Page numbers listed correspond to the print edition of this book. You can use your device’s search function to locate particular terms in the text.
Aborted Women, Silent No More (Reardon), 309
abortion
cost of, 49, 149, 174, 252, 341, 442, 451, 452
decreasing rates of, 442–43
demand for, 443
dramatizations of, 403–4
fetal abnormalities and, 41, 108, 170, 340, 343, 346, 354
medical training for, 241
punishment for, 444–45, 452
realities of, 339–40
safety of, 41, 42, 95, 169, 330, 357, 440
stigma of, 4, 41, 169, 170, 171, 175–77, 316, 341
therapeutic, 94, 105, 107–8
undue burden standard, 230, 231, 311, 454
See also abortion, views on; gestational age abortion thresholds; U.S. abortion law; viability
“Abortion: Have We the Right?” (Jefferson), 322
abortion, polarization and
Robert Bork nomination and, 157–8
compromise attempts, 227
constitutional implications of Roe v. Wade and, 228
motherhood and, 157
partisanship and, 156–57, 226, 227–28
public opinion and, 153
Roe v. Wade and, 1–2, 157–58, 225–27, 274, 456
terminology and, 479–80
unique U.S. experience of, 438–39
See also abortion, views on
abortion, views on
ancient world, 38–39, 359
Bible, 38–39
Catholic prohibition, 8, 39–40, 87
compromise attempts, 227
early pro-life movement moderation, 102
Mildred Jefferson’s absolutism, 102, 150, 227
Jennifer, 400
Melissa, 188, 219, 400
middle ground, 226, 231, 257, 339, 383, 407, 422, 453, 457
National Right to Life Committee and, 150
positive, 64, 95, 173, 338–39, 455–56
public opinion, 98, 105–6, 153, 157, 175, 227, 407
sexuality and, 41, 153
Shelley, 197, 214, 400
Supreme Court justices pro-choice views, 92, 99
third-trimester abortion and, 347
Henry Wade, 85–86
See also abortion, polarization and; McCorvey, Norma Lea, VIEWS ON ABORTION; personal experiences as influence on abortion views
Abortion and Divorce in Western Law (Glendon), 479
Abortion and Social Justice (Americans United for Life), 356
“Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation” (Reagan), 155–56
Abortion Conversation Project, 441
Abortion Holocaust, The: Today’s Final Solution (Brennan), 308
abortion illegality
gestational age thresholds and, 40, 77–78
as male control of women, 41, 42
maternal deaths and, 40, 42, 55, 99
Norma’s family history and, 11
Norma’s pregnancy with Jennifer and, 28
Norma’s pregnancy with Shelley and, 36, 38
postwar push for, 40–41
providers and, 43, 60–61, 62–63, 64, 65, 66, 93–94
“Abortion Is Unconstitutional” (Finnis), 451
abortion methods
dilation and curettage, 42, 62, 63
dilation and evacuation, 172–73, 265, 339, 340, 343, 458
hysterotomy, 101
intact dilation and evacuation. See dilation and extraction.
Mildred Jefferson on, 106–7
medical abortions, 452
prostaglandin, 340
saline amniocentesis, 340
second-trimester methods, 63, 339, 340, 343–44
state abortion regulations and, 443–44
vacuum aspiration, 63–64
viability and, 100, 231, 344
abortion providers
abortion illegality and, 43, 60–61, 62–63, 64, 65, 66, 93–94
Commonwealth v. Kenneth Edelin and, 145–46, 321
counseling by, 66, 137, 170, 310, 354–55
decrease in, 175, 442–43
disposal and, 376–77
increase in number of, 171
murders of, 238–39, 240–41, 244, 351, 352–53
Norma’s work for, 272, 312, 315–16, 412, 469
pro-choice advocates ignoring of, 252
pro-life movement targeting of, 66, 114, 145–46, 346, 350, 351, 357
profit by, 64, 341, 347, 350, 442
quality of, 241
referral networks for, 41, 62–64, 79, 80
relationships and, 64–65
Roe v. Wade ruling and, 112–13
state abortion regulations and, 357–58, 442, 458, 459
teaching among, 340–41
third-trimester abortion and, 345, 349–50, 353–54, 358–59, 458
views on abortion, 64, 338–39
See also clinic protests and attacks; specific people
Abzug, Bella, 161, 203, 355, 356
Acadian community, 7–11
Adams, Greg, 153
adoption
appreciation of, 410
Baby M case, 306
emotional pain of, 313
searches, 194–95
See also specific adoptions
African American Lives (Gates and Higginbotham), 331–32
African Americans
birth control and, 324–26
maternal deaths from abortion and, 326
medical mistreatment of, 324–25
mistrust of Roe v. Wade, 326
pro-life movement and, 153, 322–23
See also Jefferson, Mildred Fay
Aguilar, Pete (Jennifer’s birth father), 26–27, 28, 30, 426–27
Ahluwalia, Jasbir, 238
AKA Jane Roe, 469–70
Alito, Samuel, 449
Allen, Ron, 275, 301
Allport, Gordon, 176
Allred, Gloria, 161–63, 192, 200, 203, 204, 205, 207, 208–9, 258
Alvarado, Carol, 357
Ambivalence of Abortion, The, 441
American Birth Control League, 324–25
American Convention on Human Rights, 305–6
American Holocaust, 385
American Law Institute, 43, 94
American Medical Association (AMA), 42, 43–44, 57, 101
American Psychological Association (APA), 310
American Social Hygiene Association, 9
Americans United for Life (AUL), 113, 156, 356
Anthony, Susan B., 327
Aristotle, 38, 39
Armentrout, JoAn, 344, 345, 347
Army of God, 240
Atkins, Keisha, 458
Atwood, Margaret, 328
Augustine, Saint, 20
Augustine of Hippo, 39
Baby M adoption case, 306
Baker, Charlie, 48
Barnett, Ruth, 40
Barr, Roseanne, 195, 197
Barrett, Amy Coney, 460
Barron, Thea Rossi, 148–49, 322
Bartholow, Molly, 360, 362
Bauer, Gary, 309
Baumgardner, Jennifer, 441
Bazelon, Emily, 311
Benham, Philip “Flip”
background of, 242–43
Connie’s baptism and, 261
early contacts with Norma, 247, 249–50
fetus memorials and, 374–75, 377, 378
Patricia McEwen and, 375–76
Rene Nevarez and, 246–47
Norma’s baptism and, 254, 255–56
Norma’s death and, 466, 467
Norma’s lesbianism and, 259, 261, 262–64, 272, 274, 303, 369
Norma’s misrepresentations and, 272, 316
Norma’s Operation Rescue work and, 264, 265–66
Norma’s split with, 270, 273–74, 275, 379
Operation Rescue office location and, 245
Frank Pavone and, 268
personality of, 264, 273
on pro-choice movement rebuffs, 252
publicity on Norma’s pro-life conversion and, 257
Republican National Convention protest (1996) and, 269, 270
on Randall Terry, 388
Donald Trump and, 447
white supremacy and, 373
Won by Love and, 271
Bennetts, Jamie, 248
Bible, 38–39
Biden, Joe, 459
birth control
African Americans and, 324–26
Catholic prohibition of, 9
Eisenstadt v. Baird, 99
eugenics and, 323, 324, 325
Griswold v. Connecticut, 83, 99, 110–11, 230
Mildred Jefferson on, 102
Melissa’s discomfort with, 188–89
unreliability of, 43, 73
Black, Hugo, 93, 111
Blackmun, Harry, 1
assignment to Roe v. Wade, 92–93
backlash against Roe v. Wade and, 111, 160, 228
constitutional implications of Roe v. Wade and, 228
on Norma’s pregnancy timing, 2, 289–90, 474
personal experience with unwanted pregnancy and, 2, 109
on personal experiences as influence on abortion views, 176
Planned Parenthood v. Casey and, 231, 233
on race, 323
Roe v. Wade opinion preparation, 96–98, 99–100
Roe v. Wade ruling and, 109–10
Roe v. Wade Supreme Court appeal and, 90–91, 92
on state abortion regulations, 355–56
Webster v. Reproductive Health Services and, 202, 229
working habits, 95–96
Blackmun, Nancy, 92, 95–96
Blackmun, Sally, 2, 109
Blackwell, Elizabeth, 48
Blevins, Donna, 456
Blustain, Sarah, 310
Bonavoglia, Angela, 204, 208, 470
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, 240
Boone, Pat, 377
Bork, Robert, 142, 156, 157, 228
Bothell, James, 151–52, 329
Bothell, Kathleen, 331
Bowens, Gloria, 52
Bowers, Ruth, 90
