1/7/80 [3] Folder Citation: Collection: Office of Staff Secretary; Series: Presidential Files; Folder: 1/7/80 [3]; Container 145 To See Complete Finding Aid: http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/library/findingaids/Staff_Secretary.pdf THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON FOR THE RECORD: OUT ON 1/8/80 .· . · · 1� TRANS�� TTAL l �· ... --�- u -� .,--'---- ). �- The President's Advisory Committee for Women 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20210 Room N-3437 (202) 523-6707 December 18, 1979 HONORARY CHAIR: Judy Carter CHAIR: Dear Mr. Pres i dent: Lynda Johnson Robb CHA R Y1�E I S: Your Adv i sory Comm i ttee is pleased to transm it to you a a e e ii Cham bers comprehens ive report on ratificat io. n of the Equal Rights M ql�n B . E 1za bet h K oon tz Amendment, wh1ch. you requested when we met w1th you on October 23. We were impressed at that meeting with your MEMBERS: comm i tment to play a sign ificant role in ga ining the amend­ ment's passage in the three necessary states, and th is OwanahAnderson report will outl ine those steps we feel are imperat ive to Un ita Blackwell Bombeck aSSUre that g 0 a 1 • Erma jack T. Conway Miriam I. Cruz T h e rep 0 rt wa s prepared i n c 0 n j u n c t i 0 n w i t h ERA mer i ca , a ade e e a a L ur H rr r coalition of more than 200 organ. izati ons from the Amer ican Donna E. deVarona . ' · GrettaDewald B ar Assoc1at1on to Zonta, that have been work1ng toward ERA Charles Guerrier r at i f i c at i on fo r t he p a s t se ve n y ea rs • T he i r i nv a 1 ua b 1 e NancyHumphries informat ion, added to what we learned dur ing our day of e alyn oh so J ff J n h ear i n g s at Bla ir House, can now prov ide you with an accurate n m �:a� �and deta i led assessment of what prospects and problems lie � in�: /� eeahead for ERA in the coming months. Mary Helen Madden Billie Nave Masters As y 0 u know t h 0 us ands 0 f i nd i vi du a 1 s and 0 r g ani zat i 0 ns have Al �� ��:n�����= been mobili �ed in this great effort since 1972, and since the EstelleRamevextens ion of the ratificat ion deadl ine, they are involv ing Anns.Ramsavthemsel ves with renewed energy and commitment. Among recent nn Richar s � � i n i t i a t i v es were a meet i n g, u n d er S a r a h We d d i n g to n ' s au sp i c e s, . R1chard Ross1e f a group of 1 ead 1· ng a d ver t 1· s 1· ng execu t1 · ves to d 1' scuss new Jill L.Schroppo TinMyaingTheinways of 11Sell i ng11 ERA; the organ izing of a new group of bus i ness leaders into 11Men for ERA11; and a recent spec ial out­ reach effort on the part of your Advisory Commi ttee to seek more active support within minority women's organ izat i ons. (A deta i led compend ium of organ izat i onal efforts is included in this report). In short, new const ituenc ies are bei ng sought out, while at the same time, ex isting ones are intens ifying their efforts. Th is report outl ines the significant role you and the members of your official fami ly must play if we are, together, to succeed in the difficult task that is before us. The influence that you, the members of your Cabi net, and your Whi te House staff can have is immeasurable, and your participation in these efforts cannot be underest imated. The report is divided into several sect ions which def ine the overall steps that you, your staff and members of your The President Page 2 administration can take to re-inforce your commitment to ratification both nationally and in individual unratified states. Also, included are detailed background materials on the history of ratification efforts; how specific organizations are parti­ cipating in these efforts; a state-by-state voting record on the amendment by each state's Members of Congress and State Legislators; an analysis of the opposition to the amendment; and several other pieces of background information and analysis. We are hopeful that you will, as we do, consider this the beginning of an on-going exchange of information with you and the members of your staff. The next few months are critical, both for evaluating ratification prospects in this legislative session and laying the groundwork for those states that will not vote until 1981. It is important that both you and your Advisory Committee have a mechanism through which we can share information on a day-to-day basis, if needed. We are grateful that you have given us your support on the Equal Rights Amendment, which strikes at the very heart of our Constitution's ·goal to assure equality for all American's. We look forward to a close and productive working relationship on ERA in the days ahead. Sincerely, �Q. � Lynda Johnson Robb Chair ���-�---- I OVERVIEW _L __ �"--'-'- ····-�A�-J__ _;_---' OON.FIDBNq:'IAL ERA REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ·-----·-·· December 18, 1979 I. ERA: THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN .· j· .A. