Cultivating Reagan’s Abortion Legacy: His Last Years in Office

Abstract

In 1987, the White House embarked on abortion initiatives in the legislative, bureaucratic, and judicial realms. The administration introduced the President’s Pro-Life Bill, demanded strict new regulations on domestic family planning grants, and nominated Robert Bork, a staunch opponent of Roe, to the Supreme Court. The chapter locates these actions in the social and political context. It suggests that Reagan’s sudden debut as a pro-life champion was political theatre intended to rebut the perception he was a “lame duck” and to embed social conservatism in the Republican Party. It analyses the range of pro-life reactions to Reagan’s interventions, concluding that the movement was still divided over strategy and most organizations were judicious in their response to White House initiatives. However, major national groups also consciously chose to treat some defeats like victories, crafting a pro-life legacy for Reagan before he left office.