Bowers v. Hardwick, 454
Boyd, Curtis
abortion illegality and, 62–63, 64, 66, 93–94
abortion methods and, 62, 63–64, 172–73, 341–42
abortion middle ground and, 457
abortion referral networks and, 62–64
background of, 58–60
clinic protests and attacks and, 66, 169–70, 173, 174, 175, 241, 349
Reggie Cox and, 65–66, 94, 112, 170, 176
dilation and evacuation method and, 172–73, 339, 458
divorce of, 112–13
first abortion, 61–62
gestational age abortion thresholds and, 63, 172, 349
isolation in medical community of, 169, 171, 341
marriage with LaMerle, 61, 65, 94, 112
New Mexico move, 94
pro-choice advocates and, 170
pro-choice lobbying, 174
rare maternal deaths and, 173, 457–58
relationship with Glenna Halvorson, 170–71
Roe v. Wade ruling and, 112–13
state abortion regulations and, 357–58, 458, 459
Charlotte Taft and, 137
teaching, 340–41
third-trimester abortion and, 345, 349–50, 353–54, 358–59, 458
views on abortion, 64, 95, 173, 338–39, 340, 359, 442
Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt and, 443, 444
women’s rights and, 61, 348–49, 359
Boyd, LaMerle, 59–60, 64–65, 94, 112
Bradley, Frank, 43, 77
Bragg, Sharon, 206, 208
Brandeis, Louis, 83
Brandt, Karl, 324
Brasseaux, Carl, 8, 9
Brennan, William (pro-life activist), 308
Brennan, William (Supreme Court justice), 91, 96, 99
Brooks, David, 226
Brooks, Gwendolyn, 310
Brooks, Kent Frank, 225
Brooks, Susannah, 482
Brown, John R., 87
Brown, Judie, 148, 150, 151, 154, 328, 329–30
Brown, Urelia, 325–26
Brown v. Board of Education, 454
Buchanan, Bay, 259
Buchanan, Pat, 105, 146, 266, 315, 317
Buchanan v. Batchelor, 72, 84
Buck v. Bell, 323, 324
Buckley, William, 111
Burger, Warren, 92–93, 99
Bush, George H. W., 105
Bush, George W., 314, 330, 446
Bush, Janie, 211
Butterfield, Alexander, 114
Cabot, Thomas, 90
Caldwell, Debbi, 383, 384
Canady, Charles, 348
Cano, Sandra, 307
Cardinal, The, 319
Carr, Thomas, 39–40
Carter, Jimmy, 149
Carter, Mary, 363
Casey, Margie, 380–81, 382–83
Casey, Robert, 226
Cassidy, Harold, 306–7, 313
Catholicism
abortion procurement by believers, 241
Doonby and, 411
fetus memorials and, 375, 447
Angie Heiter and, 413
Norma’s conversion to, 268–69, 280–83, 300–302
Norma’s death and, 468
Norma’s move back to Dallas and, 413, 414, 415
Allan Parker and, 304
pro-life movement and, 102, 103, 105, 246, 267–69, 280
prohibition of abortion, 8, 39–40, 87
prohibition of birth control, 9
resistance to Roe v. Wade and, 113
Daniel Vinzant and, 279–80
See also Pavone, Frank
Chambers, Alan, 262
Charlotte Lozier Institute, 456
Chavez, Christie, 198
Chisholm, Shirley, 116, 325
Choice Foundation, 140, 211
Choices We Made, The (Bonavoglia), 204, 207, 208
Christian Coalition, 306
Christian Defense Coalition, 265
Christianity
abortion middle ground and, 457
Curtis Boyd and, 58, 59–60, 241
Linda Coffee and, 68, 115–16, 165, 362, 363
Reggie Cox and, 65
Connie Gonzales and, 117, 118
homosexuality and, 244, 256, 276, 291–92, 303
Mildred Jefferson and, 48, 152–53
Jennifer and, 182, 292, 416
Melissa and, 132, 218, 416
Troy Newman and, 269
Norma’s childhood and, 15–16, 18, 20
Norma’s family history and, 8, 9, 15–16
on sexuality, 9, 18, 20, 65, 439
Shelley and, 181, 214, 290, 416
Randall Terry and, 239–40
Henry Wade and, 85
See also Catholicism; Christianity and pro-life movement
Christianity and pro-life movement
Amy Coney Barrett, 460
Flip Benham and, 242–43, 244
Catholicism, 102, 103, 105, 246, 267–69, 280
conservative politics and, 153–54
Allan Parker and, 305–6
Southern Baptist Convention, 165, 362–63, 457
Randall Terry and, 239–40
unified beliefs, 301
Clark, Tom, 41, 100
Clemens, Gus, 160
Clewis, Peggy, 89, 164, 225, 362, 363
clinic protests and attacks
abortion provider murders, 238–39, 240–41, 244, 351, 352–53
Curtis Boyd and, 66, 169–70, 173, 174, 175, 241, 349
Troy Newman and, 270
Ronald Reagan policies and, 174–75
strategy origins, 157
third-trimester abortion and, 321, 346
Clinton, Bill, 242, 250, 257, 339, 360
Closed: 99 Ways to Stop Abortion (Scheidler), 157, 245
Coffee, Linda Nellene
author’s research and, 481
background of, 67–69
Curtis Boyd and, 170
career of, 69–70, 164–65, 167, 360–62, 363
film about Norma and, 141–42, 167, 168
financial struggles, 360–61, 362, 363, 364, 365
fraud indictment of, 167–68, 224–25, 360
friendship with Henry McCluskey, 72–73
lesbianism of, 72–73, 165–66
marginalization by Sarah Weddington, 115, 163, 164, 167
Henry McCluskey’s death and, 120–21
National Women’s Political Caucus speech, 456–57
Norma’s confession and, 143
Norma’s pro-life conversion and, 258
Robert O’Brien’s interview, 115–16
plaintiff search and, 74, 77, 78-9, 80, 81, 82
presidential election (2016) and, 447–48
relationship with Rebecca Hartt, 166–67, 225, 361, 362, 363–64, 365–66, 367
sodomy law case and, 71–72, 165, 222
ROE V. WADE CASE AND
anonymity, 115, 163–64, 366
failure to help Norma with abortion, 81–82, 251–52
Fifth Circuit Court hearing, 87, 88
first meeting with Norma, 77–78
petitions, 83–85
plaintiff anonymity, 78–79
plaintiff search, 67, 74, 80
pride in, 264–65
Supreme Court appeal, 89–90, 91
Supreme Court rearguments, 98
Henry Wade as defendant, 85, 86
Coffee, Mary, 68, 115, 166, 362
Colson, Chuck, 153
Common Ground Network for Life and Choice, 227
Commonwealth v. Kenneth Edelin, 145–46, 321
Conservative Caucus, 310
Cooley, Robert, 317, 373
Cooley, Thomas, 83
coronavirus pandemic, 458–59, 461, 483
Costlow, Teri, 407–8
Covenant Foundation, 317
Cox, Archibald, 454
Cox, Eva ”Reggie,” 65–66, 94–95, 112, 170, 176
Craven, Erma, 325
crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), 244–45
Croner, Herbert, 138–40, 386
Croner, Jennie, 139, 140
Culture of Life Network, 464
Cunningham, Shane (Mildred Jefferson’s husband), 53–54, 55, 56, 57, 103, 106, 148, 152, 153
Curry, John, 334, 335–36
Dannenfelser, Marjorie, 425
Darling, Clement, 55
Death Peddlers, The: War on the Unborn (Marx), 308
Dehoney, Wayne, 165
Democratic Party, 104, 147, 153, 157–58, 227, 455–56
DeVine, Susan, 405, 407, 410
DeVos, Betsy, 317
DeVos, Dick, 317
Di Bugnara, Frank, 379–80, 387, 389, 408–9, 412, 463
digoxin, 343, 344, 354
dilation and curettage (D & C), 42, 62, 63
dilation and evacuation (D & E), 172, 339, 340, 341, 343, 458
dilation and extraction (“partial-birth” abortion or intact dilation and evacuation), 173, 265, 347–48
doctors. See abortion providers
Doe v. Bolton, 89, 110, 290, 307, 341
Doe v. Wade, 82, 84, 86, 88, 96, 97
Dolan, Timothy, 432
Dole, Bob, 269
Dominus, Susan, 441
Donehey, Dan, 260–61
Donnally, Jennifer, 147, 328, 335
Doonby (Mackenzie), 403–5, 410–12
Dornan, Bob, 259
Douglas, William, 83–84, 99
Douthat, Ross, 256, 439
DuBois, W. E. B., 325
Dworkin, Ronald, 2, 228, 482
Edelin, Kenneth, 145–46, 321
Egan, Edward, 374
Eisenberg, Henry, 339
Eisenhower, Dwight, 104–5
Eisenstadt v. Baird, 99
Ellis, Barbara, 206–8, 209, 386
Ely, John Hart, 228
“Empty Playgrounds” (McCorvey), 260
“End, The” (Olds), 404
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), 154, 327
equality. See women’s rights
Erwin, Heidi, 411–12
eugenics, 323–25
evangelicals
Jerry Falwell, 153–54, 244, 271
on homosexuality, 244, 256, 276, 303
Norma’s conversion to Catholicism and, 301
Allan Parker and, 305
Southern Baptist Convention and, 165
Donald Trump and, 447, 460
See also Christianity
