1985 Ronald Reagan - Protecting the Unborn

Ronald Reagan was not afraid to talk of social issues, like prayer in schools, war on drugs and abortion. In his state of the union addresses, he spoke out on this issue very often. Ronald Reagan was decisively pro-life and is also viewed by many as the father of the current pro-life movement. His views on the subject had grown over time. He admitted, that abortion had not always been a subject that he gave much thought too, and in 1967 he signed the 'Therapeutic Abortion Act" (he felt his veto would be overturned anyways). This act allowed the number of abortions in California to soar from 518 per year in 1967 to 100,000 just a few years later.

In 1985, Ronald Reagan shared these words in his State of the Union Address:

"The question of abortion grips our nation. Abortion is either the taking of a human life or it isn't. And if it is—and medical technology is increasingly showing it is—it must be stopped. It is a terrible irony that while some turn to abortion, so many others who cannot become parents cry out for children to adopt. We have room for these children. We can fill the cradles of those who want a child to love. And tonight I ask you in the Congress to move this year on legislation to protect the unborn."

And again, in 1988. Reagan shared these words with the nation:

 "Well, now we come to a family issue that we must have the courage to confront. Tonight, I call America—a good nation, a moral people—to charitable but realistic consideration of the terrible cost of abortion on demand. To those who say this violates a woman's right to control of her own body: Can they deny that now medical evidence confirms the unborn child is a living human being entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Let us unite as a nation and protect the unborn with legislation that would stop all Federal funding for abortion and with a human life amendment making, of course, an exception where the unborn child threatens the life of the mother. Our Judeo-Christian tradition recognizes the right of taking a life in self-defense. But with that one exception, let us look to those others in our land who cry out for children to adopt. I pledge to you tonight I will work to remove barriers to adoption and extend full sharing in family life to millions of Americans so that children who need homes can be welcomed to families who want them and love them."

And from 1975 ...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH5l1Ka8YMI

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=38069
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=36035
http://www.chooselifede.org/images/home_page/baby_hands.jpg
http://www.maggiesnotebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Ronald_Reagan_2021.jpg
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/223437/reagans-darkest-hour/paul-kengor