>> BONNIE: ABORTION IS A RIGHT WE EARN THAT WOMEN FOUGHT FOR AND CERTAINLY THE ROE VS. WADE DECISION GAVE TO WOMEN BUT IT'S INCREASINGLY A RIGHT ONLY ON PAPER.

>> BONNIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY.

I'M BONNIE ERBE.

THIS WEEK WE CONTINUE OUR WOMEN THOUGHT LEADER SERIES WITH CECILE RICHARDS THE PRO-CHOICE ACTIVIST AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

IN HER MEMOIR MAKE TROUBLE, RICHARDS TALKS ABOUT STANDING UP, SPEAKING OUT AND FINDING THE COURAGE TO LEAD.

WELCOME, MS. RICHARDS.

VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU HERE.

>> CECILE RICHARDS: THANK YOU, BONNIE.

IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> BONNIE: SO, PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS BEHIND YOU.

>> CECILE RICHARDS: IT IS, ALTHOUGH, IT WILL ALWAYS BE SUCH A BIG PART OF MY LIFE.

I THINK LIKE A LOT OF WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY I, I WAS A PLANNED PARENTHOOD PATIENT WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE AND A SUPPORTER AND THEN IT WAS REALLY THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME TO GET TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT FOR 12 YEARS.

IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT I THINK ONCE YOU'VE BEEN PART OF IT IT NEVER LEAVES YOU.

>> BONNIE: TELL ME HOW YOU STARTED OUT WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO QUOTE, UNQUOTE BE WHEN YOU GREW UP.

>> CECILE RICHARDS: WELL, I GREW UP IN TEXAS WHERE I THINK WE PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE BIG ASPIRATIONS FOR WOMEN AT THE TIME, BUT I WAS REALLY.

>> BONNIE: BUT YOU MOTHER, WAIT A SECOND.

YOU MOTHER WAS GOVERNOR.

>> CECILE RICHARDS: WELL, BUT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP SHE WAS A HOUSEWIFE AS WE CALLED IN THE DAY AND IT WASN'T UNTIL MUCH LATER REALLY AFTER WE WERE GROWN THAT SHE GOT INVOLVED IN POLITICS AND THAT WAS A BIG, I MEAN IT WAS REALLY WHEN THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT STARTED AND SHE REALIZED SHE COULD DO MORE THAN MAKE THEM HAVE THE PERFECT DINNER PARTY AS SHE WOULD SAY.

AND SHE RAN FOR OFFICE, BUT NOT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, ANYONE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY YOU KNOW, URGED HER TO DO THAT, I THINK SHE JUST LOOKED AROUND AND REALIZED THAT SHE COULD PROBABLY DO A BETTER JOB THAN THE GUYS AND THEY WERE MEN WHO WERE IN OFFICE AND THAT'S REALLY, ONCE SHE STARTED, OF COURSE THEN SHE KEPT RUNNING AND EVENTUALLY BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED IN HER OWN RIGHT GOVERNOR OF TEXAS.

BUT THAT WASN'T HOW IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.

>> BONNIE: SO WHAT, YOU WENT TO COLLEGE THOUGH, WHAT DID YOU STUDY?

>> CECILE RICHARDS: SO AGAIN I SPENT, I GREW UP IN TEXAS, BARELY HAD EVER BEEN OUT OF TEXAS, BUT I HAD READ ABOUT WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT THIS COLLEGE BACK EAST WHERE SOME KIDS HAD TAKEN OVER THE UNIVERSITY BUILDING BECAUSE THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT STUDENT AID AND DEFINITELY CONCERNED ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS ON CAMPUS AND THEIR OPPORTUNITIES AND I THOUGHT IT SOUNDED GREAT, SO I APPLIED AND GOT IN AND MY MOM AND I GOT IN A STATION WAGON AND DROVE TO PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

SIGHT UNSEEN.

SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE TEXAS AND GO TO SCHOOL AT BROWN AND IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

BUT AGAIN, IN THOSE DAYS, THE THOUGHT OF GOING AWAY, LEAVING TEXAS TO GO TO SCHOOL WAS PRETTY UNUSUAL.

>> BONNIE: INTERESTING, AND WHAT WAS YOUR MAJOR?

>> CECILE RICHARDS: WELL, I MAJORED IN HISTORY AS I LIKE TO SAY AND I MINORED IN ACTIVISM.