Exodus International, 262
Fairchild, Morgan, 161
Faith and Action, 264
Faludi, Susan, 239
Falwell, Jerry, 153–54, 244, 271
Fame, 403
Farber, Sidney, 52, 56, 114
Fasteau, Brenda, 107
Federalist Society, 446
feminism
Linda Coffee and, 69, 70, 116, 164–65
Norma’s learning about, 203
pro-choice advocates and, 73
pro-life movement on, 327–28
on reproductive control, 41–42
George Tiller and, 343
See also pro-choice movement; women’s rights
Ferguson, James (Jennifer’s husband), 185, 220–21, 222, 291
Ferguson, Jennifer Kebabjian (Norma’s birth daughter)
adoption of, 31–32, 217
author’s research and, 395–96
childhood and adolescence of, 128–30, 183–84
conception and birth of, 28–30
contact with Melissa, 396
contact with Norma, 419–20, 421, 431
contact with Shelley, 476
curiosity about birth family, 184, 185, 220, 222, 294, 425–26
drinking and drug use, 220, 293
lesbianism, 129–30, 184, 221–22, 291–92, 293, 396, 419
midlife struggles, 292–94
Norma’s death and, 434–35, 462, 466, 477
parenthood, 220, 292
relationship with Lisa, 294
relationship with Misty, 221–22, 291–92
relationships with men, 184–85, 220–21, 222, 291, 293–94
search for birth father, 425–28
sister connections and, 398–401, 415–17, 423–24, 428, 433, 465, 470, 471–72
Ferrer, Hector, 371–72, 381–82, 466
fetal abnormalities, 41, 108, 170, 340, 343, 346, 354
fetal homicide laws, 445
fetal photography, 101–2, 106–7, 113, 246, 269, 308
fetus memorials, 374–79, 447
Finnis, John, 451
Fish, Joe, 224
Fitz, Reggie, 195–96, 197, 198, 199
Flanagan, Caitlin, 456
Floyd, Jay, 87, 88, 91
Foe, Victoria, 81
Ford, Christine Blasey, 450
Ford, Gerald, 1, 146, 147, 154
Forsythe, Clarke, 356, 451
Foster, Utah, 370, 387, 409
Fourteenth Amendment, 1, 73, 84, 91, 100, 451
Fox, Anne, 53, 154, 328, 333, 334, 336
Frampton, George, 93, 97, 98, 100
Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act (1994), 242, 245
Freiman, Michael, 339
French, Peter, 269
Friedan, Betty, 42, 61, 161
Friendly, Fred, 141
Friendly, Ruth, 141
Galton, Francis, 323
Gans, Olivia, 309
Garner, Dwight, 398
Garnett, Karen, 303, 304, 307, 317–18, 464, 467–68
Garrow, David, 79, 157, 232
Gates, Henry Louis, Jr., 330, 331
Gauntlett, Hughenna, 56
Gautreaux, Amand, 8
Gautreaux, Bertha Chenevert (Norma’s grandmother), 8–9, 10–11, 12, 16
Gautreaux, Emar (Norma’s grandfather), 8–9, 10–11, 12, 16, 17
Gautreaux, Esther Rae, 12
Gautreaux, Mary (Mildred). See Sandefur, Mary (Mildred) Gautreaux
Gentry, Bobbie, 380
Gephardt, Dick, 147
Gerster, Carolyn, 150
gestational age abortion thresholds
abortion illegality and, 40, 77–78
Curtis Boyd’s practice and, 63, 172, 349
Catholicism views on, 39–40
Mildred Jefferson on, 145
Norma on, 118
public opinion and, 453
Roe v. Wade on, 99–100, 110, 111, 115, 230, 231
state abortion regulations and, 341–42, 350
third-trimester abortions, 343–48, 349–50, 353–54, 358–59
George Tiller’s practice and, 343–44
See also viability
Gibson, Althea, 52
Ginsburg, Ruth Bader, 1, 226, 232, 460, 461
Glendon, Mary Ann, 439, 479
Godbey, David, 317
Godfather Part II, The, 403
Goff, Tom, 159–61, 162, 205
Goldberg, Michelle, 443–44
Goldberg, Whoopi, 204, 441
Goldman, William, 403
Goldsmith, Jack, 449
Goldstein, Tom, 158
Gonzales, Connie (Norma’s partner)
abortion clinic job, 260
author’s research and, 393–94
background of, 116–17
baptism of, 261
Flip Benham and, 255, 256, 260, 261
death of, 429
early relationship with Norma, 117–18
financial struggles of, 394–95, 409
Sheree Havlik and, 369, 370, 409
health problems, 370, 372–73
house painting and cleaning, 118
Judith Hower and, 191
I Am Roe and, 222
inability to care for Norma, 370, 387–88
Melissa and, 133, 187
Norma as celebrity and, 210
Norma’s conversion to Catholicism and, 280–83
Norma’s infidelities and, 136, 192
Norma’s last separation from, 389, 402
on Norma’s misrepresentations, 3, 394
Norma’s move to Senatobia and, 382–83
Norma’s pro-life conversion and, 255, 256, 259–60, 261–62, 263–64, 277
Norma’s pro-life movement work and, 140, 261, 368
Norma’s renunciation of homosexuality and, 277, 368–69
Norma’s returns to, 209–10, 387
Gonzales v. Carhart, 320, 321, 348, 356
Goodman, Kathleen Cassidy, 312, 313
Gore, Al, 147
Goren, John Alan, 141–42
Gorsuch, Neil, 448–49, 453, 461
Gothard, Bill, 242
Graham, Billy, 271, 459
Gray, L. Patrick, III, 114
Gray, Nellie, 319, 482
Greenhouse, Linda, 98, 105, 226, 320
Gregory, Dick, 325
Griffin, Robert, 336
Griswold v. Connecticut, 83, 99, 110–11, 230
Gross, Velma (Norma’s half-sister), 12, 13, 17, 32–33, 130, 131, 482
Guilbeau, Sandra (Norma’s aunt), 9, 11, 16, 32
Gunn, David, 241
Halvorson-Boyd, Glenna, 170–71, 173, 174, 345
Hamer, Fannie Lou, 324
Hampton, Bill, 302
Hampton, Holly, 290
“Handbook on Abortion” (Willke), 101–2, 150
Handmaid’s Tale, The (Atwood), 328
Hanft, Jeffrey, 194
Hanft, Jonah, 194, 195
Hanft, Toby, 194–95, 196–97, 198, 199, 200, 422
Hannity, Sean, 379
Hansen, Fred, 112
Hanson, Mildred, 172, 339
Harlan, John Marshall, II, 93, 229, 232
Harrington, Paul, 102
Hart, Joan Marie, 196
Hartt, Rebecca, 166, 225, 361, 362, 363–64, 365–66, 367, 448
Harvey, Thomas, 332
Hatch, Orrin, 446
Havlik, Sheree
conflicts between Norma and Connie and, 382, 387
friendship with Norma and Connie, 369–70, 372, 373, 382, 386, 387, 394, 409
Norma’s death and, 466
on Norma’s exploitation, 302
Norma’s lesbianism and, 262, 369, 370
Hays, Richard, 38
Heikkila, Russell Gary, 328
Heiter, Angie, 413, 414, 415, 429
Hemingway, Ernest, 404
Henry, Carl F. H., 153
Henshaw, Stanley, 41
Hern, Warren, 339, 345, 347, 350
Higginbotham, Evelyn Brooks, 330–31
Hill, John, 314
Hill, Paul, 351
Hinduism, on sex, 19
Hippocrates, 38
Hitchens, Christopher, 339–40, 439
Hitchens, Donna, 205, 210
Hogue, Ilyse, 456, 469
Hokamp, Nancy, 415
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 99, 110, 323, 324
homosexuality
Christian condemnation of, 244, 256, 276, 291–92, 303
gay marriage legalization, 436, 449
sodomy laws, 67, 71–72, 84, 165, 222
Southern Baptist Convention on, 362
See also lesbianism
Hovila, David, 120
Hower, Judith (Norma’s partner), 136, 190–92, 202, 203–4, 205–6, 207, 223
Hughes, Langston, 325
Hughes, Sarah, 70, 80, 84, 87, 164, 456
human life amendments (HLAs), 113–14, 144–46, 147, 150, 156, 173, 440, 451
Hunter, Holly, 159, 160, 161, 190, 196, 205
Hyde, Henry, 148, 149, 322
Hyde amendment, 148, 149–50, 156, 174, 226, 252
Hyman, Diane (Norma’s partner), 24–26, 27, 426, 466
I Am Roe (Meisler and McCorvey), 222–23, 249, 272, 282, 397, 405
I Was Wrong, 379
Illinois Abortion Law (1975), 356
“I’m Not Sorry” website, 316
informed consent, 311
Ingraham, Laura, 444
Innocent III (Pope), 39
intact dilation and evacuation. See dilation and extraction
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 305
Islamophobia, 373, 374
Ivins, Molly, 140, 330, 356
Jackson, Angie, 441
Jackson, Jesse, 149, 161
Jackson, Robert, 453
Jane Roe Foundation, 162
Jane Roe Women’s Center, 205, 210, 211
Jeansonne, Lodo, 24
Jefferson, Gurthie (Mildred Jefferson’s mother), 47, 49, 50, 53, 57, 152
Jefferson, Mildred Fay
abortion legalization and, 44, 55–56
abortion middle ground and, 457
absolutism of, 57, 148, 150, 152, 227, 329, 330, 334
author’s research and, 481
background of, 47–51
on birth control, 102
childlessness of, 54, 57, 104, 152, 328
