November 12, 1971 Ms. Nell Bly, President KU Commission on the Status of Women 220 Strong Hall Lawrence, Kansas 66044 Dear Ms. Bly: This will acknowledge and thank you for your letter of October 28 and the enclosed information sheet on the Equal Rights Amendment. The clipping from the University Daily Kansan was not received. Would you please share this response with Karen Keesling who also signed the letter. H.J. Res. 208, which was passed by the House on October 12, is currently pending before the Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Similar legislation, S.J. Res. 150, was introduced by Senator Bayh on August 6, 1971 and was placed on the calendar on September 8. Other similar legislation, S.J. Res. 8 and 9, is also pending before the Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments of the Senate Judiciary Committee. As you perhaps also know, the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Mansfield, has indicated no action by the Senate should be anticipated on this legislation during this Congress. The Constitutional Amendments Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee plans to meet in Executive Session on November 15 to consider H.J. Res. 208, S.J. Res. 8 and S.J. Res. 9. Although it is rather unlikely that S.J. Res. 150 will receive consideration before February 1, 1972, hopefully some action may be taken on the other similar bills before that time. In any event, I will keep your views in mind when this important legislation comes before the Senate for action. Thank you again for writing, and if I may be of assistance in any way, please let me know. Sincerely yours, BOB DOLE United States Senate BD;mrk Commission on the Status of Women 220 Strong Hall Lawrence, Kansas 66044 October 28, 1971 The Honorable Robert Dole United States Senate Washington, D. C. 20510 Dear Senator Dole; The Commission on the Status of Women at the University of Kansas has made information about the Equal Rights Amendment readily available to KU students asking them to write their senators in support of the bill. Response has been favorable. We are enclosing a clipping from the University Daily Kansan and also a copy of the information we are handing out. We urge you to support the ERA as passed by the House on October 12. The time has come to end discrimination on the basis of sex, so please initiate action to bring this bill before the Senate. Sincerely, (signature) Nell Bly President of the KU Commission on the Status of Women (signature) Karen Keesling Advisor Enclosures EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT The Equal Rights Amendment states: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." On October 12, 1971 the House of Representatives passed the Equal Rights Amendment, H.J. Res. 208, without the Wiggins Amendment by a vote of 354-23. This is the second year the amendment has been passed overwhelmingly by the House. Last year the Senate considered the Equal Rights Amendment. First, an amendment was attached by Senator Sam Ervin (D - N.C.) to exempt women from the draft. The second amendment attached by Senator Baker of Tennessee was the famous "Prayer Amendment" which has nothing to do with equal rights. The "Prayer Amendment" says essentially that prayer should be allowed in the public schools. In the closing moments of the Senate session last year Senator Birch Bayh introduced a substitute amendment which read: "Neither the United States nor any State shall, on account of sex, deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." This was unacceptable to women's organizations because it didn't include the "due process" and "privileges and immunities" clauses of the 14th Amendment. Therefore, it was withdrawn by Senator Bayh. It is now up to us to urge our Senators to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in the same form it was passed by the House. Any other form would be unacceptable to us. August 26, 1920, women gained the right to vote which is the only constitutional right that women possess today. Let's go all the way this year and gain equal rights for all human beings. After all, 49 years is a long time to wait. So send a card to both of your Senators urging them to vote for S.J. Res. 150 without amendment. PREPARED BY THE KU COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN Mrs. Clarence Wheeler Rt. 1, Box 69 Hugoton, Kansas 67951 Senator Robert Dole New Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Dole, This letter is concerning the equal rights for women, which I see by the paper has been passed by the House. I'm sure you must realize that the women who are working so hard for this movement, constitute only a very small segment of the women in the United States. Many, many women in our nation appreciate the respect and courtesy that have been given them, and are strongly opposed to this equal rights movement. Surely the breakdown of the home is one of the worst calamities that has befallen our nation. The most important job a woman can have is to make a good home for her husband and children, for out of the home come the citizens of tomorrow. So I urge you to please use your influence and vote against the equal rights for women movement. Thank you for taking time to read this letter. May God bless you in the important work you are doing. Respectfully, (Mrs.) Ruth Wheeler (Equal Rights Letter)