“I received your name and address from my reverend in Santa Monica. I’ve seen him recently to discuss my problem in detail and have concluded that an abortion is the only answer right now. I am married, but my husband has just been called for jungle training in Korea for a period of active duty for 18 months. I will be self-supporting…”
“A young lady that I’ve been dating has become pregnant. While we enjoy each other’s company, neither of us wishes to be forced into marriage. I don’t want her to have to go through a pregnancy, even if she gets all proper medical care. I feel a pregnancy is for those who intend having children with their husbands. The girl is about two and half months pregnant, so there are no pills that will help. Where can we get an abortion? ... Please help.”
“I’m eighteen years old, single, and three months pregnant by a married man. I need the name of a doctor, for I’m in a desperate situation and I want an abortion. I have 200 dollars in the bank and can get another hundred if I tried. Please help me because if you don’t, I’m going to have to kill myself. I read your article in The Free Press of L.A. [an underground newspaper] and you are my last resort.”
“I’m a married woman with four children and I’ve just discovered I’m pregnant again. My husband and I agreed that having this child would tax our resources—financial, physical, and emotional—to the point of no return. Of course, that’s understating our reason for seeking an abortion, but I think you will agree they are sound reasons. The problem, of course, is that abortion is illegal, and I have no desire to attempt to do anything myself, so in my futile search in the local area for a duly licensed physician with a liberal outlook on such matters, I ran into someone who suggested I write to you for help.”
“...Due to circumstances and my strong belief against forced marriage, I am unable to bear the child and give it a name. I am a college graduate and established in a retailing business and face loss of my job should this information get out and I attempt to bear this child out of wedlock. I am also aware of the increasing difficulty of placing children for adoption. I cannot rescind my actions but must save all those close to me from the consequences of my actions and have concluded that an abortion is the only answer. My doctor has informed me that for my own safety and health, I must obtain an abortion at the earliest possible time and can wait no longer than a month. I need contacts very badly. As for my own area, Seattle, I am at a loss and fear falling into the hands of a quack. Enclosed is a self-address stamped envelope. Also, a contribution to your association and its great work. I appreciate any and all help you might provide.”
“I need your help very badly. Please get in touch with me as soon as you can.”
“I am another unfortunate woman who’s come to face the hypocrisy and injustice of a country that leads in technology and sadly fails in humanism. I seek your assistance for the first time, but this will not be the first time that I have needed help. Believe me, for it was a matter of ignorance. As you say, nothing is foolproof and some people have all the luck. Ironically, I stood by a good friend only a month ago, encouraging her with the experience that I had had, and I commend you, for your information dealt with everything possible and that is good. There are so many doubts. I’m three weeks pregnant. You’ve given hope and I will try in some way to strengthen the cause.”
“Your organization has been recommended to me by a local physician who suggests that you might be of assistance. I’ve been widowed for six years and have a 9-year-old son. To have an illegitimate child now I feel would be unfair to my son. Granted, I should have considered this five weeks ago, but I didn’t and there’s no point in recrimination at this late date. I am nearly five weeks pregnant and understand that you can supply me with the names of doctors in San Juan who will perform a legal, hospitalized operation. Naturally, I am interested in having the full details. ... I would not pursue the matter further if I thought there were any danger to my life. I would rather have the child than jeopardize my life, leaving my son alone at this age. Statistics prove how many butchers perform operations and I want your reassurance that your organization will direct me to approved doctors and sterilized hospital conditions. If all my doctor tells me of your group is accurate, I can only add that, in my opinion, you are saving lives, not taking them. ... How proud you must be of your work. If only more women knew about you.”
“I’ve taken your address from the files of the Planned Parenthood Association here. We have a sad case through our church responsibilities in which a 17-year-old girl was raped and has become pregnant, five weeks now. Sadder still is the present attitude of Illinois law. Any information you can send us will be appreciated. We would like to have any leads on someone our area, if possible. Also, I understand you may have some literature on inducing a miscarriage. Don’t know whether you can send that through the mail. If so, please do. We’d like names here, or in Canada; last, Mexico.”
“I am in the necessity of writing you to ask for advice about the following problem. I am a foreign, single, graduate student over 21 years old, at Oregon State University, and am facing the problem of being pregnant for about one and half months. Due to a circumstance, to begin with, the fact that it is not possible that I marry the man who would be the father of the baby and other strong reasons I cannot want to have the baby and have decided that an abortion is the only way of avoiding this problem to become even more unhappy. I have gone to doctor here, but he told me that abortion is not legalized and that he did not know about the possibility of doing it. Now, I have been told of your association, so I am asking advice as to how I can have an abortion done soon. I would be very grateful of hearing from you as soon as possible. You can call me collect.”
