention that
compromise on abortion policy is impossible in a divided
society. The experience of other nations equally sundered along
religious and moral lines shows that it is possible to craft an
abortion policy marked by compassion for pregnant women and
respect for unborn life."
-- DONALD P. KOMMERS, NOTRE DAME LAW SCHOOL
******
"
law is a 'culture system, a 'story' by which society
interprets itself The 'story' Professor Glendon tells is a
chilling one: society stumbles unintentionally towards
atomization and nihilism." -- ANDREW M. GREELEY
TARRANCE & ASSOCIATES
Research for Decisions in Politics and Public Affairs
#. Lanes Turness, Jr.
Charman - - - aso
3d Gooss
I
XEXORADUX
Riekerd B. Ryse. Ph.D.
Jenesr
Afficire
Phylis Main
Docume Vice-Presidente
TO:
National Right-To-Life Committee
Freak M. Newport, PED.
FROM: V. Lance Tarrance
arry 1. Presimenk, Ph.D.
Ed Goeas
Brian Tringali
Severlay Checken
Michael Baselice
kiss C. Tringall
Visa-Preasions
DATE:
November 8, 1989
/ DC Office
David J. Seeket
RE:
Virginia Statewide Post Election Survey
Massington, DC. Office
United & Blrd
Director/Pisit Operations
Mark D. Richardson
The National Right-To-Life Committee commissioned a survey
Jenes Atsoral -
of 500 people who said they voted in general election for
disked D. Basellos
Jener America AMOUNT
Governor of Virginia. Responses to the survey were gathered
- AC Office
November 7, 1989. All respondents interviewed were part of
Father Myses
a fully representative sample based on the latest voter
Service Ameract Amount
registration figures within the state of Virginia.
The confidence interval associated with a sample of this
type is such that in 95 out of 100 cases results will be
within ± 4.5% of the "true values" where "true values" refer
to the results obtained if it were possible to interview
every voter in the state.
The issue of abortion was not the major factor as voters
want to the polls on election day. Only twelve percent
(123) of the respondents said they voted for the candidate
of their choice based solely on that candidate's position
on abortion. of this group, 42% said they voted for
Marshall Coleman, and 39% said they voted for Douglas
Wilder. Eighty-five percent (85%) said they did not vote
for the candidate of their choice based solely on the
abortion issue.
Additionally, the intensity of the abortion issue was
overstated during this election. Only 12% of the
respondents said they proferred a pro-lifa candidate and
felt a candidate's position on this issue was very important
in determining how to vote. There were even fawer votars
(10%) who preferred a pro-choice candidate and felt a
candidate's position on abortion was very important in
deciding how to vote.
OCT 10 '89 13:34 :ES ELECTION SURVEY UNIT
P.1
FYI
Date
CBS NEWS
The New York Times
FOR RELEASE: 9/28/89
6:30 p.m. EDT
SEPTEMBER, 1989 -- PART II
ABORTION -- NATION AND STATE
September 17-20, 1989
Two-thirds of Americans say they are concerned that women may
lose the right to an abortion. The same percentage think their
state is likely to enact abortion restrictions in the next year
and are uneasy about the role of government in this area. But
while Americans continue to think that abortion should be left to
& woman and her doctor, there are clearly limitations that a
majority would favor.
Americans support parental notification and consent for minors,
viability testing of the fetus and upgrading of abortion clinics,
even if that makes doing abortions more difficult. They
disapprove of abortion as a means of birth control or as when
done because a pregnancy would interfere with a professional
woman's career. And they clearly have mixed feelings about
abortions done for reasons other than rape, incest, saving &
mother life or health, and the chance of & child with a birth
defect.
Some of this comes from the belief held by nearly half the
country that abortion is murder. still, Americans oppose
prohibiting public employees from performing abortions, and, by &
wide margin, even those who favor outlawing all abortions
disapprove of some pro-life group tactics like abortion clinic
sit-ins.
Along with this national poll, CBS News conducted state-wide
surveys in California, Illinois, onio and Texas and, in
conjunction with The New York Times, in Florida. Ohioans express
views very similar to the nation as a whole, while Texans are
Californians significantly more pro-choice. In Florida. where
slightly less pro-choice, Illinois slightly more so, and
the state legislature is about to neet on abortion, and whose
Governor is strongly anti-abortion, pro-choice opinions dominate.
The national poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,347
adults interviewed by telephone September 17-20, 1989. The error
due to based on the entire sample. state surveys each
sampling could be plus or minus three percentage points were
for conducted results September 13-24, 1989. The margin of error on
state could be plus or minus four percentage points.
ABORTION AND ELECTIONS
Nationally, 9% describe themselves as single issue abortion
voters. AS a group, they are less likely than the country as a
whole to favor abortion in all circumstances. For example, only
45% of single issue abortion voters would say & woman should be
allowed to have an abortion if her doctor agrees to it.
Nationally, 58% say this.
In Florida, however, the single-issue group, unlike the state's
Governor, is clearly more pro-choice than the state as a whole.
60% of single-issue abortion voters in Florida say abortion
should be available to those who want it. 46% say this state-
wide, and only 40% think this nationally. As a political force,
the pro-choice voters may have been mobilized by the Governor
Martinez's actions immediately after the Supreme Court ruling in
Webster V. Reproductive Health Services.
In all other states surveyed, single-issue abortion voters were
dominated by those who are opposed to most abortions.