SO I WAS PRETTY MUCH INVOLVED IN EVERY, EVERY POLITICAL ISSUE THAT CAME THROUGH AT THE TIME ACTUALLY, IT'S INTERESTING, I TRY TO TELL THIS TO YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT WHY SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO MAKE CHANGE, BUT AT THE TIME THE BIG ISSUE ON CAMPUS WAS GETTING THE UNIVERSITIES TO DIVEST FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND THE A PARTI GOVERNMENT AND OF COURSE THE UNIVERSITIES SAID THIS IS CRAZY.

YOU COLLEGE KIDS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

ACTUALLY, EVENTUALLY, BROWN WAS ONE OF THE FIRST UNIVERSITIES THAT DIVESTED AND THEN OF COURSE, MANY OTHERS DID.

AND AS WE KNOW NOW, THAT WAS ACTUALLY PART OF THE WHOLE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN THAT DID CHANGE THE GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA AND SUPPORTED THE MOVEMENT TOWARDS FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, BUT IT TOOK A LONG TIME.

I WAS FUNNY, A FEW YEARS AGO I WENT BACK FOR GRADUATION AND BROWN WAS GIVING NELSON MANDELA AND HONORARY DEGREE, AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LONG MARCH OF HISTORY SOMETIMES BUT, I THINK THINGS CHANGE BECAUSE YOUNG PEOPLE OR PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT YOU KNOW.

TAKE CHARGE AND MAKE CHANGE.

>> BONNIE: SO AND HOW DID YOU END UP AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD?

YOU SAID YOU MADE USE OF THEIR SERVICES.

>> CECILE RICHARDS: WELL, I'VE DONE A LOT OF THINGS AND OF COURSE I'VE YOU KNOW I'VE HAD THREE KIDS, WE WENT HELP MOM GET ELECTED GOVERNOR LIKE A LOT OF WOMEN I JUST TOOK WHATEVER THE NEXT JOB WAS THAT NEEDED DOING.

AND THEN WHEN THEY CALLED ME THE SEARCH FIRM CALLED AND SAID THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A NEW PRESIDENT PLANNED PARENTHOOD, I HAD THE SAME REACTION THAT I THINK A LOT OF WOMEN HAVE WHEN THEY'RE OFFERED A NEW OPPORTUNITY WHICH WAS I CAN'T DO THAT I HAVE I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE AND I WRITE IN MY BOOK THAT I ALMOST DIDN'T GO TO THE INTERVIEW BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS IS THIS IS CRAZY.

I REMEMBER SO DISTINCTLY I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE INTERVIEW AND I RUSHED INTO A COFFEE SHOP BECAUSE I THOUGHT I CAN'T DO THIS AND I DID WHAT ANY GROWN WOMAN WOULD DO I CALL MY MOTHER I SAID I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND MOM SAID "GET OVER IT CECILE, YOU HAVE GOT TO TRY THIS.

THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION."

AND SHE SAID "YOU'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOURSELF IF YOU DON'T TRY YOU'LL ALWAYS WONDER.

AND SO AND ANN RICHARDS GAVE ME GREAT SHE GAVE ME GREAT ADVICE ALL THE TIME AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE TOO AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL.

IT WAS BECAUSE OF HER THAT I WENT TO THE INTERVIEW, THAT I GOT THE JOB AND IT IT CHANGED MY LIFE.

IT'S AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES HEALTHCARE TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR AND MANY OF WHOM OTHERWISE PROBABLY WOULDN'T GET HEALTHCARE.

>> BONNIE: BUT AS MOST NONPROFITS, RUNNING MOST NONPROFITS, WASN'T A LOT OF YOUR JOB FUNDRAISING?

>> CECILE RICHARDS: A LOT OF IT'S FUNDRAISING, LIKE ANYTHING THAT'S A CAUSE.

BUT, IT WAS ALSO MAKING THE DECISIONS ON HOW TO INVEST AND WHAT TO INVEST IN AND I'M REALLY PROUD THAT WE DECIDED TO INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE.

MAKING SURE THAT THEY COULD GET ACCESS TO SEX EDUCATION, TO HEALTHCARE, KIND OF GET THEM ON THE PATH OF YOU KNOW TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES AND I THINK YOU KNOW PLANNED PARENTHOOD PLAYED A ROLE IN THE FACT THAT WE NOW HAVE THE LOWEST TEENAGE PREGNANCY RATE IN THE COUNTRY IN HISTORY.

AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT I FEEL LIKE GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FINISH SCHOOL PURSUE A CAREER IF THEY WANT WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO IS, IS IMPORTANT.

AND THE OTHER THING WE DID IS I RAISED MONEY ALONG WITH MY ALL MY TEAM TO INVEST IN THE SOUTH.

ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE AND HEALTHCARE IN GENERAL IS SO UNEVEN IN AMERICA.

I FELT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU WALKED INTO A HEALTH CENTER IN HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI, IT WOULD BE THE SAME AS IF YOU WALKED INTO A HEALTH CENTER IN SAN FRANCISCO.

AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT OPENED CENTERS IN LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA, TEXAS, FLORIDA, PLACES WHERE I THINK YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY FOLKS JUST ARE GO UNDERSERVED.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, A LOT OF IT'S RAISING MONEY AND, AND I THINK FOR US IT WAS ALSO ABOUT GAINING NEW SUPPORTERS WHICH WE DID.

>> BONNIE: OBVIOUSLY THE POLITICAL CLIMATE HAS CHANGED SO COMPLETELY AROUND ABORTION RIGHTS WITH THE ROE V. WADE DECISION IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES AND, AND AT THAT POINT WITHOUT ANY LIMITATIONS, WOMEN COULD DO, YOU KNOW, WOMEN WERE IN CHARGE OF THEIR BODIES THROUGH CERTAINLY THE FIRST TRIMESTER AND MUCH OF THE SECOND, AND NOW WE'VE SEEN ALL THESE STATES PASSING LAWS MORE RECENTLY LIKE THE FETAL HEARTBEAT AND MAKING WOMEN, POOR WOMEN WHO THEY KNOW CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT 72 HOURS AFTER AN APPOINTMENT TO ACTUALLY HAVE YOUR ABORTION BLAH BLAH BLAH.

HOW HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THAT AND DO YOU THINK YOU'VE DONE ANYTHING TO TURN IT BACK AROUND, WILL THE PENDULUM SWING THE OTHER WAY?

>> CECILE RICHARDS: YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT BONNIE, THE RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE BEING PASSED IN STATE AFTER STATE, INCLUDING MY HOME STATE OF TEXAS ARE REALLY REGULATIONS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WOMEN'S HEALTH.

THEY ARE ALL ABOUT TRYING TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTION AND AS YOU ALSO POINTED OUT IT FALLS HARDEST ON WOMEN WITH LOW INCOMES, WOMEN WHO LIVE IN RURAL AREAS AND OF COURSE WE HAD A BIG SUPREME COURT CASE THAT CAME OUT OF TEXAS WHICH ESSENTIALLY WOULD HAVE MEANT THE CLOSURE OF DOZENS AND DOZENS OF HEALTH CENTERS, FORTUNATELY WE WON THAT.

I OF COURSE, AND MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT NOW WITH A CHANGE IN THE SUPREME COURT, WHAT IT WILL MEAN BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY CASES THAT ARE COMING UP THROUGH THE FEDERAL SYSTEM THAT WILL GO TO THE SUPREME COURT EVENTUALLY.

A I THINK IT'S REALLY WRONG, I FEEL LIKE ABORTION IS A RIGHT THAT WE EARNED, YOU KNOW, THAT WOMEN FOUGHT FOR AND THAT CERTAINLY ROE V. WADE DECISION GAVE TO WOMEN.

BUT IT'S INCREASINGLY IT'S A RIGHT ONLY ON PAPER DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR ZIP CODE IS AND DEPENDING ON YOUR INCOME LEVEL AND I THINK THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S WRONG.

I KNOW THAT IRONICALLY, PERHAPS SUPPORT FOR ROE VERSUS WADE AND ACCESS TO SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTION IS AS STRONG AS IT'S EVER BEEN.

IT'S ACTUALLY THE HIGHEST THAT IT'S EVER BEEN AND I THINK THAT'S PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE THREAT THAT'S POSED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION, BUT I CAN'T HELP BUT ADDING THAT SOME PEOPLE THINK THIS WHOLE FIGHT IS ABOUT ABORTION RIGHTS AND IT'S ACTUALLY NOT IT'S ABOUT ALL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS GETTING BIRTH CONTROL FOR ALL WOMEN UNDER THEIR INSURANCE PLANS AT NO COST.