“I have, by my own ignorance, brought myself into a very unfortunate and unwanted pregnancy. I’m fully aware of the responsibilities when I wish to obtain an abortion. To me, this is no easy way out, but it is the way which will bring less unhappiness to less people. Once I have reached this decision, I wish there was a decent and proper way I could go about it, and I shall be very grateful to receive your help.”
“I heard you talk on the radio this last Sunday. I need your help. ... All that my boyfriend and I can get together is 150 dollars. Will they possibly do it for this amount? ... My boyfriend is afraid I’ll be hurt by a doctor, but didn’t you say it was relatively safe? ... I hope you can help me. My parents would be heartbroken. You see, I have a little brother who just turned five who is dying of a brain tumor. All they need to just about kill them would be to find out about me. They’ve been looking forward for my going to college and I don’t want to disappoint them. Please help me and I’ll help you. Thank you for your time. Please don’t put a return address on your envelope when you answer me. Thank you.”
“Several months ago, I telephoned you to offer, quietly, my services as a gynecologist. I’m deeply concerned with the problems of today, but I cannot serve, except discreetly. If I’m found out, I have a great deal to lose, so I’m available until then, or until our laws change.”
“I’m in desperate need of help. I’m a married woman, 38 years old, and a mother of three boys ranging in age from 14 years old to the youngest, who was just three years old in February. Yesterday, I was informed by my doctor that I’m apparently seven weeks pregnant, and I feel despaired and lost over the impending thought of undergoing another pregnancy and birth. After much thought and discussion with my husband, we both emphatically agree to have this pregnancy terminated as soon as possible, and not knowing whom to consult in this matter, we discussed it with our doctor, who in turn referred us to your organization, which he says he learned about on a local TV show ... We urgently request your help in this matter and will be happy and grateful to cooperate with your organization in any way possible. ... You may call us collect any time and we will be happy to answer or do anything you require.”
“A friend gave me your name and address in hopes that you might be able to help me or get me some information on getting an abortion. I’m 10 weeks along now and haven’t much time, so it’s urgent that I know as soon as possible. Due to financial problems, because I work, I’ve been unable to go out of town and hope that you might know of someone in San Diego or the general area to help me. There is a doctor here that I have been to already who said legitimately he could help me if I were to start spotting or bleeding, so all I need would be someone to start me and the rest could be done in the hospital where my medical insurance would cover the charges of having a miscarriage. I would appreciate it, anything that you can do for me, and please do not post-return this address or letter as I live with my family and they know nothing about it.”
“My wife became pregnant, despite our precautions, about four weeks ago. We don’t want this baby because we already have three small children and four would be too many for us to care for properly. My wife is in good health, and our doctor refuses to perform an abortion. We were told you could inform us on how to obtain an abortion in Mexico. We would appreciate this information, or of course, any other information that might help us.”
“Some months ago, I saw and heard you on television. I was completely in full accord with you and all your views regarding legalized abortion. Such courage is rare, to speak out as you do. Now I find myself in the unhappy position of an unwanted pregnancy. We have two children and cannot afford a third. My husband and I are not the happiest married couple on Earth, and this is the last thing that is needed in this family. I have just started my second daughter in school and am now employed for the first time in eight and a half years of marriage. I love my job and don’t want to give it up, and I will have to if my pregnancy cannot be discontinued. A very good friend gave me the San Francisco address to contact you. I hope you can help me locate a doctor who will perform the abortion for me.”
“I’ve been informed that your association might be able to help people that are in drastic trouble. I find myself pregnant, am unwed and have two children, ages 13 and 14, by my ex-husband. Since I am the sole support of my family, I am obliged to work for a living and this pregnancy would have dire consequences on my well-being and the well-being of my two children. If there is some help available, I implore speedy action since I am, at this writing, two and a half weeks overdue.”
“I find it very difficult to know where to start. I am six weeks pregnant and am just about out of my mind. I’m 43 years of age, a happily married woman with three teenage children; I have a part-time job, which has given me a new lease on life, and now this. I’m desperate. ... I’m so desperate because of dreading what is in store for me and also my husband is in a denial state about it. We have no one to turn to. Please, I beg of you to help me. Please don’t turn your back on me, as I can’t go through with this. Please.”