commitment to right-to-life movement, 101, 102–3
Commonwealth v. Kenneth Edelin and, 145–46, 321
conservative politics and, 154
death of, 335–37
divorce of, 152
on feminism, 327–28
financial irresponsibility of, 148, 155, 329, 333
hoarding, 55, 56, 106, 329, 331, 332–33, 334–35, 337
human life amendments and, 144–45, 150
hypocrisy of, 104, 152, 328, 330
late-life activities, 331–32, 333–35
Life Matters television show and, 331–32, 333–34
marriage of, 54
medical career of, 51–54, 55, 56, 103–4, 114, 115
National Right to Life Committee and, 114, 144, 146, 148, 150–51, 321–22
political action committees and, 149–50
presidential election (1976) and, 147–49
privacy of, 55, 152, 330–31
pro-life movement conflict with, 150–51
pro-life movement speaking, 57, 106–8, 113, 114, 148, 151
as prophet, 152–53
racism and, 51, 54, 55, 56, 326–27, 331, 481
Right to Life Crusade and, 151, 152, 322, 333
Roe v. Wade amicus curiae brief, 102
Senate campaigns of, 154–55
Vital Concerns television show and, 334
VOLCOM and, 102, 103, 113
Webster v. Reproductive Health Services and, 202
Jefferson, Millard (Mildred Jefferson’s father), 47, 49, 57, 202
Jehovah’s Witnesses, 15–16
Jimenez, Rosaura, 252
Joffe, Carole, 341
Johnson, Ben, 60, 61, 64
Johnson, Lyndon B., 115
Johnston, Rick, 163
Jones, Edith, 318–19
Jordan, Hillary, 450
Judaism, 19, 39
June Medical Services LLC v. Russo, 461
Jungblut, Christiane, 139, 140
Juno, 404
Justice Foundation, 306, 314
Kagan, Elena, 460
Kaplan, David, 446, 448, 449
Kavanaugh, Brett, 450, 454, 455, 461
Kebabjian, Cindy (Jennifer’s adoptive sister), 31, 128, 129, 130, 185
Kebabjian, Donna (Jennifer’s adoptive mother), 29, 31–32, 125, 128, 130, 184, 292–93, 472
Kebabjian, Setrag (Jennifer’s adoptive father), 29, 31, 129, 293
Kelly, Kimberly, 245
Kennedy, Anthony, 157–58, 231, 320, 449, 450, 455
Kennedy, Edward (Ted), 104, 147, 155, 156, 157
Kennedy, Susan, 205
Keyes, Alan, 259
Kimmey, Jimmye, 106
King, Kaki, 464
King, Marsha, 82, 142, 276
Kinsley, Michael, 438, 453
Kissling, Elizabeth, 441
Knocked Up, 404
Koop, C. Everett, 309–10
Koppel, Ted, 151, 257, 259, 274
Lader, Lawrence, 41, 42–43, 107, 441
Lambert, Ruth, 11
Land, Richard, 445–46
Lane, Penny, 441
Lane, Richard, 29, 36, 38, 217
Lash, Fonda, 278–79
Lasher, Eric, 211–12
Lasher, Maureen, 211–12
Laughlin, Harry, 324
Lavin, Audrey, 213
Law Giveth, The (Milbauer), 136
Lawrence v. Texas, 454
Lazarus, Edward, 231
Le Guin, Ursula, 204, 440–41
Lee, Harper, 248–49
Leibovitz, Annie, 464
Lenhoff, Alyssa, 204–5
Lepore, Jill, 327
lesbianism
Linda Coffee, 72–73, 165–66
Jennifer, 129–30, 184, 221–22, 291–92, 396, 419
pro-choice activists and, 243–44
See also McCorvey, Norma Lea, LESBIANISM OF
Lewis, Adena, 402–3
Lewis, Julian, 325
Life Matters television show, 331–32, 333–34
Lithwick, Dahlia, 229
Lochner v. New York, 110
Lombardo, Paul, 324
Lopez, Rosie, 407–8
Lucas, Roy, 73, 89, 90
Luker, Kristin, 42, 157, 252, 479, 480
MacGraw, Ali, 441
Mackenzie, Peter, 403–4, 410–12
Mackey, Emily, 247–48, 253, 261, 273, 296–97, 399
Mackey, Ron, 277–78
Mackey, Ronda
background of, 247–48
on Flip Benham, 264, 273
fetus memorials and, 377
Norma’s friendship with, 273
Norma’s pro-life conversion and, 253–54, 255, 256, 261
Norma’s renunciation of homosexuality and, 408
Operation Rescue office location and, 244, 245
Roe No More Ministry and, 274–75, 277–78
Maeckle, Monika, 313
Maguire, Dusty, 332, 335
Mahoney, Pat, 265, 388, 473
Mailer, Norman, 63–64, 243
Major, Brenda, 311
Malcolm, Janet, 229
Maldonado, Guillermo, 460
Manheim, Michael, 141, 159
March for Life, 302, 310, 319, 385, 388, 440
Marin, Ruth, 326
Martin, Crawford, 86
Martin, Del, 205
Martin, W. B. J., 85
Marx, Paul, 101, 308
Marzen, Thomas, 156
Mason, Carol, 242, 276
Massachusetts Citizens for Life (MCFL), 107, 113, 331–32, 333–34
maternal deaths from abortion
African Americans and, 326
Curtis Boyd and, 173, 457–58
decrease in, 41, 169
illegality and, 40, 42, 55, 99
Mildred Jefferson and, 227
personal experiences of, 99
See also safety of abortion
Matise, Dan, 118
Matthews, Chris, 444
Maude, 105–6
McCallister, Sarah, 159–60, 161, 162
McCluskey, Henry
Linda Coffee on, 456
death of, 120–21
Jennifer’s adoption and, 29, 31
plaintiff search and, 67, 73–74, 77, 78, 81, 82
Shelley’s adoption and, 126
sodomy law case and, 71–72, 165
McCormack, Ellen, 147
McCorvey, Elwood “Ray” (Melissa’s half-brother), 430
McCorvey, Elwood “Woody” (Norma’s husband; Melissa’s father), 21–23, 24, 132–33, 295
McCorvey, Norma Lea
affair with Pete Aguilar, 26–27
affair with Bill Wheaton, 34–37
ancestry of, 7–14
author’s research and, 481
birth of, 14
conversion to Catholicism, 278–79, 280–83, 300–302
death of, 434–37, 462–69
depression, 34, 238, 302–3, 369–70, 414–15, 424
drinking, 26, 29, 141, 192, 205, 208, 211, 277, 405–6, 429
drug use, 33, 35, 36–37, 117, 118, 132, 212
emotional struggles of, 136, 137–38
family tree, xiv–xv
feelings about Roe v. Wade, 118, 137, 248, 254–55, 257, 302
fetus memorials and, 379
friendship with David Vinzant, 318, 380, 381, 386
friendship with Sheree Havlik, 369–70
health problems, 425, 428–29
mother’s death and, 419, 420
move back to Dallas (2012), 412–13
move to Kansas, 384, 385–86
move to Senatobia, 382–83, 384
nursing home stays, 431–32, 433, 434
papers of, 3, 395, 481
prostitution, 33–34
relationship with Connie Gonzales. See Gonzales, Connie
relationship with Judith Hower, 190–92, 203–4, 205–6, 207
relationship with Diane Hyman, 24–26
relationship with Elwood McCorvey, 22–23
Shelley’s conception, 66, 67
Smithville move and life, 403–5, 407–8, 409–10, 411–13
therapy, 138
CELEBRITY STATUS, 379
as archetype, 248–49
Bell interview, 119
interviews, 118–19, 136–37, 141
NBC film, 141–42, 159, 160, 161, 167, 168, 196, 205, 224
obituaries, 463–64, 469–70
O’Hara film, 249–50, 258, 263
pro-life conversion motivations and, 250, 258, 260–61, 264–65, 271–72
profit from, 159
search for Shelley and, 189, 192, 193, 198, 218
shooting lie and, 190
Nick Sweeney and, 432–33, 434
Won by Love and, 271–72
See also PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT WORK and PRO-CHOICE MOVEMENT WORK below
CHILDHOOD OF
education, 18–19
Gainesville State School for Girls, 19, 20
imaginary friend, 16–17
Jehovah’s Witnesses and, 15–16, 20
lesbianism and, 18, 19, 21
move to Dallas, 17–18
DAUGHTERS AND
adoptions, 31–32
bar scene and, 277–78
contact with Jennifer, 419–20, 421, 431
contact with Melissa, 36–37, 132–33, 296–97, 424, 425, 431–32, 433, 434
contact with Shelley, 198, 219, 287
Jennifer’s conception and birth, 28–30
Emily Mackey and, 248, 273
Melissa’s birth, 22–23, 24
Melissa’s marriage and, 188
misrepresentations, 212
possibility of contact with Shelley, 217, 423
search for Jennifer’s birth father and, 425–26
search for Shelley, 189, 192, 193–95, 198, 199–200, 212, 218, 421, 463
Shelley’s adoption, 120, 125, 126
Shelley’s birth, 88–89, 119
Shelley’s conception, 36, 66, 67, 89, 119
sister connections and, 216, 217
thoughts about, 36, 135, 218–19, 276–77, 283, 410
See also Ferguson, Jennifer Kebabjian; Mills, Melissa McCorvey; Thornton, Shelley
LESBIANISM OF
bar scene, 23, 26, 276–77
childhood experiences, 18, 19, 21
Dallas community, 28
Norma’s speaking on, 222
Frank Pavone and, 268, 303
pro-life conversion and, 255, 259, 271, 272