ABORTION AND THE COURTS
There are three cases up before the Supreme Court this fall
involving abortion restrictions.
parents
The subject of Ohio V. Akron Center for Reproductive Health is
parental notification for minors. Americans favor this 83% to
13% (so do Chicans, by similar margins). The Minnesota case,
Hodgson V. Minnesota, concerns a state law requiring parental
consent. Americans would also favor that, 75% to 25%.
One of the most serious cases before the Court this session is
Ragsdale V. Turnock, the Illinois case that would put stringent
regulations on the licensing of private abortion clinics,
requiring that they be effectively as well equipped as hospital
emergency rooms. 72% favor this, even though it would make it
more difficult for clinica to perform abortions. There is also
majority support in Illinois for this.
Às for the Webster case, most Americans are unwilling to express
an opinion on this, saying they haven't heard enough about it.
Among those who do, disapproval outweighs approval by more than
two to one. However, the public does have opinions on two parts
of that decision.
Americans favor viability tests for fatuses of 20 weeks or more
by more than two to one. However, they oppose legislation (like
that in the Missouri law) that would prohibit public employees
and public hospitals from performing abortions.
NOT
ELECTION
SOURCES OF ABORTION OPINIONS
The ambivalence that exists in opinions about abortion comes from
a variety of sources. But there are clearly conflicts about what
and who is right, and what the role of government should be.
Nearly half the public thinks abortion is the same thing as
murdering a child. But many of those people (and 21% of the
total sample) say that while abortion is murder, it is sometimes
the best thing in a bad situation. Consequently, many of these
Americans will support legal abortion under certain, "serious,"
conditions.
69% of the public thinks that, no matter what their own opinion
is, the government has no business preventing a woman from having
an abortion. Nearly half of those who think abortion is murder
believe the same thing, obviously creating a situation where
personal opinion about abortion and about the role of government
differ greatly.
Even among those who say they favor abortion generally, many will
oppose abortion under certain conditions. Consequently, support
for the availability of legal abortion varies drastically
depending on the perceived "seriousness" of the reason for the
abortion and the implications of bearing the child.
FAVOR LEGAL ABORTION
...
When mother's health endangered
88%
In case of rape
82%
If chance of serious defect
70%
When doctor agrees
55%
For low income family
49%
When woman is unmarried
48%
If teenager would have to drop out
47%
If professional would interrupt carser
34%
As prime means of birth control
6%
what matters most in determining abortion opinion is not sex or
views. Where they differ, woman are slightly less pro-choice
religious preference. Women and men express generally similar
(for example, ast of men supported legal abortion in cases of
rape, while only 77% of women did). Catholics in general have
opinions like those of other denominations.
Religious participation and the importance of religion have more
of an impact on what people think about this issue. Those who
who attend religious services regularly, regardless of their
say religion is extremely important in their own lives, and those
religious preference, are most likely to express anti-abortion And
while most Americans think the government should stay out of the
opinions. They overwhelmingly describe abortion as murder.
abortion area, less than half of serious churchgoers do.
XT 10 199 IBE E.S ELECTION UNIT
THE ACTIVISTS
Americans view pro-choice activists favorably, but have generally
mixed opinions about their anti-abortion counterparts. 59% say
pro-choice activists are reasonable people, but only 44% describe
pro-life activists that way. Nearly as many say the pro-life
activists are extremists.
Part of this may be due to the way Americans view certain anti-
abortion activities. Three-quarters of the public say that
abortion clinic sit-ins, blocking entrances, and approaching
women entering clinics to try and keep them from having abortions
are unacceptable forms of political protests. This is not seen
as a civil liberties issue, even by self-described liberals. 81%
of them say those tactics are unacceptable.
Abortion
&
Public Opinion
The Boston Globe
VeL ass: No.90
FRIDAY. MARCH. 31. 1989
- - M I R miss - - 100 Pages 25 cents
Most in US favor ban on majority of abortions, poll finds
his headline from the Boston Globe of
T
March 31, 1989 is indicative of the
findings of a number of newspaper polls
conducted during the first few months of 1989.
The vast majority of the American public does
not believe abortion should be legal except under
"Most Americans would
a few
exceptionally rare
circumstances. (See
graph below.) The results of the Globe and other
polls take on even more significance in light of
ban the vast majority of
the results of a Planned Parenthood-afflliated
poll which asked women to give the main reason
abortions performed in this
why they had chosen to have an abortion. (See
graph below.) When the results of the Globe and
country
Planned Parenthood polls are compared, it is
clear that the reasons almost all abortions are
Boston Globe
done today are for precisely those reasons which
the vast majority of the American public do not
March 31, 1989
believe abortion should be legally available. In
other words, the overwhelming majority of
Americans oppose almost all abortions done
today. Conversely, only a tiny fraction of the abortions being performed are done for reasons for which the
American public would allow legal abortion (when the mother's life is threatened, when the pregnancy results from
rape or incest, or when the child may be handicapped).
For the most part, polls also showed that only broad general statements about abortion
such as if one
"supports" the Supreme Court decision (which very few people understand and very few newspapers report
correctly) are able to garner majority support. But when pollsters ask about specific circumstances, in almost all
cases the American public overwhelmingly opposes abortion.
Polls Apart
Majority wants it to be illegal
Most Important Reasons for
Having an Abortion
Should
Should be
Survey of 1900
be legal
illegal
(By percentage)
abortion patients
A woman
44%
Pregnancy would
Relationship
Aide Torres, Smior
37%
who is
Problems
cause 100 much
Research Assoc.
& minor
46%
emotional serain
53%
12.3
Change in
Financial
Alan Gustmacher
Wrong time in
31%
Father unwilling
30%
Life Style
Institute, co-author
life to have
10 help raise
15.6
21
J.D. Forrest Dir.
