two, four, six, eight thousands of women gathered in houston today as a symbolic torch marked the beginning of a national women s conference. with the e.r.a. losing momentum, people were trying to figure out what to do, and this was going to be an attempt to sort of push things forward. between now and adjournment on monday, this conference will consider 26 resolutions asking the president and government to do something about the problems of homemakers, mothers and their children, older women, working women, and about the victims of rape, abuse, and discrimination. e.r.a.! support has been given by former first ladies ford and johnson and first lady rosalyn carter. it is hoped that this display of united appeal will add momentum to passage of the amendment in the remaining three states that are needed. across town, there was an even bigger gathering. about 11,000 men and women who oppose the beliefs of most of the delegates to the women s
thousands of residents without power. we ll update this story throughout the night. now back to this happened. in houston there is a huge meeting of women. two meetings actually. the first national women s conference paid for by the federal government to make recommendations to the congress and the president about making men and women equal. the women s movement has become an indestructible part of american life. and across town another meeting of people who don t like what s going on in the first meeting. there are many differences between this meeting and the one in that other hall today. for three day, phyllis schlafly s conservative army and 15,000 feminists brought their battle to houston. it seemed that we were well on our way. and that is the feeling i had. in houston. feminists had such an
day. i further urge all our people to dedicate themselves to the goal of achieving equal rights for women under the law. support from washington went beyond a simple proclamation. 5 million dollars in federal funds were allocated for a national women s conference to be held that your in houston. women were a arriving from every state and territory in the nation. tomorrow the 1400 delegates to the convention begin wrangling with issues dividing women and men all across the country. those issues are abortion, homosexuality and the equal rights amendment. this is the cause that we will make women and men equal in the greatness of america. thank you very much. not to be outdone. schlafly organized a counterconference on the same day, in the same city, just a
essential differences between man and woman. i hope god keeps it that way. i think when you study the e.r.a. and see what it really means to women, that the women don t want it, the men don t want it, and so, by public outcry, as you people are doing here today, we will beat e.r.a. two, four, six, eight thousands of women gathered in houston today as a symbolic torch marked the beginning of a national women s conference. with the e.r.a. losing momentum, people were trying to figure out what to do, and this was going to be an attempt to sort of push things forward. between now and adjournment on monday, this conference will consider 26 resolutions asking the president and government to do something about the problems of homemakers, mothers and their children, older women, working women, and about the victims of rape, abuse, and discrimination. e.r.a.! support has been given by former first ladies ford and