This book traces the rise and fall of the anti-abortion movement in the U.S. beginning with the events that led up to the Roe vs. Wade decision, a "true legal landmark of the post-World War II era" and the way Harry Blackmun's attempts to cut off debate failed and, in fact, led to the political mobilization of America's Christian fundamentalists. The second part of the book tells the stories of John O'Keefe, the "father of rescue"; Michael Bray, "the father of violence"; Joseph Scheidler, Francis Schaeffer, and Jerry Falwell, the "new militants; the "Battle of St. Louis"; John Ryan's obsession; and the events in Pensacola, Florida featuring "Saint" John Andrews and Randall Terry. The third part is devoted to an explication of Operation Rescue, and part four covers the events in Wichita during the summer of 1991 and the culmination of anti-abortion wrath in the murders of abortion providers. The epilogue notes that these murders, as well as a renewed wave of violence in the form of clinic bombings and arsons, finally forced the federal government to respond with the FACE Act and spelled the eventual end of significant anti-abortion activism. It is also noted that although Operation Rescue failed to make any significant inroads into the number of abortions performed, increasingly improved use of contraception is causing the abortion rate to decline. The most potent impact of the anti-abortion movement was the political mobilization of the religious right.
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