. child
62%
the child
63%
Health
6
of Research. AGI
27%
31%
desired sex
68%
62%
Enough Kids Other 7.9 5.6
chart I with speech
Fetus not
Not Ready
Father
5/7/88, session on
for the
absent
Responsibility
"abortion services";
Woman
33%
31.6
Assn. of Reproduc-
Mother wants
32%
cennot affore
tive Health Fre-
abortion-father
& child
59%
wants baby
57%
fessional Annual
As a means
28%
Father wants
31%
Meeting.
of birth
abortion-mother
control
66%
wants baby
59%
Aida Torres, senior tesearch arsoc., Alan Guttmacher Institute: co-awher
J.D. Forest, director of research, May 7, 1988.
This graph differs from the one published in the Globe. which showed the responses of only the 33% of respondents who support abortion in "certain circumstances." "
This more accurate graph reflects as well the 23% wno support abortion in "all circumstances" and the 19% who support abortion in "no circumstances." Poll
surveyed 1,002 registered voters nationwide.
GALLUP JULY 1989
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
This survey was conducted by telephone July 6-9, 1989, among a
nationally representative sample of 1,253 adults, 18 and older. For results
based on a sample of this size, one can say with 95% confidence that the error
attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus 3
percentage points.
Results based on subsamples of the 1,253 interviews may be subject to
larger sampling error. In addition to sampling error, question wording and
practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into
the findings of public opinion polls.
1. In 1973 the Supreme Court ruled that states
cannot place restrictions on a woman's right to
an abortion during the first three months of
pregnancy. Would you like to see this ruling
overturned or not?
Gallup
4/89
Poll
Current
Newsweek
12/88
Overturn
34
39
37
Not overturn
58
51
58
DON'T KNOW
8
10
5
100
100
100
(750) (1213)
2. Do you approve or disapprove of this week's
Supreme Court decision allowing states to pass
laws that restrict abortions?
3. Do you feel strongly about this or not?
Approve
37
Strongly
28
Not strongly
9
Disapprove
55
Strongly
44
Not strongly
11
DON'T KNOW
8
100
4. As I read some restrictions on abortions that
are being considered in some states tell me if
you would favor or oppose such a restriction in
your state?
Favor Copose OK
Not allowing
abortions to
be performed in
public hospitals
unless the abortion
is required to
save a woman's life
54
43
3 - 100
In cases where
the mother is
five months pregnant,
requiring a test
to see if the fetus
might survive outside
of the womb before
allowing the abortion? 52
41
7 - 100
Requiring that women
under the 18 years
of age get parental
consent before they
are allowed to
have an abortion?
67
29
4 = 100
Passing laws and
regulations that
would make it
very difficult for
women's clinics that
erforms abortions
to continue to operate
36
59
5 = 100
5. Do you feel that it is likely or unlikely that
laws will be passed in your state that will make
it difficult for a woman to get an abortion?
Likely
54
Unlikely
36
DON'T KNOW
10
100
6. Which political party better reflects your views
on abortion - - the Republicans or the Democrats?
Total
Rep
Dem.
Indep
Republicans
34
66
13
24
Democrats
37
16
63
31
Neither (VOLUNTEERED)
8
4
3
16
Both (VOLUNTEERED)
1
1
2
2
DON'T KNOW
20
13
19
27
100
100
100
100
7.
Do you approve or disapprove of the way George
Bush has handled the abortion issue?
Total
Rep.
Dem
Indep
Approve
43
59
33
38
Disapprove
35
25
44
37
DON'T KNOW
22
16
23
25
100
100
100
100
B. As a result of the Courts ruling, are your more
likely to do any of the following?
Take a political candidates position on abortion
more into account when deciding which candidate to
support
Total
Men
Women
Yes
61
58
64
No
3
39
29
Don't Know
=
3
7
100
100
100
Contribute money or time to an organization
supporting your position on abortion
Total
Men
Women
es
39
48
10
53
59
48
on't Know
3
2
4
100
100
Call or write an elected official to register your
opinion on abortion
Total
Men
Women
Yes
54
48
59
No
44
50
39
Don't Know
2
2
2
100
100
100
Take part in a public demonstration in support of
your position on amortion
Total
Men
Women
Yes
25
21
29
No
72
78
67
Don't Know
?
1
4
100
100
100
Now on another topic
9. As you may have heard, Oliver North was
sentenced for his involvement in Iran-Contra
case. Do you think the sentence was fair, the
sentence was to: harsh or North got off too
easy?
Fair
49
00 harsh
20
orth got off too easy
26
adn't heard
1
ON'T KNOW
4
100
GALLUP POLL NEWS SERVICE
FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, July 12, 1989
MAJORITY CRITICAL OF ABORTION DECISION;
BUT MOST AMERICANS FAVOR SOME NEW RESTRICTIONS
BY ANDREW KOHUT AND LARRY HUGICK
PRINCETON, N.J. -- Last week's Supreme Court decision allowing states
to put sharp new restrictions on abortion receives a strong and mostly
negative reaction from the public. In the latest Gallup Poll, 55% disapprove
of the decision while 37% approve. Seven in ten (71%) Americans say they have
strong opinions one way or the other about the decision.
Americans remains deeply divided and conflicted in their attitudes
toward the abortion issue. Neither side of the abortion debate can claim to
have a majority of the public firmly in its camp. While most Americans oppose
a complete reversal of the Roe V. Wade decision that gave women unrestricted
access to abortion in the first three months of pregnancy, most would favor
some new restrictions on abortion at the state level.