pro-life movement work and, 261–64, 276–77, 303–4
renunciation of, 276–77, 368–69, 370, 408, 422
shame and, 137–38
MISREPRESENTATIONS
abortion clinic jobs and, 210, 237, 272, 312, 315–16, 412, 469
author’s research and, 483
confession of, 138, 142–43, 161, 190
Connie Gonzales on, 3, 394
I Am Roe and, 212, 223
Jane Roe Women’s Center and, 210
Melissa’s informal adoption and, 26
obituaries and, 464, 469
Operation Outcry affidavit and, 311–12, 315–16
post-Roe harassment, 142, 160, 190, 204, 209, 469
poverty, 372
pro-life conversion and, 469
rape stories, 18–19, 138
relationship with Elwood McCorvey, 23
Roe v. Wade failure to help with abortion and, 312, 316
search for Shelley and, 212
sex and, 19
Shelley’s conception as rape, 119–20, 136–37, 138, 140, 142–43, 161, 248–49, 464
Smithville life and, 412
Won by Love and, 272
PRO-CHOICE MOVEMENT WORK
abortion clinic jobs, 140–41, 237–38, 245–46
Allred and, 161–63, 192, 200, 203, 207, 208–9, 258
biography proposal, 204–5
Angela Bonavoglia book, 204, 208
Robert Bork protest and, 142
Choice Foundation volunteering, 211
clinic protests and attacks and, 245
confession of lies and, 138, 142–43, 161
DC March for Women (1989) and, 161
Barbara Ellis collaboration, 206–8, 209
exploitation and, 204, 249, 432
faux pas, 203
Tom Goff/Sarah McCallister collaboration, 159–60, 162
I Am Roe, 211–12, 222–23, 249, 272, 282, 405
Jane Roe Foundation and, 162
National Organization for Women and, 137, 142, 161, 208, 250–51
NOW volunteering, 137
pro-life movement attacks and, 244
profit and profit expectations from, 162, 192, 203–4, 210, 258
rebuffs and, 160, 206–7, 208, 250–51, 252, 258–59, 470
Webster v. Reproductive Health Services and, 162–63, 168, 192, 202, 207
PRO-LIFE CONVERSION OF
baptism, 255–56
celebrity status as motivation for, 250, 258, 260–61, 264–65, 271–72
early contacts, 246–47, 248, 249–50
lesbianism and, 255, 259, 271, 272
posthumous misrepresentations of, 469
pro-choice movement rebuffs and, 250–51, 258, 470
publicity on, 257–58
Morris Sheats and, 253–54
PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT WORK, 260–66, 270
conversion to Catholicism and, 300–301
depression and, 302–3
Frank Di Bugnara and, 379–80, 387, 389, 408–9, 412
Doonby and, 403–5, 410–12
emotional support and, 317–18
end of, 417
exploitation and, 265, 304, 385–86, 406, 410, 432, 466–69
faux pas, 265–66, 277
Hector Ferrer and, 371–72, 381–82
Islamophobia and, 373, 374
Jane Roe Women’s Center and, 205, 210
lesbianism and, 261–64, 276–77, 303–4
move to Senatobia and, 383
Troy Newman and, 385, 386
Operation Outcry and, 306–8, 311–13, 314–16, 319
Operation Rescue and, 254, 260, 264–66, 269, 270
Allan Parker and, 304, 314, 317
Frank Pavone and, 300, 301, 302, 304, 314, 374, 385
profit and profit expectations from, 258, 271–72, 274, 275–76, 301, 303, 318, 380, 387, 404, 469
Reversing Roe (Donehey), 260–61, 274
Roe No More Ministry, 274–75, 368, 370–71, 469
Randall Terry and, 387, 388–89, 412
Won by Love, 271–72, 275–76, 277, 307, 388, 405
>roe v. wade CASE AND
anonymity as plaintiff, 2–3, 78–79, 84, 86, 289
initial distance from, 87, 90, 116, 118
lawyers’ failure to help with abortion, 81–82, 251–52, 258, 276, 316, 482
pregnancy timing and, 2, 77–78, 88, 91, 119–20, 251, 289–90, 470
VIEWS ON ABORTION
absolutism, 261
ambivalence, 137, 237–38, 246, 250
middle ground, 257, 274–75, 383, 406–7, 422, 453
misrepresentations and, 223
support, 254–55, 432
McEwen, Patricia, 375–76, 377–78
McFadden, J. P., 111
McMahon, James, 347–48, 350
McMahon, Kass, 432
McMunigal, Kevin, 82
McPhee, John, 477
Means, Cyril, 100
Mears, Robert, 152
medical abortions, 452
Meisler, Andy, 212, 222–23
See also I Am Roe
Melich, Tanya, 327
Melville, Herman, 176
Michelman, Kate, 208, 209, 316–17
Milbauer, Barbara, 136, 143, 193
Mills, Chloe (Norma’s granddaughter), 294, 297, 298, 299, 418, 436–37, 468, 471, 477
Mills, Jordan (Norma’s granddaughter), 188–89, 295, 296, 399, 418, 420, 467, 468, 470, 471, 477
Mills, Kerry (Melissa’s husband), 188–89, 215, 217–18, 219, 294–96, 297–98, 431
Mills, Melissa McCorvey (Norma’s daughter)
author’s research on, 396–97
birth of, 22–23, 24
childhood and adolescence of, 24, 26, 32–33, 36–37, 130–34, 186
contact with Jennifer, 396
contact with Norma, 36–37, 132–33, 296–97, 424, 425, 431–32, 433, 434
contact with Shelley, 215–16, 218, 219–20, 396
curiosity about family, 132, 133, 186–87, 189, 297, 396
daughter’s lesbianism, 296
marriage with Kerry, 188–89, 215, 217–18, 219, 294–96, 297–98
Ray McCorvey and, 430
midlife struggles, 294–99
Norma’s death and, 434, 435, 436, 437, 462, 463, 464–66, 467–69, 476–78
nursing career of, 215
parenting and, 188–89, 470–71
pro-life movement speculations about the Roe baby and, 473
relationship with Eric, 298, 299, 424–25, 429–30, 465, 471
relationships, 187–88
Mary Sandefur’s death and, 418–19, 420
sister connections and, 215–16, 398–401, 415–17, 423–24, 428, 433, 465, 470, 471–72
misogyny. See sexism
Mississippi flood (1927), 9
Mitchell, David, 135
Moody, Howard, 41
Moral Majority, 153
Moran, Philip, 107, 151, 332–33
Morson, Jenn, 281
Moynihan, Patrick, 348
Ms. magazine, 112, 177, 316
Nailen, Lauren, 403, 412
NARAL. See National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws; pro-choice movement
Nathan, Debbie, 265
Nathanson, Bernard, 268
National Abortion Federation (NAF)
Curtis Boyd and, 171, 338
education provider through, 171, 173
third-trimester abortion and, 344–45, 347, 348, 352, 354
George Tiller and, 343
National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL), 42, 91, 161, 208, 316, 440
See also pro-choice movement
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, 113
National Enquirer, 194–95, 196, 197, 198–201, 212, 213, 214, 215, 421
National Organization for Women (NOW), 42, 137, 142, 161, 208, 250–51, 326
National Right to Life Committee (NRLC)
African Americans and, 326
Christianity and, 240
conflict within, 150–51
distance from Operation Rescue, 274
Dan Donehey and, 260
human life amendments and, 113–14
intact dilation and evacuation and, 348
Mildred Jefferson and, 114, 144, 146, 148, 150–51, 321–22
Massachusetts Citizens for Life and, 107
Norma’s search for Shelley and, 200–201
political action committees and, 149–50
post-abortion syndrome and, 309
presidential election (1976) and, 147, 148–49
National Women’s Political Caucus, 456
Nazi Germany, 324
Nelson, Jimmy (Norma’s brother), 13, 16, 18, 136, 186, 384
Nelson, Olin “Jimmy” (Norma’s father), 13, 15–16, 18, 19, 34, 280
Nevarez, Rene, 246–47, 466
Newman, Jon O., 100
Newman, Troy
abortion provider murder and, 351, 352, 353
background of, 269–70
on homosexuality, 303
Norma’s move to Kansas and, 384, 385
Norma’s poverty claim and, 372
Norma’s pro-life movement work and, 385, 386
on punishment for abortion, 444
on third-trimester abortion, 350, 355
Donald Trump and, 447
Ninth Amendment, 84, 88, 100
Nixon, Richard M., 105, 114, 146, 153, 154
Nobles, Jessie Anne, 264
Nocera, Joe, 158
Notman, Malkah, 331–32
NOW (National Organization for Women), 42, 137, 142, 161, 208, 250–51, 326
Obama, Barack, 353, 388, 412, 446, 460
Obergefell v. Hodges, 438
Oberman, Michelle, 452
O’Brien, Robert, 115–16, 118–19
Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria, 469
O’Connell, Brendan, 331, 332, 333–34
