The Need for Family Planning

Anthony Prisendorf of the New York Post hosts this episode of Campus Press Conference, which goes into modern family planning. The experts in this episode are Alfred F. Moran, Executive Director of Planed Parenthood NYC, and Dr. H. Curtis Wood, medical consultant to Association for Voluntary Sterilization. The college journalists include Jack Smith of the Pace Press, Tom Ackerman, editor of City College's "Campus," and Stuart Zipper, ex-editor of the Queens College Phoenix.

A WNYC announcer introduces Anthony Prisendorf, the shows host. Prisendorf introduces the program, the guests, and the student journalists.
Alfred Moran represents Planned Parenthood NYC, newly merged out of 3 other Planned Parenthood organizations.
Dr. H. Curtis Wood of Association for Voluntary Sterilization, tells us that the two organizations have the same goals, though surgery is far more controversial.
Connecticut and Utah block surgeries outside of extreme circumstances, other states do not require medical requirements.

Moran emphasizes family planning by choice, Families have many more options available today.

Moran is asked about the Catholic Church's criticisms of what it saw as a coercive effort from the government. Moran does not see coercion.
He is asked if the government has been too timid. Only since President Johnson has the government moved more aggressively. He feels they will continue to do so.
Wood adds that there cannot be coercion the Catholics speak of, emphasizing a woman's choice, at least as he sees it, without a policeman in every bedroom.

Under current state regulations welfare workers are not allowed to distribute information about family planning with the client asking for it. Moran returns to the Catholic bishops statement. He feels they are behind the planned parenthood concept, though not its practice.

Wood is asked if there are psychological effects. Wood admits that there would be people who might have jumped in. There are no physical or psychological effects, per se, however. He goes into the fragility of male egos, but feels the effects are exaggerated.
He discusses "reversibility." It is not meant to be reversible

Wood is asked if poor people undertake the procedure. He feels they should, but do not currently. He talks about how this occurs in Washington DC.

Prisendorf breaks into provide station ID.

Moran is asked about why Planned Parenthood has not embraced sterilization. He claims that they have not not embraced, but rather that there are many methods.
Wood tells us that his organization receives referrals from Planned Parenthood. He stresses their independence.

They are asked about stumbling blocks.
Moran claims it is the lack of facilities in particular areas, particularly poor ones. He also feels the values of family planning are not widely disseminated, nor is information.
Moran is asked about their work among teens.

Wood is asked about the possibility of genetic screening and government involvement.
Wood stresses the individual choice involved and feels that government control is a non-starter. He feels that economics and social considerations are important and should be considered. The least prepared to be parents are the people who are having children. He talks about state control of the population in which families are allotted a limited number of children. He goes into the massive increases in population to come.
Moran is also concerned with population growth, particularly in lower-income areas and countries. He stresses that a child needs to be wanted and have a decent economic chance. He mentions blighted areas of New York City and the lack of strong family structures, and the difficulties in rising up economically as a result.

They are asked about use of IUDs in India and the world. Moran mentions the pill was not initially effective. He sees more government research forthcoming. The pill will be improved upon. He again stresses the importance of choice.

Prisendorf closes out the broadcast.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 150593
Municipal archives id: T1578