Abortion Politics: Mutiny in the Ranks of the Right

The rocket-like rise of the potent, well-organized right-wing anti-abortion political faction, begun in the early 1970s, and its subsequent falling off are traced in this lively, authoritative account. From an impassioned pro-choice perspective McKeegan, executive director of the Humboldt County, Calif., Planned Parenthood Association, contends that a clique of conservatives seized on the abortion issue to take over the Republican Party, cleverly using direct mailings to evangelical religious believers, gun enthusiasts and anti-abortion advocates to draw capital and votes. She tracks the ups and downs of those who got on the bandwagon, from fund-raiser Richard Viguerie (wealthy owner of an electronic publishing printing firm) to Conservative Caucus founder Howard Phillips to George Bush. The main point is that the marriage of the Republican Party with anti-abortion forces was in large part one of convenience and that many Republicans, afraid of losing votes in coming elections, are distancing themselves from the right-to-life movement as pro-choice advocates make the issue a prominent one on state ballots in the '90s. (July)