O’Connor, John, 267
O’Connor, Sandra Day, 145, 156, 202, 230, 231, 344, 449
“Ode to Billie Joe” (Gentry), 380, 381
O’Dell, Sheri, 161
O’Donnell, Marie, 334, 335–36
O’Hara, Meghan, 249–50, 258, 263, 470
Ohl-Hinz, Gunhild, 139, 140
Olds, Sharon, 404
O’Neill, Eugene, 403
Operation Outcry (Parker), 307–8, 311–13, 314–16, 319–20
Operation Rescue
abortion provider murders and, 240–41, 242, 244
Flip Benham as director, 242–43, 244
clinic protests and attacks and, 157
fetus memorials and, 377
Sheree Havlik and, 369
legal restrictions on, 387–88
Patricia McEwen and, 375–76
Troy Newman and, 269–70
Norma’s split from, 273–74, 300
Norma’s work for, 254, 260, 264–66, 269, 270
origins of, 239–40
Republican National Convention protest (1996), 269, 270
speculations about the Roe baby, 190
third-trimester abortion and, 346, 351, 352, 355
George Tiller and, 321
Daniel Vinzant and, 280
O’Reilly, Bill, 351
Our Bodies, Ourselves, 316
Paglia, Camille, 340
Paltrow, Lynn, 317
parental consent, 165, 274
Parker, Allan Edward
background of, 304–6
Harold Cassidy and, 306–7
Frank Di Bugnara and, 387Justice Foundation, 306
Peter Mackenzie and, 403
McCorvey v. Hill and, 314–15, 316–17, 318–19
Norma’s ambivalence on abortion and, 407
Norma’s death and, 466, 467, 468–69
Norma’s split from, 406
Operation Outcry and, 307–8, 311–13, 314–16, 319–20
speculations about the Roe baby and, 473
work with Norma, 304, 314, 317
“partial-birth” abortion. See dilation and extraction
PAS (post-abortion syndrome), 307–11, 313, 320, 440
Paul, Saint, 20
Pavone, Frank
background of, 267–68
Doonby and, 411
fetus memorials and, 374, 375, 378–79, 447
March for Life and, 385
Norma’s conversion to Catholicism and, 268–69, 278–79, 280–82
Norma’s death and, 436, 464, 466–67
Norma’s health problems and, 425
Norma’s lesbianism and, 268, 303
Norma’s misrepresentations and, 316
Norma’s pro-life conversion and, 265
Norma’s pro-life movement work and, 300, 301, 302, 304, 314, 374, 385
Norma’s split with, 374, 379, 432
religious order plans, 373–74
Roe No More Ministry and, 275
speculations about the Roe baby and, 463
Trump and, 447
Pelosi, Nancy, 389
Pence, Mike, 446
People for the American Way, 258
People v. Belous, 73, 456
personal experiences as influence on abortion views, 82, 176, 177, 406, 440–41
Flip Benham, 247
Harry Blackmun, 2, 109
Curtis Boyd, 59, 61, 170, 459
Herbert Croner, 140
Ronda Mackey, 247
Troy Newman, 269–70
Lewis Powell, 99
Randall Terry, 239
George Tiller, 342
Sarah Weddington, 79–80
personhood amendments, 451
Peterson, Todd, 183, 472–73, 475–76
Picoult, Jodi, 470
Pinker, Steven, 42
Pinkusiewicz, Patricia, 140, 141
Innocent III (Pope), 39
Pius IX (Pope), 39
Pius XI (Pope), 40
Planned Parenthood, 91, 104–5, 111–12, 324–25, 341, 343, 446
Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 226–27, 228, 230–33, 311, 356, 449, 482
Plato, 41–42
Plessy v. Ferguson, 454
Pollitt, Katha, 227, 404, 442, 445, 480
Porphyry, 359
Posey, Mary, 8
Posner, Richard, 228
post-abortion syndrome (PAS), 307–11, 313, 320, 440
Powell, Lewis, 99, 100
presidential election (1976), 146–49
presidential election (2016), 444–48
presidential election (2020), 455–56, 459–60, 463
Preston, Vanessa, 173
Priests for Life
criticism of, 374, 432
financial irresponsibility of, 411, 432
founding of, 267
Norma’s conversion to Catholicism and, 300, 301, 302
Norma’s death and, 464
Norma’s pro-life conversion and, 265
post-abortion syndrome and, 311
Primitive Baptists, 58, 59
Prisoner of Sex, The (Mailer), 63–64
privacy, right to
abortion stigma and, 176
as basis for Roe v. Wade, 1, 83–84, 88, 91, 98, 99, 100, 110, 228
birth control and, 83
pro-choice movement
abortion provider murder and, 352–53
abortion referral networks and, 41, 62–64, 79, 80
American Law Institute, 43, 94
amicus curiae briefs and, 316
Curtis Boyd and, 170
DC march (1989), 160, 161, 208, 250
defections from, 268
lesbians and, 243–44
Norma’s confession and, 138, 142–43, 161
personal disclosures and, 177, 316, 441–42
realities of abortion and, 339–40
rebuffs of Norma, 160, 206–7, 208, 250–51, 252, 258–59, 470
responses to Roe v. Wade ruling, 111–12
state abortion safeguard acts, 455
terminology for, 106, 480
third-trimester abortion and, 346
See also feminism; McCorvey, Norma Lea, PRO-CHOICE MOVEMENT WORK
pro-life movement
abandonment of scientific fact, 227, 456
abortion provider murders and, 238–39, 240–41, 244, 351, 352–53
AMA state legalization policy and, 43–44, 57, 101
antisemitism and, 373
backlash against Roe v. Wade ruling, 101, 111, 160, 226, 228
Christian Defense Coalition, 265
conservative politics and, 153–54
crisis pregnancy centers, 244–45
defections from, 466
Doonby, 403–5, 410–11
evangelicals and, 154, 165
Faith and Action, 264
on feminism, 327–28
fetal homicide laws and, 445
fetal photography and, 101–2, 106–7, 113, 246, 269, 308
fetus memorials and, 374–79, 447
as gateway to conservative politics, 154
Holocaust references and, 240
human life amendments and, 113–14, 144–46, 147, 150, 156, 173
Hyde amendment and, 148, 149–50, 156
hypocrisy in, 64, 175, 328, 330, 455, 459
incremental strategy, 154, 156, 440, 455
Islamophobia and, 373, 374
Mildred Jefferson’s speaking for, 57, 106–8, 113, 114, 148, 151
judiciary and, 156
Brett Kavanaugh appointment and, 455
March for Life, 302, 310, 319, 385, 388, 440
Marie v. Whitman and, 306–7, 313, 314
Massachusetts Medical Society and, 43–44, 55–57
McCorvey v. Hill and, 314–15, 316–17, 318–19
Moral Majority, 153
Norma’s confession and, 143
Norma’s contacts with, 246–47, 249–50, 253–54, 255–56
Norma’s conversion to Catholicism and, 300–301, 302
Norma’s death and, 435–36, 464, 466–67
Norma’s search for Shelley and, 198, 200–201
Norma’s support for, 250, 254, 255–56
Operation Outcry and, 307–8, 311–13, 314–16, 319–20
Mike Pence and, 446
personhood amendments and, 451
political action committees and, 149–50, 153
on post-abortion syndrome, 307–11, 313, 320, 440
presidential election (1976) and, 146–49
Ronald Reagan and, 108, 146–47, 154, 155–56, 173–74
Republican National Convention protest (1996), 269, 270
Roe v. Wade overturn as goal of, 226, 306, 314, 455
speculations about the Roe baby, 190, 290, 463, 473
targeting of abortion providers, 66, 114, 145–46, 346, 350, 351, 357
terminology for, 480
third-trimester abortion and, 346, 351, 352, 355, 458
Donald Trump and, 445–46, 447
Value of Life Committee, 102, 103, 113, 144, 457
viability and, 145–46
white supremacy and, 373
Women Exploited by Abortion, 309
See also clinic protests and attacks; McCorvey, Norma Lea, PRO-LIFE CONVERSION OF; Operation Rescue; Priests for Life; Republican Party support for pro-life movement; state abortion regulations
public opinion, 98, 105–6, 153, 157, 175, 227, 407
Quindlen, Anna, 227
racism
Curtis Boyd and, 58
eugenics and, 324
interracial marriage and, 53–54
Jefferson’s career and, 51, 54, 55, 56, 326–27, 331, 481
medical mistreatment of African Americans and, 324–25
Ralph, Jeannie, 405
Razmi, Jahangir, 398
Reagan, Leslie, 40, 169
Reagan, Ronald
“Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation,” 155–56
Robert Bork nomination, 142
clinic protests and attacks and, 174–75
fetus memorials and, 376, 377
Mildred Jefferson and, 108, 154, 155, 322
post-abortion syndrome and, 309