With an issue as controversial as abortion, virtually any decision is
likely to fail to win the support of a majority. For example, although
disapproval of last weeks's decision comes mostly from Americans who are "pro-
choice", the poll finds that nearly one in three (29%) of those who favor the
overturn of Roe V. Wade disapprove of the decision in the Missouri case.
Women Divided on a Women's Issue
Women are reacting more strongly than men to the recent decision. Now
that the states have greater authority to restrict abortion, six in ten (63%)
women say they will give greater weight to a candidate's position on the issue
when they vote; a similar proportion (58%) say they are now more likely to
call or write an elected official to register an opinion on the abortion
issue. About one-half (48%) of women say they are more likely to contribute
time or money to an organization supporting their own point of view on
abortion; three in ten (29%) women are more likely to participate in a public
demonstration on abortion.
Men are consistently less likely to express these attitudes. A majority
(59%) of men, however, do say the abortion issue is now likely to be a more
important consideration in the voting booth.
the fifth month of pregnancy (52%), another component of Missouri law
governing abortion.
Looking ahead to a case the Supreme Court will consider next fall, a
majority (59%) of Americans oppose the general idea of passing laws to make it
more difficult for abortion clinics to operate.
Two Parties Even on Abortion Issue
Both parties have divisions within their rank-and-file on the abortion
issue. The abortion issue clearly helps the GOP with Southerners and
Evangelical Protestants, two groups who tend to oppose legal abortions. The
degree to which Evangelicals have increasingly favored the Republican Party
helps to explain why self-described Republicans are more likely than Democrats
to favor the overturn of Roe V. Wade (43% vs. 33%). Yet a sizable proportion
of Republicans (36%) oppose any change in the legal status of abortion,
including the Supreme Court's recent ruling allowing new state restrictions.
Upper-income people, college graduates, and the young -- groups that generally
have Republican leanings -- all tend to be "pro-choice" on abortion.
Among Democrats, opinion leans toward the "pro-choice" position over a
"right to life" stance (46% vs. 33%). Some of the groups most likely to
identify with the Democratic Party, however -- older people, minorities and
the less well educated -- are less likely to share the views of their fellow
Democrats on abortion.
Overall, the two political parties rate about evenly when Americans are
asked which one better reflects their views on abortion -- 37% name the
Democrats, while 34% name the Republicans. The issue may give the Democrats a
slight advantage among political Independents, who generally have less
restrictive attitudes toward abortion. Independents favor the Democratic
Party by a margin of 31% to 24% on the abortion issue.
President Bush gets a mixed rating from the public on how he has handled
this controversial issue -- 43% approve while 35% disapprove. More than one
in five (22%) expresses no opinion of Bush's handling of the issue. Opponents
of legal abortion tend to approve (50% VS. 26% disapprove) while a majority
(58%) of people with "pro-choice" attitudes disapprove. Those most pleased
with Bush on the abortion issue tend to be male, Republican, and of the
Catholic or an Evangelical Protestant faith. Those most likely to criticize
Bush on the abortion issue tend to be female, college-educated, more affluent,
non-Catholic, non-Evangelical and Democratic or Independent politically.
The Times Poll LA.Times 3/19
Most Americans Think
Abortion Is Immoral
By GEORGESKELTON, Times Staff Writer
Continued from Page 1
portion of women in the United
Most Americans personally con-
on abortion today are about the
der abortion to be Immoral-Xo
old court decision (8) only luke-
States actually have had an abor-
cl, "murder." But they also be-
warm, but people oyerwhelmingly
same as they were 2 decade ago,
tion," pollster Lewis said. "We
according to Times Poll Director
oppose amending the Constitution
have to assume that 8% is a
:ve deeply that each woman
I.A. Lewis.
ould be allowed to decide for
to outlaw abortions, as advocated
minimum figure. A fifth of the
reself whether to have an abor-
aggressively by "pro-life" groups.
Politically, most people do not
women we interviewed who admit-
on, a nationwide survey by the
In fact, the survey provides
vote for a candidate simply because
ted they have had an abortion said
evidence that the years-long. con-
of a position on abortion, the sur-
mes Poll has found.
they had never before told anyone
very showed. But a significant num-
about it. There must be many more
Abortion clearly Is an Issue that
sient agitation by factions on both
8s at the conscience and stire up
sides of the issue-anti-abortion or
ber-a third of those interviewed-
who are still unwilling to discuss
"pro-life" and pro-abortion or
asperted that they indeed would
the subject."
nflicting feelings about right and
"pro-choice" groups-has had 111.
switch their vote away from a
Contrasted with the widespread
A
ong and the practicalities of
tle Impact on public opinion. It
politician who look "the wrong
perception that abortion clients
Ing in a complex society, the poll
Indicates that American opinlons
stand" Most of these people gener-
owed.
come from the low end of the
On the one hand. Americans
Please aec ABORTION, Page 26
ally oppose abortion, an indication
socioeconomic ladder. women who
that opponents feel more strongly
told the Times poll that they had
amantly object to abortion if Its
about the subject than do support-
aborted a fetus tended to be better
y purpose 1s birth control. Nor
era.
educated, working foll time, earn-
they support it as a way to avoid
The Times poll, in one of the
rriuge. And they oppose It "on
largest and most substantive sur-
mand," as # mere conventence.
veys ever conducted on the emo-
los Angeles Simes
See Justification
tional issue of abortion, inter-
viewed 3,583 American adults by
On the other hand. practically
telephone March 3-10. The margin
rybody agrees that abortion 18
of error for a survey of this size is 3
fied when the mather's life 18 in
percentage points in either direc-
ger or If the pregnancy was
tion.
