Page 6
THE BATTALION
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4, 1976
Abortion
Where candidates stand
Today in history
Follies y crimesy misfortunes
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Abortion is
emerging as a key presidential cam
paign issue, although the winner in
November, whoever he may be, will
have little to say about its resolution.
The emotional tenor of the con
troversy has led most candidates to
stake out carefully worded positions,
some of which tend to straddle the
issue by embracing positions on both
sides.
President Ford became the latest
presidential candidate to address the
issue, saying in a recorded CBS tele
vision interview Tuesday that he
wants the abortion question thrown
back to the states. By contrast,
Ronald Reagan, his opponent for the
GOP presidential nomination, wants
a constitutional amendment to estab
lish a national ban on abortion.
Ford indicated he was sympathe
tic to a constitutional amendment,
without calling for one.
Archbishop Joseph L. Bernardin,
president of the National Confer
ence of Catholic Bishops, called
Ford s views “inconsistent and dis
appointing” but said it would be “un
fair to be any more critical of Mr.
Ford than of some other prominent
political leaders, whose views on the
abortion issue appear to be equally
confused.
The Supreme Court ruled three
years ago that states may not prohibit
abortion in the first three months of
pregnancy although they retain
some regulatory authority thereaf
ter.
Pro- and anti-abortion groups
since then have been lobbying, de
monstrating and pressuring presi
dential candidates. Most authorities
concede, however, that the only av
enue to change is a constitutional
amendment, which is the province of
Congress and the states.
There already are at least a dozen
amendments pending in Congress
which would, as Ford suggests, as
sign responsibility over abortion to
the states and let them decide
whether to allow or ban it.
Other proposed amendments, the
kind supported by Reagan and
Democrat George Wallace, woidd
have the effect of restoring the bans
generally in effect in the states be
fore the Supreme Court ruling.
Those amendments would permit
abortions in exceptional cases, such
as for rape victims or mothers whose
lives are in danger.
Wallace is the only Democratic
presidential contender calling for a
constitutional amendment to ban
abortion. Most say they oppose abor
tion in principle but support the
Supreme Court ruling.
Sargent Shriver, another of the
Democratic contenders, has said he
finds all of the currently proposed
amendments unacceptable but
leaves the door open for possibly
finding one he could approve.
Sen. Henry M. Jackson,
D-Wash., has generally opposed
amending the Constitution, but says
he opposes abortion on principle. He
has hinted at returning regulation to
the states but has not called for an
amendment to accomplish it.
Former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Car
ter also says abortion is wrong but
opposes any constitutional amend
ment to prohibit it. “I think the gov
ernment ought to do everything pos
sible to minimize abortion,” Carter
said last month, mentioning gov
ernmental assistance to prevent pre
gnancy, including education and
birth control aid.
Both Shriverand Sen. Birch Bayh,
D-Ind., also have suggested alterna
tive solutions, such as providing
more birth control information,
child-care programs and health care
for young mothers.
While Bayh also has said he mor
ally opposes abortion, he has fought
the amendment drive. The Constitu
tion, he says, “must not be used as an
instrument for moral preference.”
Gov. Milton Shapp, D-Pa., also is
among those who say they personally
dislike abortion but support the Sup
reme Court s decision. But he goes
beyond most other candidates to de-
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fend the right of a woman to decide
the question without governmental
interference.
Sen. Lloyd M. Bentsen, D-Tex.,
too, has said he supports the court’s
decision, but he adds the belief that
“the rights of those medical person
nel and hospital administrators who
have objections to abortion as a mat
ter of conscience must also be ob
served. ”
Bentsen, however, has said he
does not support an amendment and
has proposed no other means of carv
ing out exceptions to the court rul
ing.
Former Sen. Fred Harris,
D-Okla., and Rep. Morris Udall,
D-Ariz., both say they support the
court ruling and oppose antiabortion
amendments.
Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.),
the latest Democratic candidate,
says he opposes abortion on demand
but would permit it in cases of rape
or where the woman’s life was en
dangered by pregnancy.
Associated Press
“History is, indeed, little
more than the register of the
crimes, follies and misfortunes
of mankind,” — said English
historian Edward Gibbon
(1737-1794).
Today’s highlight in history:
On this date in 1789, George
Washington was elected the
first U.S. president, with all 69
presidential electors casting
their votes for the general.
Two hundred years ago to
day, an outbreak of fighting was
feared in New York City as a
British ship arrived from oc
cupied Boston with troops
aboard, and a force of American
troops from Connecticut en
tered the city.
In 1793, hostilities ended be
tween the United States and
England.
In 1861, delegates from six
seceding Southern states
formed the Confederacy at
Montgomery, Ala.
In 1887, the Interstate Com
merce Commission was estab
lished.
In 1948, the Island of Ceylon
became a free, self-governing
dominion within the British
Commonwealth.
In 1961, terrorist attacks
broke out in the Portuguese Af
rican territory of Angola.
Ten years ago: A Japanese air
liner plunged into Tokyo Bay,
killing 133 people. It was the
worst single plane crash up to
that time.
Five years ago: Egypt an
nounced it would extend a
cease-fire with Israel for one
month but demanded with
drawal from some occupied
Egyptian territory.
One year ago: The U.S. Jus
tice Department proposed
stronger measures to prohibit
the employment of illegal
aliens.
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