THIS WAS REVOLUTIONARY AND YET THIS ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO REVERSE THAT, TRYING TO MAKE YOUR BOSS IN CHARGE OF WHETHER YOU GET BIRTH CONTROL OR NOT AND ALSO TRYING TO DISMANTLE THE SEX EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THIS COUNTRY.

SO UNFORTUNATELY IT'S, ABORTION IS THE TOPIC THAT GETS TALKED ABOUT BUT UNDERNEATH ALL THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE TO SIMPLY ERODE BASIC ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE.

>> BONNIE: YOU SAY IT'S ABOUT MORE CLEARLY I MEAN, THE FEELING I THINK IN THE PRO-CHOICE COMMUNITY WAS ALWAYS THAT IF THEY WERE ABLE TO GET, THEY BEING THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT WHO IS REALLY PUSHING THIS WAR ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS, THAT IF THEY COULD GET RID OF ABORTION THE NEXT THING WOULD BE BIRTH CONTROL AND THAT'S HAPPENING.

BUT ISN'T IT REALLY A WAR OVER RELIGION AND PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN TYPE OF A CERTAIN RELIGION TRYING TO FORCE THEIR VIEW OF THE BIBLE DOWN OTHER WOMEN'S THROATS WHO MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE RELIGIOUS OR AGREE WITH WHAT THEY THINK THEIR RELIGION IS TELLING THEM TO DO ON THIS TOPIC?

>> CECILE RICHARDS: WELL I WOULD CERTAINLY AGREE THAT THIS IS NOT A RELIGIOUS VIEW THAT'S HELD BY PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS ABSOLUTELY.

IN FACT, ONE OF THE IMPORTANT PIECES OF WORK WE DO AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS WORK WITH CLERGY AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND EVERY COMMUNITY BECAUSE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY WORKING FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND HEALTH IS A MATTER OF FAITH.

I DO BELIEVE THERE ARE GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO FOR A WHOLE HOST OF REASONS WANT TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

UNFORTUNATELY WHAT'S HAPPENED BONNIE I THINK THIS IS WHERE IT'S GOTTEN SO CHALLENGING, IS THAT THERE'S A VERY SMALL GROUP IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT HAVE TAKEN OVER ESSENTIALLY THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PARTY AND THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE PARTY IN A RIGHTWARD DIRECTION EVEN THOUGH REPUBLICAN WOMEN NEED ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE INCLUDING ACCESS TO SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTION, THEY SUPPORT THESE RIGHTS AS WELL BUT I FEEL LIKE NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING AND I KNOW THIS IS THE FRUSTRATION IN THE COUNTRY, IS THAT WE HAVE THIS CONGRESS THAT IS SORT OF LIKE THAT IS SO POLARIZED THAT THERE ISN'T ANY ROOM FOR CONVERSATION.

AND I CERTAINLY HAVE FOUND THAT AND I DID IN MY YEARS AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

I DO THINK IT'S A SMALL MINORITY THAT IS HOLDING CAPTIVE IN THIS CASE AN ENTIRE POLITICAL PARTY AND IN SOME IN SOME AREAS REALLY THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND STATE LEGISLATURES.

IT'S SORT OF WHY I -- >> BONNIE: BUT YOU DON'T SEE IT AS A RELIGIOUS WAR?

>> CECILE: I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST RELIGION I THINK IT'S POLITICAL AND I THINK SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY JUST DON'T THINK THAT WOMEN SHOULD HAVE RIGHTS.

I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO PINE FOR THE DAYS WHEN LIKE WHEN MY MOTHER WAS BRINGING US UP THAT WOMEN BASICALLY DIDN'T HAVE OTHER OPTIONS ONCE THEY ONCE WOMEN COULD CONTROL WHEN AND WHETHER THEY HAD KIDS.

THEY COULD DECIDE TO FINISH SCHOOL, THEY COULD DECIDE TO BECOME A LAWYER, THEY COULD DECIDE TO TRAVEL OR THEY COULD DECIDE TO HAVE THE NUMBER CHILDREN THEY WANTED, THAT REALLY DID CHANGE EVERYTHING FOR WOMEN.

IT'S WHY WE'RE NOW HALF THE COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THIS COUNTRY.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE MOTIVATED BY THE FACT THAT IT WORKED BETTER FOR THEM WHEN WOMEN TOOK CARE OF THE KIDS, STAYED AT HOME, SUPPORTED THEIR HUSBAND AND FOR SOME FAMILIES THAT'S GREAT BUT I THINK THE REAL CHANGE IS THAT WOMEN ARE NOW THE MAJORITY OF A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS COUNTRY AND FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT'S UPSETTING.