presidential election (1976) and, 146–47
pro-life policies of, 173–75
state legalization support and, 107–8
Reardon, David, 309, 319
Reavis, Cathy, 343, 344
Red Clocks (Zumas), 451
Rehnquist, William, 99, 111, 119–20, 173, 230–31
Republican Party
early pro-choice support, 104–5
National Convention protest (1996), 269, 270
See also Republican Party support for pro-life movement
Republican Party support for pro-life movement
coronavirus pandemic and, 458–59
Neil Gorsuch appointment and, 448–49
hypocrisy of, 439
June Medical Services LLC v. Russo and, 461
Richard Nixon and, 105, 153
polarization and, 226, 227
political action committees and, 150, 153
punishment for abortion and, 445
Ronald Reagan and, 107–8, 146–47, 154
Roe v. Wade overturn implications and, 453
state abortion regulations and, 356, 357
third-trimester abortion and, 458
Reversing Roe (Donehey), 260–61, 274
Rich, Adrienne, 177, 349
Rich, John, 96–97, 193, 226
Right to Life Crusade, 151, 152, 202, 329, 333
right to life movement. See pro-life movement
Risen, James, 239, 346
Robb, Amanda, 352
Roberts, Dorothy, 324
Roberts, John, 449, 454
Robinson, Edward, 282, 302, 318
Robinson, Lamar, 210
Robinson, Susan, 354–55, 358
Rockett, Barbara, 55–56, 57, 102
Roe (play), 433
Roe No More Ministry, 274–75, 368, 370–71, 469
Roe v. Wade
African American mistrust of, 326
amicus curiae briefs, 90, 97
Amy Coney Barrett on, 460–61
Harry Blackmun as opinion author, 1, 92–93, 96–98, 99–100, 109–10
as class action suit, 86
constitutional basis for, 1, 83, 88, 91, 96
constitutional implications of, 228–30
defiance toward, 113
dismantling strategies, 454–55
dissents, 111
Fifth Circuit Court hearing, 87–88
on gestational age abortion thresholds, 99–100, 110, 111, 115, 230, 231
Ruth Bader Ginsburg on, 460
increased safety of abortion and, 169, 330
lawyers’ failure to help Norma with abortion, 81–82, 251–52, 258, 276, 312, 316, 482
McCorvey v. Hill and, 314–15, 316–17, 318–19
Melissa on, 188
Norma’s feelings about, 137, 248, 254–55, 302
Norma’s initial distance from, 87, 90, 116, 118
Norma’s pregnancy timing and, 2, 77–78, 88, 91, 119–20, 251, 289–90, 470
overreach accusations, 110–11
overturn as pro-life movement goal, 226, 306, 314, 455
overturn implications, 450–53
petitions, 83–85
plaintiff anonymity, 2–3, 78–79, 84, 86, 289
plaintiff search, 67, 73–74, 79–81, 82
Planned Parenthood v. Casey and, 226–27, 228, 230–33, 482
polarization and, 1–2, 157–58, 225–27, 274, 456
precedent and, 83, 229–30, 232, 453–54, 460–61
press coverage, 110, 111
pro-choice movement responses to, 111–12
pro-life movement backlash against, 101, 111, 160, 226, 228
profit by abortion providers and, 341
Shelley’s feelings about, 289, 474
state abortion regulations and, 355–56
Supreme Court appeal, 88, 89
Supreme Court confirmations and, 1, 156
Supreme Court rearguments, 98–99
Supreme Court ruling, 109–10, 118
on third-trimester abortion, 341–42
viability and, 100, 231, 344, 358
Webster v. Reproductive Health Services and, 202, 228, 231
Roe vs. Roe, 276
Roeder, Scott, 352, 353
Roosevelt, Theodore, 10, 323
Rosen, Jeffrey, 453
Rosenblatt, Roger, 227, 356, 439
Rowan, Carl, 142
Rue, James, 308
Rue, Vincent, 308–9
Rukeyser, Muriel, 319
safety of abortion, 41, 42, 95, 169, 330, 357, 440
See also maternal deaths from abortion
Saletan, William, 449
Sandefur, Mary (Mildred) Gautreaux Nelson (Norma’s mother)
author’s research and, 482
birth of, 8
childhood of, 10
death of, 418–19
drinking, 13, 15, 32, 186
Jehovah’s Witnesses and, 16
Jennifer and Melissa’s meeting with, 397
marriage to Olin Nelson, 13
marriage to Raymond Sandefur, 20–21
Melissa’s childhood and, 24, 26, 32–33, 130, 131–32, 133
move to Texas, 15
Norma’s birth and, 14
Norma’s lesbianism and, 20, 222
Velma’s birth, 11–12, 13
Sandefur, Raymond, 19, 20–21, 24, 133, 186, 299, 410
Sandoval, Mary Helen, 117
Sanger, Carol, 357
Sanger, Margaret, 203, 323, 324, 325
Saucier, Julia, 10, 12, 15
Scalia, Antonin, 156, 231, 444, 446, 448, 451, 455
Scheidler, Joseph, 157, 245, 351
Schenck, Rob, 264–65, 268, 301, 303, 304, 417, 466, 468
Schlafly, Phyllis, 327
Schmidt, Ruth. See Thornton, Ruth Schmidt
Schneider, John, 404
Schoen, Johanna, 243-4, 321, 377, 441
Sella, Shelley, 354–55, 358
Septuagint, 39
sexism
Linda Coffee’s career and, 69, 70
Mildred Jefferson’s career and, 50, 52, 54, 55, 114
reproductive control and, 41–42
Supreme Court and, 91
See also women’s rights
sexuality
birth control and, 323
Christianity and, 9, 18, 20, 65, 439
condemnation of women and, 59
evangelicals on, 153
Mildred Jefferson on, 53
non-Christian religious views of, 19–20
Norma’s identity and, 136, 262, 303
Norma’s misrepresentations and, 18–19, 223
stigma of, 176
views on abortion and, 41, 153
See also homosexuality
Shannon, Shelley, 352
Sheats, Morris, 253–54, 263, 278
Sheehan, Neil, 483
Shreve, Randy, 72
Siegel, Reva, 105, 226, 320
Silent Scream, The, 246
Sims, James Marion, 324
Snead, O. Carter, 227
sodomy laws, 67, 71–72, 84, 165, 222
Sontag, Susan, 452
Sotomayor, Sonia, 389
Souter, David, 229–32, 251, 446, 449
Southern Baptist Convention, 115, 165, 362–63, 457
Specter, Arlen, 439
Spencer, Robert, 41
Stanton, Joseph, 55–56, 107, 328
stare decisis, 229, 230, 453–54
Starr, Kenneth, 226
state abortion regulations
abortion methods and, 443–44
abortion providers and, 357–58, 442, 458, 459
Americans United for Life and, 356
gestational age abortion thresholds and, 341–42, 350
Neil Gorsuch appointment and, 448–49
incremental strategy and, 154
Mildred Jefferson and, 154
Roe v. Wade and, 355–56
Roe v. Wade overturn implications and, 451, 452
TRAP laws, 357
Donald Trump and, 461
See also Planned Parenthood v. Casey
Steinem, Gloria, 161, 203, 204, 207, 208
sterilization, 323–24
Stern, Mark Joseph, 450
Stevens, John Paul, 1, 144, 231
Stevens, Joyce, 203
Stewart, Potter, 91, 451
Stone, Geoffrey, 19–20, 225
Sullenger, Cheryl, 353
Sullivan, Andrew, 340
Supreme Court
abortion as appointment/confirmation issue, 1, 156, 173, 229, 230, 446–47, 460–61
Amy Coney Barrett appointment, 460–61
Neil Gorsuch appointment, 448–49
Brett Kavanaugh appointment, 450
precedent and, 83, 229–30, 232, 453–54, 460–61
See also specific cases and justices
surrogacy, 306
Surry-Fingal, Margaret, 50
Sweeney, Nick, 432–33, 434
Taft, Charlotte, 137, 138, 140, 142–43, 237, 258, 310, 344, 345, 376, 386, 407
Talbot, Margaret, 393
Talone, Gianna, 379
Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP) laws, 357, 444
Taylor, Andi (Norma’s partner), 27–28, 29, 136, 483
Taylor, Henry Lee, 405–6, 408, 410, 466
Teresa, Mother, 307
Terry, Randall
abortion provider murders and, 240–41, 265, 353
author’s research and, 480
background of, 239
clinic protests and attacks and, 239–40
fetus memorials and, 377
on homosexuality, 303
Islamophobia and, 373
legal restrictions on Operation Rescue and, 387–88
Norma’s death and, 466, 468
Norma’s pro-life movement work and, 387, 412
third-trimester abortion and, 347
Their Blood Cries Out (Newman), 386
Therapeutic Abortion Act (California) (1967), 105, 107–8
third-trimester abortion, 341–42, 343–48, 349–50, 353–54, 358–59
Thoma, Janet, 271–72
Thomas, Clarence, 226, 449, 451
Thomas, Gary, 272, 275, 278
Thomas, Judy, 239, 346
Thomson, Judith Jarvis, 358
Thornton, Billy (Shelley’s adoptive father), 125–27, 182, 183, 214, 287
