Nancy Reagan Disdain Told for Right-to-Lifers

Anti-abortion activists expressed disappointment today at Nancy Reagan’s reported declaration that “I don’t give a damn about the right-to-lifers,” but they praised President Reagan’s steadfast support for their cause.

The First Lady was quoted by former White House chief of staff Donald T. Regan in his new book, “For the Record: From Wall Street to Washington.”

Regan wrote that during a telephone conversation from Washington with Mrs. Reagan at Camp David, Md., on Jan. 24, 1987, the First Lady demanded that all mention of the abortion issue be eliminated from the draft text of her husband’s State of the Union address.

Said Reagan Wanted It

“I pointed out that the President had particularly wanted some language on this subject included in his address,” Regan said he responded.

He quoted Mrs. Reagan as saying: “I don’t give a damn about the right-to-lifers.”

The State of the Union speech that the President delivered three days later contained no references to abortions.

White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater told reporters today that “I don’t have any knowledge at all” whether Mrs. Reagan actually made such a statement.

Anti-abortion leaders refrained from any direct criticism of the First Lady.

“If, in fact, Mrs. Reagan’s quote is accurate, we are very disappointed, but it does not affect the respect we have for how the President has helped the pro-life movement throughout his Administration,” said Tom Glessner, executive director of the Christian Action Council.