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL THE PRES!DENT OF T�. UN.ITED TO · . · STATES FROM THE PRESIDENT'S .ADVISORY COMMITTtt·.,A>·) ' .. FOR WOMEN •.. B. ERA RATIFICATION: .AN OVERVIEW II. SUGGESTED .ADMINISTRATION .ACTION ON ER.A The information in this section is CONFIDENTIAL to the President of the United States. It has been prepared by ERAmerica• .A. INTRODUCTION ·';: . .? �· . l. .. ' . -�·.·_:;-�:_y ., THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT .AND HIS OFFICIAL FAMILY ·;, B. ! . '!' :· ' . :'.' ..:. -�--� J:.. : . •' · ·. ....; � L ..\: c. THE PRESIDENT .AS HEAD OF THE:"PARTY D. KEY STATES ... FLORIDA --Political .Analysis --ER.A Status/ Political Data · · .�. --ERA Legi�lative Pro:fi�e .. 1._, (Members ···of Congress/ State Delegation) . .. .•. GEORGIA � . liticcU aly . --Po ··A si"s,,. ,. ... 1 .. --ERA statQS./'pol�tic·a� �D'ata ; .._ --ER.A Legi.s fat�ve �+of i. te r,,. \ ,. ,, . (Members {:H�. c(?ngies�/.. sta.te 'nei�g atio�) . :.· : . ILLINOIS "'\' .. --Political 'J\n� �ysis .,i .. ,, --ERA status/. -��fiti._CJa;i.._-;pa·ta --ERA Legislative Pro'fll:�. '"'" �. (Members of Congress/ Sta 't'e Delegation} rrtN.l�-�1�-:n "n�:?:7�-:�� :;::."J ��.�;:: t�n r.. :.;t1;7.:ts�r:.JiVE Electrootatlc Copy Madlll!J �� u�:Ji:�rr��:::2c �: :�-��:.j:2;HlSJ" �:.� forfreservatlon !Jllu� MISSOURI -�Political Analysis --ERA Status/ Political Data --ERA Legislative Profile (Members of Congress/ State Delegation) NORTH CAROLINA --Political Analysis --ERA Status/ Political Data �-ERA Legislative Profile (Members of Congress/ State Delegation) OKLAHOMA --Political Analysis --ERA Status/ Political Data --ERA Legislative Profile E. NON-KEY STATES' ERA STATUS AND POLITICAL DATA ALABAMA ARIZONA ARKANSAS LOUISIANA MISSISSIPPI NEVADA UTAH VIRGINIA -----------�--------------------------------------------- III. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION A. ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT B. ORGANIZED OPPOSITION C. POLLING DATA ' D. RESCISSION E. BOYCOTT ( ii) �NFIDElN':E':EAf. F. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF CURRENT PUBLICATIONS ON ERA G. GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON ERA :· .. --ERA Background and History --Status of ERA Ratification ·' (Summary of all unratified States) --Constitutional Requirements for Passage in Unratified States --Editorial Stands on ERA in Major Newspapers in Unratified States (iii) ··� I I I I '(: ERA RATIFICATION: AN OVERVIEW More than 200 organizations and millions of individuals • are utilizing the following ratification strategy: 1) To elect pro-ERA legislators 2) To lobby legislators and educate the public 3) To keep ERA visible 1. Electing Pro�ERA-Legislators Pro-ERA forces are now targeting and assessing candi­ dates. At a later stage, these forces will prioritize races and allocate resources to elect: a. pro-ERA incumbents seeking reelection b. pro-ERA candidates running in open seats c. pro-ERA candidates challenging vulnerable anti-ERA incumbents Impact: Pro-ERA forces will gain recognition as politically pragmatic activists who deliver both technical and financial assistance to pro-ERA candidates. Political ties will then be strengthened among ERA proponents, legislative leader­ ship, and powerb rokers. Political information is readily available from: --ERAmerica (202/833-4354) --National Women's Political Caucus (202/347-4456) • --National Organization for Women (202/345-2279) 2. Lobbying Objective: To merge all lobbying into a cohesive effort ranging from individuals to national support groups. Lobbying efforts should include: Constituents, legis­ lative allies, and major national leaders providing direct lobbying contact. a. Constituents: Thousands of ERA supporters must be organized into a potent lobbying force with limited financial resources. This job has fallen primarily to various national organizations and their state affiliates. Short-term projects with specific tasks and goals have been the most effective constituent lobbying technique. Those activities have varied from state to state and from legislative session to legislative session and have included: 1. phone banks 2. visits by individuals and groups to legislators both "pro" and "con" ERA Overview December 18, 1979 • Page 2 3. letter writing campaigns 4. speakers bureaus 5. special event programming b. Legislative Lobbying: Within the various legis­ latures, there are individuals who can exert the necessary influence to accomplish the three ratification strategy goals by: 1. holding "pro" votes on both issue and rule votes 2. persuading uncommitted or soft "nos" to vote with "pro" forces 3. neutralizing negative parliamentary maneuvers used by "antis" Important potential allies are: presiding officers of the Senate and House majority and minority party leaders key committee chairs lobbyists other elected state and local officials c.