Thornton, Ruth Schmidt (Shelley’s adoptive mother)
death of, 423–24
Norma’s search for Shelley and, 195, 196, 197, 198–99
Shelley’s adoption and, 125–26
Shelley’s childhood and, 126–27, 181–82, 288
Thornton, Shelley Lynn (Norma’s birth daughter)
adoption of, 120, 121, 125
author’s research on, 395, 398
birth of, 88–89, 119
childhood and adolescence of, 126–27, 181–83
Christianity and, 181, 214, 290, 416
conception of, 36, 66, 67, 89, 119
connecting with family of birth father and, 476
contact with Jennifer, 476
contact with Melissa, 215–16, 218, 219–20, 396
contact with Norma, 198, 218, 287
curiosity about birth family, 127, 181–82, 183, 196, 290–91
A Current Affair contact, 213
feelings about Roe v. Wade, 289, 474
marriage with Doug, 213–14, 287, 290, 288428
midlife frustrations, 288–89, 290
mother’s death, 423–24
National Enquirer story on, 198–201, 212, 213, 214, 215, 421
Norma’s contact with, 217, 218–19
Norma’s death and, 435, 462–63, 465, 476
Norma’s search for, 189, 192, 193–95, 198, 212, 218, 421, 463
pro-life movement speculations about, 190, 290, 463, 473
relationship with Todd Peterson, 183, 472–73, 475–76
sister connections and, 215–16, 398–401, 415–17, 421–22, 423–24, 428, 433, 465, 470, 471–72, 473–74, 476
struggles with parentage, 216–17, 287–89, 397, 398, 421, 422–23, 473, 474–75
unwanted pregnancy, 213–14
views on abortion, 197, 214
Tiller, George, 321, 342–44, 345–47, 348, 349, 350–53, 385
Timanus, George, 41
To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee), 248–49
Tolle, John, 87, 88
Tone, Andrea, 452
Tribe, Laurence, 479
trimester framework. See gestational age abortion thresholds
Truman, Harry, 104–5
Trump, Donald
Amy Coney Barrett appointment and, 460–61
campaign of, 444, 445–46, 447
Neil Gorsuch appointment and, 448–49
Brett Kavanaugh appointment and, 450
Anthony Kennedy retirement and, 449
presidential election (2020) and, 459, 463
third-trimester abortion and, 458
Turnaway Study, 310, 442
Tuskegee syphilis experiment, 324
undue burden standard, 230, 231, 311, 454
Unitarian Church, 62, 65, 66
United States v. Vuitch, 89
unwanted pregnancy
abortion as most common solution, 399
adoption and, 306, 313, 405–6
birth control failure and, 43, 73
Janie Bush and, 211
condemnation of women and, 59, 60
Reggie Cox and, 66
dramatizations of, 404
Hector Ferrer and, 371
impact of, 12–13, 218–19
as inevitable, 443
Norma’s family history and, 8, 11–12, 17, 213–14, 400, 482
pro-life movement members and, 247–48
secrecy and, 12–13, 316
Shelley and, 213–14
George Tiller and, 342
Sarah Weddington and, 79–80
See also personal experiences as influence on abortion views
urea, 343
U.S. abortion law
Commonwealth v. Kenneth Edelin, 145, 321
conscience clause, 241
crisis pregnancy centers and, 245
dilation and curettage and, 422
Doe v. Bolton, 89, 110, 142, 290, 307, 341
equality and, 231–32
fetus memorials and, 376–77
Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, 242, 245
Gonzales v. Carhart, 320, 321, 348, 356
Hyde amendment, 148, 149–50, 156, 174, 226, 252
informed consent and, 311
June Medical Services LLC v. Russo, 461
McCorvey v. Hill, 314–15, 316–17, 318–19
medical monopoly and, 42, 43
People v. Belous, 73, 456
Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 226–27, 228, 230–33, 311, 356, 449, 482
Ronald Reagan policies and, 173–74
state legalization defeats, 105
state legalizations, 38, 43–44, 55–56, 57, 77, 94, 101, 107–8
therapeutic abortion proposals, 94, 105
United States v. Vuitch, 89
viability and, 100
Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, 442, 443–44
See also abortion illegality; state abortion regulations; U.S. abortion law, Constitutional bases for; Webster v. Reproductive Health Services
U.S. abortion law, constitutional bases for
Harry Blackmun’s Roe v. Wade opinion on, 96, 98, 99–100, 110–11
Linda Coffee on, 73
multiplicity of, 228
Planned Parenthood v. Casey and, 231–32
precedent and, 229–30
right to privacy, 1, 228
Roe v. Wade Fifth Circuit Court hearing, 88
Roe v. Wade petitions and, 83–84
Roe v. Wade Supreme Court appeal and, 91
Roe v. Wade Supreme Court rearguments and, 99
vacuum aspiration, 63–64
Value of Life Committee (VOLCOM), 102, 103, 113, 144, 457
viability
Curtis Boyd and, 172, 173, 340
Mildred Jefferson on, 145–46
Planned Parenthood v. Casey and, 231
Roe v. Wade and, 100, 231, 344, 358
Roe v. Wade dismantling strategies and, 455
third-trimester abortion and, 342, 344, 349, 358
Viguerie, Richard, 154
Vinzant, Daniel
background of, 279–80
friendship with Norma, 318, 380, 381, 386
Norma’s baptism and, 256
Norma’s conversion to Catholicism and, 281
Norma’s death and, 466
Norma’s move back to Dallas and, 412–13
Norma’s renunciation of homosexuality and, 408
Norma’s Smithville move and, 403
Vital Concerns television show, 334
Wade, Henry, 71, 85–86, 93, 167
Wade, Kim, 85, 167–68, 224
Wallace, George, 147
Washburn, Larry, 333
Watson, Katie, 443, 480
Way, Erin, 405, 406
Webster v. Reproductive Health Services
amicus curiae briefs, 228, 316, 441
Linda Coffee and, 164
dissents, 202, 229
Norma’s pro-choice movement work and, 162–63, 168, 192, 202, 207
personal disclosures and, 177
as pro-life movement victory, 226
Roe v. Wade and, 202, 228, 231
ruling on, 202
state abortion regulations and, 356
Weddington, Sarah Ragle
abortion of, 79–80, 176
author’s research and, 480
Curtis Boyd and, 170
Linda Coffee’s indictment and, 225
Linda Coffee’s marginalization and, 115, 163, 164, 167
dishonesty about Roe, 119, 143, 251–52, 482
failure to help Norma with abortion, 81–82, 251–52, 258, 276, 312, 482
Fifth Circuit Court hearing and, 87, 88
Mildred Jefferson on, 332
National Women’s Political Caucus and, 456
NBC film on Norma and, 141–42, 167, 168
Norma’s confession and, 143
Norma’s death and, 463
Norma’s disparagement and, 167, 208, 251, 258, 276, 463
plaintiff search and, 79–81
public speaking, 163
recognition of, 115
Supreme Court appeal and, 89–91
Supreme Court rearguments and, 98–99
Webster v. Reproductive Health Services and, 168
Wehmeyer, Peggy, 254, 255
Weisberg, Malvin, 376
Welch, Claude, 55
Wells, Betty, 90
Weyrich, Paul, 148
Wharton, Edith, 403
Whatever Happened to Jane Roe, 379
Wheaton, William Kenneth “Bill” (Shelley’s birth father), 34–37, 119, 476
When She Woke (Jordan), 450
White, Byron, 99, 111, 349
Whitehill, Margaret, 164
Whitehill, Virginia, 163–64, 170, 225, 313
Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, 442, 443–44
Wiggins, Judy, 381, 383, 384, 385–86, 407, 408
Wightman, Hazel, 52
Williams, Daniel, 101, 106, 114, 147, 238–39, 439
Willke, John, 150–51, 349
Wilt, Judith, 340
Winfrey, Oprah, 207, 311
Wolf, Naomi, 258–59, 339
Women Exploited by Abortion, 309
Women’s Health Protection Act, 455
women’s rights
birth control and, 323
Harry Blackmun on, 229
Curtis Boyd and, 61, 348–49, 359
Equal Rights Amendment, 154, 327
evangelical opposition to, 154
Planned Parenthood v. Casey and, 231–32
reproductive control and, 1, 61, 69
Roe v. Wade overturn implications and, 452–53
Southern Baptist Convention on, 362
Won by Love (McCorvey), 271–72, 276, 277, 307, 388, 405
Woodhull, Victoria, 327
Wyden, Ron, 244
Yanta, John, 374
Yard, Molly, 229, 251
Yates, Richard, 404
Young, Arthur, 210
Ziegler, Mary, 2, 320, 449
Zumas, Leni, 451