"I may find myself in a most serious predicament within the next few weeks and need your assistance. The girl I’m going steady with, who’s 19, suspects she’s pregnant. If she is, things could be very bad, to say the least. Although we intend to marry eventually, marriage now and out of wedlock would be absolutely out of the question, due to the extreme emotional, social, and educational problems that would arise. I decided to waste no time in taking steps now to avert a catastrophe in the event our fears are realized. An abortion by a medical doctor would be the only workable solution. Not knowing where to begin looking, I just happened to notice your article in this month’s Playboy magazine. Upon reading it, I was somewhat relieved to find that there are people both concerned and kind enough to help those in this desperate situation. I decided to write to you immediately in the hope that you could help us as we would have no one else to turn to.”
“I know you probably don’t have time to answer all of your mail personally, but there are a few things I have to ask you. Perhaps they’ll be answered by the information you send me, but anyway... I live in L.A., but I go to school up here. When I came back from Christmas break, I found I had a real problem. The thing is, I can’t get away from school until the 8th of March, by which time I’ll be two months pregnant. Is that too late? Also, how much will it cost? And can you send me the name of a trusted physician in Oregon, or should I go to L.A. right afterward and see one there? Finally, could you please send the information in a plain envelope? I live in a sorority house and we haven’t got private mailboxes. I sure would appreciate it if you could help me. I’ve always thought it was a good thing what you’re doing, but now I really appreciate it.”
“Please rush, by special delivery airmail, your packet of information regarding abortion sources. My daughter, age 21, is eight weeks pregnant. Date of last menstruation period was December 20th, cycle varied from 28 to 35 days. The pregnancy test was positive. She is a junior in college. She feels this [is] the best answer to this problem and she wishes to continue her education. She does not want to get married. I have let her make her own decision. Thank you for helping. I will let you know about our experience in Mexico in the near future.”
“I’m afraid that I find myself in need of your services. The doctor has fairly conclusively proved that my girlfriend is pregnant. I’m a senior in college and she is a sophomore. We are planning be married when she completes college, but find that, financially and emotionally, neither of us are yet prepared for giving a child the attention and love he deserves. We are fully aware that going through the experience of an abortion may well endanger our relationship, but we are both convinced that marriage and parenthood, before we felt ourselves adequately able to prepare for these experiences, would be equally disastrous. Although, of course, it would be preferable to obtain the services of a physician in the Los Angeles area—much preferable—we understand your sources are only in Mexico, and so we will try to equip ourselves for such a trip, insomuch as it is, regrettably, the only course of action for us. We very dearly appreciate whatever information you can give us. Thank you.”
“I am hoping that you can and will help me. Please bear with me while I explain the situation. First, I am pregnant and would like an abortion. I cannot find access to such a service in Minneapolis. Secondly, my mother was, for some time, institutionalized for schizophrenia. Although released, she is still on drugs, and I fear a setback in the event that she should have to find out about my situation. She has had a very, truly terrible life, and I quite frankly just as soon burn in hell for eternity than make her suffer any more. She is very isolated, and I am very important to her. Thirdly, I feel totally defeated by the situation. Neither I, nor the fellow involved, are ready for marriage, and I feel incapable of going through with this pregnancy. So much for the details. Could you please tell me where I could get an abortion, and approximately how much it would cost? ... Are there any possibilities in the Midwest? The matter is urgent, of course, and I would appreciate hearing from you as soon as possible. If you can and will comply with my request you will help prevent what will be, in my estimation, a tragic situation.”
“Last weekend, I drove down to Santa Barbara and saw Dr. Lee at the clinic there with a pregnant girl. She is two and a half months along now, and I’d hoped to get an abortion for her. He said that, in his present position, a D and C [Dilation and curettage] would be difficult and that I should contact you. We drove back up to Palo Alto and phoned you Saturday evening and Sunday, but you were not home. So we drove back up to Oregon and school. The net result of the 2,000-mile trip was your name. Paula and I are both students with no real emotional interest in each other and the pregnancy is the result of intercourse that surprised both of us. Conception took place January 24th. We are desperate not to have this unwanted child. There is no chance of marriage, only an unwanted child. And I believe she might keep the baby if she ever has it, ruining her ability to finish school and creating a most unfortunate situation for both of them. Paula and I are putting ourselves through school. The drive down to Santa Barbara and back cost us 75 dollars and we still are nowhere. We’ve borrowed money from friends and relatives and can pay not too much. Could you please help us?”