sed by rape or Incest. To A lesser
The survey included a national
ing good salaries and generally
ent, but etill overwhelmingly,
representative of every racial and
pie also support abortion If the
cross section sample of 2,406 peo-
ethnic group. They also tended to
ple, plus an additional 1,177 WORR-
y is likely to have a serious
h defect.
en. The "oversample" of women
be either childless or the parent of
was added because of abortion's
just one child, single, a baby boom-
mericans lend to support the
special significance to them and in
er and living in metropolitan areas.
reme Court's landmark decision
order to provide greater statistical
Religion is not very important in
Roe VS. Wade that legalized
their lives
Uon-a decision that has been
precision to their opinions. But
Americans generally find abor-
er attack all through the 1980s
their answers were "weighted" so
tion to be morally repugnant, the
he Ronald Reagan Administra-
that, overall, they properly fit into
poll showed But they also see it
and now the Bush Administra-
a Inormal percentage mix of men
often as a necessary evil, a last
The high court plans to hear a
and women.
resort for desperate people.
ouri case challenging Roe Y8.
Eight percent of the women
Among those viewed, 619
e on April 26 and to rule by
interviewed acknowledged having
said they believe abortion to be
ummer, and there has been
had an abortion themselves--some
"morally wrong." Just 22% said it
ulation that it could substan-
of them more than once.
is "morally right." Even women
after or even overturn that
"Nobody really knows what pro-
who have had an abortion are
Юп.
bllc support for the
COMPLEXPEELINGS
divided on the moral question, with
tion as the reasons become less
Favor
Oppose
$7% considering it to be "wrong"
compelling. such as "If the family
30% "right" and 24% not sure.
has a very low income and cannot
Indeed. a large majority-57%-
afford any more children'' (41%
Do you favor or oppose?
think "abortion is murder." the poll
for, 19% against). "if an unmarried
found. Only 35% disagree. It even
woman who is pregnant does not
Abortion when a women's life is
88%
is considered "murder" by 2 third
want to marry the man" (40%-
endangered
51%). "if she is married and does
6%
of the women who have had an
abortion and a fourth of the people
not want any more children"
who generally favor it.
(36%-54%) and "when it is used as
Abortion # a pregnancy results
84%
But the key 10 understanding the
a form of birth control" (13%-
from rage or incest
10%
overriding attitude of Americans
80%).
toward abortion can be found in
People reject the general notion
their answers to this question: "Do
that a woman "should be able to get
Abortion it there in a serious birth
74%
you agree or disagree with this
an abortion no matter what the
defect
17%
statement? 'I personally feel that
reason" (34%-57%).
abortion is morally wrong. but I
In fact, the respondents sald that
Abortion when the family hee a low
41%
also feet that whether or not to
"generally speaking" they do not
income and cannot afford any more
have an abostion is a decision that
favor abortion (31% for. 40%
children
49%
has to be inade by every woman for
against, 26% not sure). And eveR
herself." Seventy-four percent
people who do favor abortion over-
Abortion when the unmarried
40%
agreed and only 21% disagreed,
wheliningly oppose its use for birth
woman does not want to many the
with 5% not sure.
control.
natural father
B1%
Even (weathirds of the people
Yet, by 46% to 35%, people lend
who said they generally oppose
to support the Supreme Court's Roe
36%
vs. Wade decision, which struck
Using public funds for abortions
abortion agreed that each woman
$2%
should be allowed to choose for
down all state laws making abor-
herself whether to have one.
tion a crime and declared that the
Unlike most of the "pro-choice"
Constitution guarantees women
Abortion whos a married women
36%
and "pra-life" activists who attract
the right to end early pregnan-
does not want any more children
64%
media attention, relatively few
cies-those in the first trimester-
Americans approve-or disap-
free from government interfer-
34%
prove-of abortion carte blanche
ence. "Every woman has the right
Abortion, no matter what reason
under any circumstances. They
to control her own body," a majori-
57%
have a range of standards.
ty of those interviewed by The
in order of priority. for example,
Times agreed (51%-44%).
13%
People are strongly opposed to
Abortion os & form of birth control
people favor abortion "when a
80%
woman's health is seriously endan-
any constitutional amendment that
gered" (88%-6%). "if a woman
would outlaw abortions (28% for,
became pregnant as the result of
62% against). And they also oppose
34%
Abortion in general
rape or incest" (84%-10%) and "if
going back to the pre-1973 system
40%
there is a strong chance of serious
of "permitting each state to decide
defect in the baby" (74%-17%).
whether abortions are legal (31%
But they begin to oppose abor-
Please see ABORTION, Page 27
ABORTION:
THE POLITICS OF ABORTION
Question Stirs
A1 present, ht does not appear that the Bush Administration will suffer
If the Supreme Court over torns Hoe va. Wade.
The Bush Adminis has asked the Supreme Court to strike
Mix of Feelings
down its Roe versus Wade decision which essentially supports
abortion # the Court complies, will that make you more or less likely
to support the Bush Administration?
More Mkely:
Continued from Page 26
15%
Less likely
for, 50% against).
