Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation by {author}: summary and why it matters
Ronald Reagan's 1984 essay arguing that the nation must confront the moral question of abortion, with essays by Malcolm Muggeridge and Mother Teresa.
The book
| Author | Ronald Reagan |
|---|---|
| First published | 1984 |
| First publisher | Thomas Nelson |
| Kind of book | Essay |
What it argues
The essay first appeared in the Human Life Review in 1983, during Reagan's first term, and was then published as a short book with an afterword by Malcolm Muggeridge and a letter from Mother Teresa. Reagan, writing as president, argued that the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade had produced a nation in which human life is not protected in all stages.
He compares the question to that of slavery, which, he says, required the nation to confront a moral wrong that the Supreme Court had endorsed in Dred Scott, and he calls on Americans to consider the humanity of the unborn. He cites medical advances in understanding fetal development and argues that the same principle that supports the dignity of persons forbids taking the lives of the innocent.
The essay does not detail a legislative program, and it is a statement of conscience from a sitting president.
Why it matters
It is among the clearest presidential statements of the pro-life position, and it set a model for later political argument on the subject. Supporters and opponents of Reagan's view can judge how its analogy to slavery works.
About the author
The essay was published first in the spring 1983 issue of the Human Life Review. The book edition of 1984 added a foreword by Reagan and contributions from the British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge and from Mother Teresa.
Who should read it
Readers who follow the abortion debate and want a primary source.
Sources
Profile last reviewed November 8, 2026