Abortion and the Law, CBS 1965

[pop goes the weasel]

CBS has on its website an old documentary from 1965, Abortion and the Law. It is roughly an hour long, but well worth the time spent. See Walter Cronkite impartially cover a difficult subject! Learn what the facts are about pre-Roe America! Watch a parade of men discuss what abortion law should be without a single authorative woman's voice!

Seriously, go watch. You'll be glad you did.

[Hippo_Tron]

1. K n R

[AwakeAtLast]

2. I've only watched 10 minutes - compelling!

One group of 4 doctors in 1965 were making $25 million? That was shocking to me!

Thank you for one of the best links I have seen on DU in some time!

[pop goes the weasel]

4. it's amazing, ain't it?

Finding historical data on abortion pre-Roe is not very easy. Who now talks about the involvement of organized crime, for example?

[high density]

3. Very interesting

And Dr. Heffernan would fit right in with the crazies today!


One guy was a voice of reason, "If laws were made by women, or if men bore the children, then this archaic law of ours would have been changed long ago."

"Dan Rather reports from England."

[pop goes the weasel]

5. actual reporting from abroad!

That last report from Chile was so sad.

This video reminded me of why I used to like to watch network documentaries. When Cronkite came on and said they would discuss the issue frankly and therefore it would be best if children did not watch, I couldn't help but wonder why networks once believed Americans had the sense to deal with hard topics but now treat everyone like children.

[TalkingDog]

6. Thank you

Sent it around to a few of us oldies and all the born-post-roe young-uns I know.

While they take Roe for granted, I think it will be a real shock for them to find out how an impartial journalist actually behaves. They might actually start demanding that as a right too. (we can dream can't we?)



My Favorite Master Artist: Karen Parker GhostWoman Studios

[pop goes the weasel]

7. You're welcome!

Sure had me nostalgic. I remember when I was a kid, hearing the fanfare of Shakers' Hymn (the CBS documentary theme), knowing that something important was going to be presented that I should really try to understand.

[Control-Z]

8. Wow

That was kind of like reliving the nightmare. The black and white images, the CBS theme music - old memories... I was too young to know what abortion was in 1965 even though my mother had died from one in 1964. I didn't know at the time.

The Chilean woman at the end, with two kids, who didn't make it - I wonder how they're doing, her children. I suppose they could be living sort of parallel lives to my sister's and mine.

Wow, I'm sure I'm digesting this in a different way than most but it seriously is a worthwhile watch for everyone. Just the abortion facts alone are amazing and so hard to come by. I'm going to bookmark this thread and the CBS page although I doubt they will keep it there indefinitely. A copy would be nice.

Great find. Thanks

Edit to add: You might want to cross post this in pro-choice group. I'm sure it would be appreciated by those who don't visit GD.

[pop goes the weasel]

9. good idea

I'll do that now.

[pop goes the weasel]

10. just out of curiousity

How old were you when your mom died? I can only imagine the trauma that losing your mom so abruptly must have been, especially when she was trying to do the best thing for the whole family.

I'm deeply sorry for your loss, and for inadvertantly causing you to relive part of it.

[Control-Z]

13. No problem

You've done nothing wrong. Her death comes up here at DU every now and then. There was a Documentary released recently similar to the b&w filming style of the one you linked to. Reminded me a lot. Anyway, I was 7 when she died. Her name was Gerri Santoro. You can read more about her here if you wish:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1384115&mesg_id=1384115

I found DU seeking a place where I could speak freely about abortion and my mother. Talking about it has been better than keeping it in as I had for years. DU members have been very kind

[pop goes the weasel]

22. thank you for sharing

I had missed your post saluting your mother. The women of your family are valiant, and that includes you. May none of us ever forget your mother.

[smokey nj]

14. I've crossed posted this thread in the Pro-choice group.

[Control-Z]

15. Thanks, smokey nj

pop goes the weasel posted it in Choice forum so all the right people will get a chance to see it. It's so difficult to find the hard facts when you need them. This documentary is full of them. I was surprised.

[smokey nj]

16. It surprised the hell out of me.

It broke my heart to hear the accounts of women who were forced to go underground.

[Control-Z]

17. Of all people I guess I shouldn't be shocked,

but I was, by the lengths women were willing to go, by the methods they used. The hair pin, the piece broken off the atomizer... I was shaking as I watched. I can't imagine being that desperate. Then again, I can.

[smokey nj]

21. We take so much for granted now. I think it would be great if CBS re-aired this

on TV so more people could see it. Maybe it would help people realize what will happen if Roe v Wade and Griswold are overturned.

[krispos42]

11. kick&rec

[Suich]

12. Dr. Heffernan is an idiot! ......"a gurgling, dimpled baby"?????

Isn't there something in the Bible about life starting when a fetus is 40 days old? Thought I heard that somewhere.

Great documentary! All the "experts" were male...."""sigh"""

[iverglas]

18. thank you very much

I'm listening now, and would just echo other comments about both the subject matter and the professionalism of the presentation.

Here's where it really needs to be posted.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=275

[Xithras]

19. My computer must be a closet Republican

The video keeps crashing on my about 15 seconds in. Do you know if this is published anywhere else?

[pop goes the weasel]

20. I don't know about elsewhere

What browser and OS are you using? I'm using Opera 9.3 on my cheap laptop, with an XP operating system without a problem on the CBS site. As for finding it elsewhere, I honestly don't know where one looks for that sort of thing.