19%
Have no effect
The survey showed that people
60%
Don't Know
on the high end of the BOCKCCO-
8%
nomic scale are dramatically more
Part of the remson is that voters who favor abortion won't switch their
sympathetic toward abortion than
those on the low end. For example,
might. vote OR account of the abortion issue. But those who oppose abortion
45% of the people who went to
Some people say they would vote against a political candidate if he
college generally favor abortion,
or she took what they considered to be the wrong stand on abortion.
while only 25% of high school
How about you? is the abortion issue so important to you that you
dropouts do. Likewise, 42% of
would switch your vote from your original choice and vote for
people earning more than $40,000 a
somebody else because you disagreed on abortion, or not?
year favor abortion, but just 24% of
FAVOR
OPPOSE
HO
those who take in less than $20,000
ALL
ADORTION
ABORTION
OTHOON
RESPONDENTS
do
Switch
30%
46%
For many, the practical, every-
12%
32%
Not switch
65%
44%
77%
day burdens of giving birth and
69%
Don't Know
5%
10%
11%
8%
raising 2 child greatly influence
their attitude toward abortion. For
Actually. abortion is not a partisan issue. Republicans and Democrate,
example, people who are self-em-
for once, are eye to eye.
ployed, working full time or look-
ing for a job are significantly more
Party Affiliation
supportive of abortion than are
ALL
DEMOCRAT
INDEPENDENT
REPUBLICAN
RESPONDENTS
homemakers or retired persons.
Favor
36%
31%
People in this survey were about
37%
34%
Oppose
39%
41%
41%
evenly divided between those who
40%
No Opinion
25%
28%
22%
26%
think "motherhqod must always be
a woman's most important and
satisfying role" and others who feel
most important. satisfying thing a
"motherhood can sometimes keep a
woman does
By religion, Jews solidly support
woman from fulfilling her true
Only roughly one-fourth of
abortion. But Christians-particu-
potential in life
larly Roman Catholics-do not.
blacks and Latinos favor abortion,
The majority of people. who sup-
but more than a third of Anglos do.
People who say religion is "very
port abortion think that raising
Surprisingly, however, there are
important" In their lives oppose
children can hold back a woman in
abortion by more than 2 to 1.
no significant differences in abor-
her career. But the majority of
tion views between men and wom-
Geographically, people along the
those who oppose abortion believe
en, young and old and Republicans
Pacific Coast and in New England
that motherhood should be the
and Democrats, the poll found.
favor abortion 'mdre', than other?
People Who Favor Abortion:
Have generally liberal views on "family values." They favor changing
women's status in society and do not feel that a woman's place is in the
home. They think motherhood can cometimes be a burden. They support
homosexual rights.
Tend to have fewer children; more often than not they are deparated,
remarried or have been divorced.
Consider religion 1032 important in their lives and tend to be Jowish or
to attend religious services only occasionally.
Politically identify themselves as more liberal and in party affiliation
split evenly between Republicans and Democrats.
Tend to earn more than $30,000 per year, be middle-aged. live in a
central city or suburb in New England, the Mid-Atlantic or the Pacific
states. More likely than not B female wage earner contributes more than
40% of the family income.
People Who Oppose Abortion:
Feel the country is in a state of moral decline and hold conservative
viows on "family values." To them, a woman's place is in the home and
motherhood must always be 8 woman's most important and satisfying
role.
Have more children than average (four or more) and tend not to use
contraception.
Consider religion very important in their lives and regularly or
frequently attend services. They are most often Latino and Roman
Catholic or hold fundamentalist Pantecostal religious views.
Are either conservative or tend to pay little attention to politics.
Generally either own their own businesses or hold service-rolated
positions, earning less than $20,000 per year. They tend to live in smaller
cities or in rural areas of the Midwest and Deop South.
ABORTION: Majority Support
Women's Right to Make Choice
Continued from Page 27
However, 56% of the people in
Americans. People in the Deep
this survey reported that they use
South and Midwest are more op-
no contraceptives. Actually. Cath-
posed than others.
olics reported using them slightly
Divorced and separated people
more than Protestants or Jews.
tend to support abortion. But single
There is a tendency to feel that
people who never have been mar-
"legal abortions have encouraged
ried, and those who had split from
people to become sexually promis-
their first spouse and remarried
cuous" (48% agree, 43% disagree).
somebody else. are divided on the
People believe overwhelmingly
Darental consat
issue. People in their first marriag-
that "minors should have to get
<.convietion
es tend to oppose abortion.
their parents' permission before
Also, people who favor abortion
having an abortion" (81%-14%).
tend to be much 1833 certain of their
However. the survey offered a
views than those who oppose it.
good illustration of why most preg-
The public does not want to use
nant minors do not seek their
tax funds to pay for abortions of
parents' permission. When asked if
poor people. the survey showed
they had a pregnant daughter
(38% for. 52% against). There is &
whether they would "help her get
wide difference of opinion between
the abortion or oppose it," only a
people who favor abortion (64%
third replied "help" and half an-
for using tax dollars) and those
swered "oppose."
who oppose it (15% for).
A majority of people think any
But roughly two-thirds of all
woman seeking an abortion should
people-abortion supporters and
be required "to get the consent of
opponents alike-believe that the
the natural father" (53%-37%).
) Dad
responsibility for financing the ter.
Women think this less than men.
mination of a pregnancy should
but they tend to agree.
rest with one or both of the parents.
Finally, people had poor impres.
leaders
More than two-thirds of those
sions of leaders of both the pro-
Interviewed said "the government
abortion and anti-abortion move-
should make contraceptives more
ments (only 26% and 24% favora-
who ly available." Even 71% of
ble, respectively).
LA Times 3/19/89
Many in Survey Who Had Abortion Cite Guilt Feelings
By GEORGE SKELTON, Times Staff Writer
For a woman who has an abor-
has had an abortion-a sister,
morally wrong," the decision about
tion. the experience can be trau-
mother or a daughter.
