The Daily The Story of Roe v. Wade, Part 2: The Culture Wars (From the Archive)
May 7, 2022
Sabrina Tavernise, co-host and correspondent, discusses the tumultuous history of Roe v. Wade with the iconic Norma McCorvey, known as Jane Roe. They explore how abortion morphed into a cultural battleground over decades. Tavernise recounts significant activism and the rise of the Moral Majority, while McCorvey shares her unexpected journey from a pivotal case to becoming a pro-life advocate. The conversation sheds light on personal narratives and the political landscape shaped by these conflicting ideologies.
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Abortion as a Unifying Issue
- Paul Weyrich, a conservative Catholic, saw abortion as a lightning rod issue.
- He aimed to unite evangelicals as a political force.
The School Issue
- The IRS revoking tax-exempt status for segregated Christian schools galvanized evangelicals.
- This became a wake-up call for their political involvement.
Reagan and the Evangelicals
- Ronald Reagan's open courting of evangelicals solidified abortion's role in partisan politics.
- His clear anti-abortion stance attracted a key voting bloc.