AND UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE IN ELECTED OFFICE.

>> BONNIE: HOW HAS TECHNOLOGY IMPACTED THE ABORTION DEBATE?

>> CECILE RICHARDS: WELL IT'S INTERESTING, YOU KNOW WE AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD, WE PROVIDE HEALTHCARE TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, WE'RE A BIG ADVOCATE AND WORK FOR THINGS LIKE THE BIRTH CONTROL BENEFIT, AND WE ALSO ALWAYS WORK TO BE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF ALL REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND SO I DO THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S CHANGED IS NOW OF COURSE THE ABORTION PILL WHICH IS SOMETHING, IT'S A MEDICAL FORM OF ABORTION RATHER THAN SURGICAL THAT'S EARLY IN PREGNANCY, VERY VERY SAFE, STARTED IN EUROPE AND IT WAS REALLY PLANNED PARENTHOOD HEALTH CENTERS THAT INTRODUCED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I THINK IT'S MADE ABORTION ACCESSIBLE FOR WOMEN IN A NEW WAY AND I THINK THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.

I'M ALSO THOUGH, PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE USE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP ON THE BIRTH CONTROL SIDE.

IN FACT ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS MOST EXCITED ABOUT AS I LEFT PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS WE JUST DID THE FDA TRIALS ABOUT A SELF, WITH A SELF INJECTABLE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT AND YOU CAN TEACH WOMEN HOW TO DO IT THEMSELVES AND THEY CAN GO TO A PLANNED PARENTHOOD GET A YEARS WORTH OF BIRTH CONTROL AND TAKE IT HOME AND WE FOUND THE EFFICACY RATE IS SO MUCH HIGHER.

AND THAT TO ME IS THE IRONY OF ALL THESE POLITICAL BATTLES IS WE'RE GETTING SO MUCH BETTER AT PREVENTING UNINTENDED PREGNANCY AND THE NEED FOR ABORTION, YET THAT'S THE TERRAIN ON WHICH PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON WANT TO FIGHT.

WHY DON'T WE JUST ALL GET TOGETHER AND MAKE BIRTH CONTROL MORE ACCESSIBLE, MORE AVAILABLE AND THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF ISSUES FOR WOMEN IN AMERICA, BUT INSTEAD I THINK THEY'D RATHER HAVE A POLITICAL FIGHT.

>> BONNIE: AND CONTROL, THAT'S RIGHT.

OVER WOMEN.

WAS >> CECILE: I MEAN IT'S, I WAS JUST SPEAKING TO A BUNCH OF WOMEN LAWYERS.

WOMEN ARE NOW IN A LOT OF CLASSES AT LEAST EQUAL OR AT THE MAJORITY OF LAW STUDENTS IN THIS COUNTRY.

THE LATEST CLASS OF NASA ASTRONAUTS TO GRADUATE WAS HALF WOMEN.

IT'S JUST EXCITING THAT WOMEN AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT WE MAY GO THROUGH THIS PITCHED WOO BATTLE HERE POLITICALLY, BUT WOMEN AREN'T GOING BACKWARDS.

WOMEN HAVE NOW FELT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

AND I THINK ONE THING I HOPE BONNIE IS CHANGING IS I THINK MEN HAVE NOW SEEN WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE THEIR DAUGHTERS HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS THEIR SONS AND I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THINGS FOR WOMEN UNTIL EVERYONE GETS IN ON IT AND I REALLY BELIEVE MEN ARE GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT PROGRESSIVE FORCE IN THIS IS WELL.

>> BONNIE: WE TALKED ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND I WANTED TO GIVE YOU MY VIEW OF HOW TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPACTED, WHICH EVERYBODY HAS A SONOGRAM AS SOON AS THEIR PREGNANCY IS YOU KNOW, SIX WEEKS SO LONG.

>> CECILE RICHARDS: SURE.

82 REVUE >> BONNIE: AND I THINK THAT THE IMAGE OF THE FETUS TURNED A LOT OF WOMEN AGAINST ABORTION, BUT THEN AS YOU SAY THE FACT THAT MEDICAL ABORTIONS OR NON-MEDICAL ABORTIONS CAME ALONG, THAT KIND OF YOU KNOW HIT THE BALL BACK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION TOWARDS PRO-CHOICE.