States They apparently felt that
whether to have one "has to be
matic, leading often to feelings of
women with unwanted pregnan-
Eight percent of the 2.533 wom-
made by every woman for herself."
guilt and sometimes even regret
cies merely would turn to back-al-
en interviewed by telephone ack-
about her decision not to bear the
A "woman has the right to control
ley abortions.
nowledged having had at least one
child. The father of an aborted
her own body," they said.
Asked whether it would be hard:
abortion. But Times Poll Director
For most of these women who
felus typically is nagged even more
er for an unmarried woman to rear
I.A. Lewis estimated that this 8%
have had abortions, the issues came
by guilt and regret.
represents only a minimum figure
a child out of wedlock, or give up
While the national debate over
down to matters of "human rights"
the baby for adoption, or have an
for actual abortions, theorizing that
and "a realistic solution-a neces-
abortion usually is focused on the
abortion, 2 majority (52%) said the
many women are reluciant to ad-
highly vocal activists who compete
sary evil for a personal dilemma."
"hardest" thing would be to hand
mit having had one.
passionately on each side of the
Asked why they gol an abortion,
over the infant to adoption. The
In fact. one-fifth of the women in
emotional issue, the public seldom
the principal reason cited was that
easient was abortion (18%).
hears from the women who actual-
this survey who admitted having
"1 was too young." Other major
had an abortion said that they
A majority indicated they con-
ly have had abortions. But in a
reasons given were that the preg-
never had fold anybody about it
sidered motherhood a burden, with
nationwide survey, the Times Poll
nancy posed a threat to the moth-
before talking to the Times inter-
53% agreeing it, "can sometimes
caught a unique glimpse of their
er's health. that she could not
Actual
viewer. But over half said they had
keep a woman from fulfilling her.
motivations, backgrounds, atti-
financially support the child or that
informed their spouse or their
true potential in life." These wom-
Clents
tixles and anxieties-for instance.
there was a flawed relationship
parents, or both
en rejected the thesis that "moth-
that more than half feel guilty
with the father.
erhood must always be a woman's
about the abortion and one-fourth
A "sense of guilt about having
Before reaching the agonizing
had an abortion" was felt by 56% of
most important and satisfying
regrel it.
decision to have an abortion, the
role." Only 32% agreed with the
Women who get abortions, ac-
the women. And 26% said they
person whom the woman most
latter statement.
cording to this survey, tend not to
now "mostly regret the abortion."
commonly talked it over with was
Two-thirds said they would
be members of the underclass, as
Among the 1,050 men inter-
the father. (43% of the time).
"help" their own daughter obtain'
they often are portrayed. Com-
viewed in the survey, 7% acknowl-
Parents were consulted less than
an abortion, but more than a fifth
pared to the average, they are
edged having been the father of an
half as often (20%).
declared they would "oppose it."
better educated and have higher
aborted child. Guilt was fell by
Nearly two-thirds of the women
incomes-42% went to college and
almost two-thirds and regret by
One-third said that "abortions
oppose the idea of requiring the
have encouraged people to become
35% earn more than $40,000.
more than a third.
natural father's consent before an
sexually promiscuous."
They also tend to be single,
Only 39% of the women believed
abortion can be performed. But
About half said they were not
between the ages of 24 and 40 and
that abortion is "morally right."
two-thirds agree that "minors
using any contraceptive when they
live in metropolitan areas. They are
About as many. 37%, considered it
should have to get their parents'
got pregnant. And in the majority
not very religions. And a higher
to be "morally wrong" and 24%
permission before they can get an
percentage of women in the West
were not sure. Roughly a third
abortion."
of cases (57%), both sexual part-
ners were single.
get abortions than do women in
agreed that "abortion is murder."
More than two-thirds felt that
The survey was conducted
other regions.
Bul, in answer to another ques-
even if abortions were outlawed, it
March 3-10. The margin of error
One-fourth said that someone
tion, roughly three-fourths de-
would not reduce the number now
was 3 percentage points in either
else in their immediate family also
clared that although "abortion is
being performed in the United
direction.
Reasons Women Obtain Abortions
Percentage
Who Said
Percentage
This Reason
Who Said
Influenced
This Reason Was
Decision
"Most Important
In Any Way
Reason
Woman is concerned about how
having a baby could change her life
16%
76%
Woman can't afford baby now
21%
68%
Woman has problems with relationship
or wants to avoid single parenthood
12%
51%
Woman is unready for responsibility
21%
31%
June 6, 1989
Woman doesn't want others to know
1%
31%
she has had sex or is pregnant
Woman is not mature enough, or is
11%
30%
too young to have a child
Woman has all the children she wanted,
or has all grown-up children
8%
26%
Husband or partner wants woman to
1%
23%
have abortion
Constirmed
190
Fetus has possible health problem
3%
13%#
Woman has health problem (severity?)
3%
7%*
Woman's parents want her to have
abortion
less than .5%
7%
Woman was victim of rape or incest
1%
1%
National Right to Life News
3%
6%
ORIGINAL PLANNED PARENTHOUD DATA
Other
The following footnotes to the table above explain how the percentages for "life of the
mother" and "genetic abnormality" described in the text above were calculated.
*The actual number of abortions for "genetic abnormality," a situation that most
members of the public would regard as a "hard case," is actually significantly smaller than
the 13% listed here because of the broad category that AGI used in constructing this
SOURCE,
table.
