Bella Abzug

Bella Abzug

Abzug, Bella S., 1920-1998

Congressional Representative Bella Abzug was invited by the Joint Events Council to give a speech on November 27, 1979 at CSB. She addressed the topic, “Women and Politics.” 700 people attended her speech, with about 2/3 of the audience women. Abzug focused her speech on students and the power they hold to change the political landscape of the country. There was a lot of controversy surrounding her visit as she was pro-choice. Because of this, a letter was prepared to be released stating that the students brought her here not the College. Paul Brown, the director of the Washington D.C.-based Life Amendment Political Action Committee was most opposed to her visit. He encouraged people to remove their financial support from the two institutions because of Abzug’s visit and her stance which opposes the Catholic doctrine. People on both sides of the issue were not happy with his response and said that a liberal arts college’s purpose is to expand their students’ worldview and show all sides to an issue. In many following issues of The Record, students, staff, faculty, and alumni responded to the controversy surrounding Abzug’s visit. Many condoned Brown’s inappropriate reaction and some condoned the college for allowing her to speak. This event was so controversial that it made the front page of many Minnesota newspapers. Bella Abzug was a Congresswoman from New York. She was a lawyer for more than 30 years and was in Congress for six. Abzug was appointed presiding officer of the National Commission for the Observance of International Women’s Year in 1977 by President Carter. She was also appointed as the co-chair of the President’s National Advisory Committee of Women by President Carter. Abzug was dismissed in 1979 as Carter had conflicts over the issues she raised. Abzug wanted Carter to cut the military budget instead of getting rid of programs which supported women. 26 out of the 40 women on the advisory committee resigned in protest over her removal. Abzug supported increased aid to mass transit, environmental legislation, and aid for the elderly and handicapped when she was in Congress. She wrote the first law banning discrimination against women in obtaining credit, loans, and mortgages, and supported Title IX of the Equal Opportunity in Education Laws. She was co-sponsor of the original Equal Rights Amendment.

College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University

College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University Archives