The Nation - News from Oct. 23, 1988

Few issues in recent years have so sharply divided the American people, yet public opinion on abortion has remained virtually unchanged since the Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 decision upholding that right, the Gallup Poll found. A 57% majority now favors legal abortions only under certain circumstances, while 24% back unlimited access, and 17% an outright ban. In 1975, 54% approved of abortions under certain conditions, 21% thought they should be legal under any circumstances and 22% would make them illegal in all circumstances. The poll results were based on telephone interviews with 1,001 adults conducted from Sept. 25 through Oct. 1. The margin of error is 4 percentage points in either direction.