Thirteen percent of all of the 1,900 women surveyed stated that a possible health
problem of the fetus contributed to their decision to abort, and according to additional
Allen Guttmacher
information provided in the text of the AGI article, of that thirteen percent, only eight
percent said "that a physician had advised them that the fetus had a defect or was
abnormal." justification that most members of the public would consider as a "hard case"
INSTITUTE-
reason for their abortion.
Therefore, only 1% (computed as .08 times .13 = .01-or 1%) of the 1,900 women
Affiliated with
surveyed gave letal abnormality as a reason for abortion. The percentage would be even
lower if we used the figure for the "most important reason."
Planned Parentho
*The actual number of abortions sought for what most members of the public would
regard as s "hard case" of "endangering the life or health of the mother" is actually AGI
significantly smaller than the 7% listed in the table because of the broad category that
used in constructing this table.
doctor had told them that their condition would be made worse by being pregnant," stated
"In all, 53 percent of those having an abortion because of a health problem said that a
the AGI article.
Therefore, less than 4% (computed as 53 times .07 . .037-or 3.7%) of the 1,900 The
women percentage would gave be even lower if we used the figure for the "most important sexson
surveyed a personal health condition as a hard case reason for abortion.
Bush Library Photocopy
Preservation
Public Opinion Regarding Post-Webster
Protective Legislation (In Percent).
Poll Source:
Newsweek
Gallup
L.A. Times
Media General
Time
Respondent N:
751
1,253
756
1,163
504
Sampling Error:
4%
3%
4%
3%
4.5%
Law Provides
Favor Oppose
Favor Oppose
Favor Oppose
Favor Oppose Favor Oppose
For
Counseling re:
dangers/
88 9
-
- -
-
-
81 16
alternatives
Parental Consent
75 22
67 29
1
-
-
1
72 25
Viability Testing
54 33
52 41
57 32
62 21
48 38
Exemptions For:
Public hospitals
54 41
54 43
56 40
38 53
-
-
Public funds
61 34
-
-
-
-
-
-
37 57
Preservation
Bush Library Photocopy
Public employees - -
-
-
56 40
47 40
-
-
Sources: Newsweek (July 17. 1989) 15. 20: Gallup Poll News Service (July 12. 1989):
Los Angeles Times Poll #190 (July. 1989): Media General/Associated Press Poll (July. 1989):
Time (July 17. 1989) 63.
Advances in Medicine-Not Legalization of Abortion-
Caused Drop in Abortion-Related Maternal Deaths
1400
Maternal Deaths from Induced Abortion
1300
in the United States, 1940 to 1983
One must go back to the pre-penicillin era of the 1940s to
find an annual figure of 1,000 maternal deaths from all induced
1200
abortion. Thanks to sulfa and, later, penicillin, there was a
sharp drop in the number of maternal deaths due to abortion.
By 1961 six years before Colorado became the first state to
1100
legalize abortion - the number was already down to 275.
Aided by ever-better antibiotics, the establishment of intensive
care units, better surgical techniques and the like, the number
1000
of maternal deaths continued to drop. By 1972, the year prior
to the Roe decision which legalized abortion on demand
nationwide, there were only 39 deaths from illegal abortions,
900
according to CDC, and 24 from legal abortions.
The pro-abortion claim is that the legalization of abortion has
made it "safe and legal," bringing abortion out of the danger-
800
ous back alley into "safe" medical facilities. But look at the
chart. If making abortion legal made it safer, then, with legaliza-
tion, there should have been a sharp drop in maternal deaths.
700
1967-First state legalized abortion (Colorado)
New abortion technique introduced-suction curretage
1973 U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion-on-demand
Right? Sorry, wrong. Virtually all the reduction in maternal
deaths took place prior to any state legalizing abortion, and the
slowly dropping line shown on the chart on page 20 didn't
even blip when abortion became legal nationwide in 1973.
600
Rather, it continued its previous slow steady downward course,
to bottom out in the 70s. While every maternal death was a
profound tragedy, 39 deaths is only a miniscule percentage in a
500
nation with over 5 million pregnancies a year.
We can accordingly make a firm factual statement. Legalizing
marchine
abortion did not save any women's lives. (It did, however,
400
result in the savage deaths of millions of unborn children.)
300
200
sulla (antibiotic) available
penicillin available
100
1960
1970
1980
1990
1940
1950
Year
SOURCES: M.D. and Dennis O'Hare, "Abortion Related Maternal Mortality: An In-Depth University
1940-1972: Data from U.S National Center for Health Statistics. published in Analysis," Thomas
W. New Hilgers. Perspectives in Human Abortion. ed. Hilgers, Horan and Mall (Frederick, MD:
Publications, 1973-1983 U.S. Centers for Disease Control, "Abortion Surveillance, 1982-1983" (February 1987).
1981). p. 82
MMWR 1987; 36 (No. 1SS). page 41SS.
Bush Library Photocopy
Preservation
$50
BEVERLY HUBBLE TAUKE
400 "O" Street, S. W., #203
Washington, DC 20024
TO: MR. ANDREW CARD
THE WHITE HOUSE
Deputy Chief of STAFF
1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVE.
BY
WASHINGTON, DC 20500
OFFICER
Preservation
Bush Library Photocopy
PERSiNAL
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 7, 1989
Dear Bev,
Thanks for the information on the abortion
issue. I found it very interesting and will
share it with others.
I have enjoyed the opportunities we have had to
talk, both at the Corazon Aquino State Dinner
and at the Kennedy Center Honors. I expect I
will be seeing you tomorrow in Des Moines.
Keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Andrew Andy H. Card, Jr.
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Mrs. Beverly Hubble Tauke
400 "0" Street, S.W., #203
Washington, D.C. 20024