Memories

O'Connor nomination:

The Associated Press
July 7, 1981, Tuesday, AM cycle

Asked about Mrs. O'Connor's position on the extremely sensitive abortion issue, Reagan, who said he had interviewed the intended nominee, told reporters as he left the press room: "I am completely satisfied."

At her press conference, Mrs. O'Connor declined questions over that issue, the ERA and others, saying "I'm sorry. I cannot address myself to substantive issues pending my confirmation."

But deputy White House press secretary Larry Speakes said she had told the president "she is personally opposed to abortion and that it was especially abhorent to her. She also feels the subject of the regulation of abortion is a legitimate subject for the legislative area."


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United Press International

July 8, 1981, Wednesday, AM cycle

Television evangelist James Robison, taking the opposite position of many of his conservative colleagues, Wednesday said he supports the nomination of Sandra O'Connor to the Supreme Court.

In a statement, Robison said he based his support for Mrs. O'Connor on a conversation Tuesday with presidential counselor Edwin Meese. A Robison spokesman said Robison obtained the following statement from Meese:

''Sandra O'Connor thinks abortion is abhorrent and is not in favor of it. She agrees with the president on abortion. There was a time when she was sympathetic toward the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) movement, but the more she studied and found out about it the more she changed her mind.

''She is very conservative ... Sandra O'Connor assured the president that she was in agreement with him and she totally supports pro-family issues and the Republican platform.''

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United Press International

July 8, 1981, Wednesday, AM cycle

President Reagan, seeking to stem Moral Majority's criticism of Supreme Court nominee Sandra O'Connor, had assurances Wednesday from the Rev. Jerry Falwell that he still thinks Reagan is ''the greatest.''

Moral Majority vice president Cal Thomas said Reagan called Falwell, head of the conservative organization, in mid-afternoon Tuesday -- a few hours after naming Mrs. O'Connor -- and spoke for 15 minutes.

Falwell had criticized the nomination bitterly because of Mrs. O'Connor's stands on abortion and women's rights but his tone was decidedly different in the telephone conversation.

''He had a very warm conversation with the president, told him that he loved him, that he thinks he's the greatest president we've in our generation, et cetera, that he disagreed with him on this issue but he's not throwing the president out with the bath water,'' Thomas said.

White House communications director David Gergen said Reagan called Falwell ''to have an opportunity to discuss his views and his understanding of Mrs. O'Connor's views ... based on her court decisions and legislative record.''

''The president said he was absolutely convinced she was personally opposed to abortion. Dr. Falwell said that was fine but we needed more than that,'' Thomas said.

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United Press International

July 22, 1981, Wednesday, AM cycle



A major conservative fund-raiser -- declaring the New Right is not ''a paper tiger'' -- vowed Wednesday to enter the fray to keep Sandra O'Connor from winning Senate confirmation as a Supreme Court justice.

The declaration by direct-mail wizard Richard Viguerie came as fundamentalist opponents to Mrs. O'Connor opened a new First Amendment front and other foes of the Arizona judge continued to attack her record on abortion.

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Viguerie said the New Right -- an informal coalition united by ultraconservative views on both social and economic issues -- has to wage a battle against Mrs. O'Connor's record on the abortion issue, or else the White House ''will just think we are a paper tiger.''

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McIntire, who described Reagan's choice as ''a dark and sad day for fundamentalism in our churches,'' marched with about 20 demonstrators outside the Supreme Court and in front of Senate offices. One carried a sign saying, ''Get a Judge Who Doesn't Fudge.''