Bush Calls for Reversal of ’73 Abortion Ruling

President Bush, underscoring the plea of more than 65,000 demonstrators gathered for the 16th annual March for Life, Monday called abortion a “tragedy” and called for reversal of the Supreme Court decision that made the procedure legal.

Speaking through a telephone hookup to the protest site near the White House, Bush expressed his “deep personal concern about our American tragedy of abortion-on-demand.”

Roe vs. Wade--the 1973 case in which the high court established a woman’s right to have an abortion--”was wrong and should be overturned,” Bush declared.

Campaign Statements

Bush’s remarks echoed anti-abortion statements he made during the presidential campaign. They come as the Supreme Court, with its new conservative majority, has agreed to consider a Missouri case that could be used to roll back the landmark precedent.

Leaders of the National Right to Life Committee hailed Bush’s statement and declared that their struggle “is a civil rights issue.” They also met with Vice President Dan Quayle, who assured them of the Administration’s support for their cause.

A spokesman for Planned Parenthood, which opposes new restrictions on abortions, said that it “was a deep disappointment to hear the President pander to the far right. . . . “

The official, Eve Paul, said that Bush should instead use his office to help prevent unwanted pregnancies after “the drama of the annual anti-abortion march is over.”

The demonstration was staged to mark Sunday’s 16th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision.

Participants who traveled to Washington from across the nation marched along Constitution Avenue from the White House to the steps of the Supreme Court, waving signs and chanting “pro-life, pro-life.”

‘Serious Reflection’

In his message, broadcast over large speakers, Bush acknowledged that “there are people of good will who disagree” but said that “after years of somber and serious reflection on the issue, this is what I think.

“America needs a human life amendment,” the President said. “And I think that when it comes to abortion, there’s a better way--the way of adoption, the way of life.”

Several members of Congress also addressed the throng. Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) pledged to continue to work for federal action against abortion. “We are going to make our capital city a city of life, not a city of death,” he said.

Rights Leaders Object

However, more than a dozen civil rights leaders signed a statement challenging any similarity between the anti-abortion campaign and the rights movement.

“The civil rights struggle . . . sought to extend constitutional rights to all Americans and to have those rights enforced. Today’s anti-abortionists, quite to the contrary, are attempting to deny American women their constitutional right to freedom of choice,” said Julian Bond, a former director of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

Other signers included former Democratic presidential candidate Jesse Jackson and William Taylor, the former executive director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.