POLITICALLY AND I MEAN WE HAVE SEEN SUPPORT FOR ABORTION RIGHTS WAX AND WANE.

I'M JUST SAYING I SEE TWO INFLUENCES, TWO TECHNOLOGICAL WOO INFLUENCES OVER TIME: FIRST THE SONOGRAM AND THEN THE MEDIC, THE ABORTION PILL.

>> CECILE RICHARDS: I GUESS I HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW IN THAT I, ONE IF YOU LOOK POLLING, SUPPORT FOR ABORTION RIGHTS.

AGAIN I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH, THE SUPPORT THAT PEOPLE FEEL THIS COUNTRY IS THAT IT'S REALLY SHOULD BE THE PREGNANT PERSON'S DECISION WHAT THEY DO ABOUT THEIR PREGNANCY AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND I THINK THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

I KNOW FOR MYSELF, I REMEMBER BEING PREGNANT WITH TWINS AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS JUST MORE INFORMATION THAN YOU, YOU KNOW, HAVE THAT I EVEN HAD IN MY FIRST PREGNANCY AND THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT AND I THINK WHAT I HEAR FROM WOMEN AND FAMILIES IS THAT WE'VE MADE THESE MEDICAL ADVANCES SO YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS GROWING FETUS AND THAT ALSO MAKES IT'S HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THEN THAT 82 CAN PEOPLE WHO ARE PREGNANT CAN MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THAT PREGNANCY.

I MEAN UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT I HEAR FROM SOME OF THE LAWS HAVE BEEN PASSED AND SOME STATES IS ESSENTIALLY, WELL WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL THIS INFORMATION AND YOU CAN MAKE NO DECISION ABOUT WHETHER TO CARRY THE PREGNANCY TO TERM AND THAT JUST SEEMS, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE.

I THINK ABORTION IS A VERY PERSONAL TOPIC AND I THINK THAT'S I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SOMEONE WHO'S PREGNANT MAKE THAT DECISION NOT A JUDGE OR A LAWMAKER IN WASHINGTON OR SOMEONE WHO HAS NO IDEA ABOUT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES OR THE LIFE THAT YOU LIVE.

>> BONNIE: THE ABORTION PILL AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THE LATEST GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE DATA I'VE SEEN, THERE'S STILL WAY MORE SURGICAL ABORTIONS THAN THERE ARE ABORTIONS BY PILL THE LAST TIME I SAW AND I COULD BE OUT OF DATE BY A COUPLE YEARS IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE 1.1 OR 2 REQUEST MILLION SURGICAL ABORTIONS PER YEAR VS SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND.

>> CECILE RICHARDS: YEAH I DON'T, I TOO, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS ON.

MEDICATION ABORTION IS DEFINITELY MORE, MORE RECENT AND SO, IN FACT THERE ARE A LOT OF OBGYNS OR PROVIDERS WHO ACTUALLY MAY NOT EVEN USE MEDICATION ABORTIONS, THEY'RE USE TO PROVIDING SURGICAL ABORTION.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS IMPORTANT, IS WERE ABLE TO INTRODUCE NEW OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS, WHETHER IT'S NEW BIRTH CONTROL OPTIONS OR REQUEST ANYTHING ELSE AND SO I AGAIN I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING AND WHAT WE BELIEVE AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS, WOMEN, YOU KNOW, TRUST WOMEN.

GIVE THEM ALL THEIR MEDICAL OPTIONS GIVE THEM ALL THEIR INFORMATION THEY NEED AND THEY WILL MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR THEMSELVES.

AND THAT'S I THINK TRUSTING WOMEN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO.

>> BONNIE: WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE FOR YOUR SUCCESSOR DOCTOR WEN?

>> CECILE RICHARDS: I MEAN, I TOLD HER WHEN I MET WITH HER BEFORE SHE TOOK THE JOB, I SAID IT'S THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY OF YOUR LIFE.

IT IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT LITERALLY YOU WILL SEE IF YOU GET TO GET OUT IN THE FIELD AND I'M SURE I KNOW SHE WILL AND GO TO HEALTH CENTERS, YOU CAN SEE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE CHANGED BY HAVING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.

SOMETIMES, EVEN JUST SOMEONE TO TALK TO.

