Bush Gives Anti-Abortion Marchers His Support but Chooses Not to Meet Them

President Bush assured anti-abortion marchers today of his “deep conviction” against the Supreme Court ruling 17 years ago today that legalized abortion, and his steadfast opposition to abortion on demand.

Bush, speaking by telephone to marchers gathered outside the White House before their annual march past the Capitol and the Supreme Court, said the anti-abortion movement reminds Americans “of the self-evident moral superiority of adoption over abortion.”

Bush also addressed the March for Life last year on his third day as President, continuing the tradition of his predecessor, Ronald Reagan.

Bush did not mention his support for a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion. And, in another departure from past practice, neither he nor Vice President Dan Quayle met with organizers of the annual anti-abortion march.

Even as Bush spoke, pro-choice forces led by the Planned Parenthood Federation were urging Americans to call the White House switchboard to register their support for legal abortions.

After hearing Bush and a handful of congressmen and other speakers, the crowd, estimated by U.S. Park Police at 35,000, marched up Pennsylvania Avenue to the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court.

Earlier, backers of legal abortion raised the specter of Romania’s former Communist repression in warning against a rollback of abortion rights.

The head of the National Abortion Rights Action League told a gathering on Capitol Hill that legalizing abortions was one of the first steps Romania took after overthrowing its hated dictator last month.

“Romanians know firsthand what most Americans can only imagine--the deadly impact of government bans on abortion,” said Kate Michelman, executive director of the abortion-rights lobbying group.

“It would be a travesty if the United States, the beacon of democracy in the world, applauded Romania’s reforms while adopting repressive anti-choice laws here at home,” she said.

Activists on both sides of the issue--sensing 1990 will be a pivotal year in the political debate on abortion--held competing events marking the anniversary of the high court decision, Roe v. Wade, that legalized abortions.

Abortion-rights advocates also gathered on the Mall outside the Capitol where a temporary memorial was erected in tribute to all women who have died from illegal, botched abortions--including Becky Bell, a 17-year-old Indianapolis girl who died in September, 1988, after a self-induced abortion.

Bill Bell, her father, said his daughter died because Indiana law requires minors to obtain parental consent before they can get a legal abortion.

“Our daughter was punished,” he said.