WOULD I HAVE BEEN I'VE MET SO MANY PEOPLE NOT ONLY AT OUR HEALTH CENTERS BUT WHO WILL STOP ME ON THE STREET AND SAY "PLANNED PARENT CHANGED MY LIFE."

AND I THINK SHE'S, SHE'S A GREAT, GREAT SUCCESSOR.

I'M HONORED THAT SHE HAS CHOSEN TO DO THIS FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF HER CAREER, AND SHE'S GOING TO BE TREMENDOUS.

>> BONNIE: WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT SHE'S THE FIRST DOCTOR, FIRST M.D.

WHO'S EVER RUN PLANNED PARENTHOOD?

>> CECILE RICHARDS: I DON'T KNOW IF SHE IS THE FIRST M.D.

BUT SHE IS CERTAINLY, THERE HASN'T BEEN ONE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

LOOK, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, I THINK THERE'S YOU KNOW, PLANNED PARENTHOOD DOES AT LEAST TWO REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS: WE PROVIDE EXCELLENT MEDICAL CARE AND IN MANY WAYS I THINK SET THE STANDARD FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE IN THIS COUNTRY THROUGH OUR MEDICAL COMMITTEE AND WE'RE A MOVEMENT.

AND WHEN THOSE TWO THINGS COME TOGETHER, WE'RE REALLY A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH, IN A GOOD WAY.

>> BONNIE: NOW SHE IS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, CONCENTRATING, MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE CLINICS IN STATES -- I THINK MORE MIDWESTERN, NORTHEASTERN, WESTERN STATES THAT ARE MORE, WHOSE REGULATIONS ARE MORE ABORTION FRIENDLY, AND THEN, OR AT LEAST I READ THIS, AND THEN RAISING MONEY TO FLY WOMEN FROM PLACES LIKE LOUISIANA WHICH LAST TIME I CHECKED, HAD ONE ABORTION CLINIC LEFT OUT OF FIVE THAT IT HAD MANY YEARS AGO.

IS THAT -- DO YOU THINK THAT'S A GOOD APPROACH?

>> CECILE RICHARDS: I DON'T KNOW, SHE JUST STARTED.

SO I ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT SHE'S PLANNING ON DOING.

I THINK THAT IS -- I MEAN I KNOW FROM LIVING IN TEXAS, JUST BEING ABLE TO GET ON AN AIRPLANE, DOESN'T ACTUALLY SOLVE A WOMAN'S PROBLEM.

AND IT'S A VERY, AS WE TALKED YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, FOR A LOT OF THE WOMEN WHO RELY ON THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS LIKE PLANNED PARENTHOOD, THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE OFF A WEEK OF WORK, THEY HAVE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES, OFTEN THEY HAVE OTHER CHILDREN.

AND SO I THINK, I'M SURE THAT DR. WEN AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN EVERY SINGLE STATE.

THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING WE'VE DONE OUR ENTIRE HISTORY.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOW 101 YEARS OLD AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE BE ABLE TO GO TO A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER THAT THEY TRUST THAT'S IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

>> BONNIE: THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK IS MAKE TROUBLE, WHY IS THAT?

OOZE >> CECILE RICHARDS: I GUESS BECAUSE FROM AN EARLY AGE, I WAS SORT OF BRANDED AS A TROUBLE MAKER AND IT STUCK.

I OPEN MY BOOK WITH AN INCIDENT WHEN I WAS IN 6TH GRADE WHERE, THAT MY TEACHER IN DALLAS SAID, ARE YOU JUST TRYING TO MAKE TROUBLE?"

AND I REALLY WASN'T THINKING ABOUT MYSELF AS MAKING TROUBLE, I WAS JUST ASKING A QUESTION ABOUT WHY WE HAD TO RECITE THE LORD'S PRAYER IN SCHOOL EVERYDAY AND I GUESS IT KIND OF STUCK AND I DO TALK ABOUT IN MY BOOK AND TO OTHER FOLKS, MAKING TROUBLE IS A LUXURY.

I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE IN MY LIFE TO ALWAYS BE ABLE TO WORK IN, HAVE A CAREER THAT CHANGES THINGS OR MAKES SOCIAL CHANGE FOR GOOD I HOPE.

AND SO I REALIZE IT'S NOT FOR EVERYONE, BUT I THINK THIS IS A TIME IN THIS COUNTRY THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TROUBLE.

AND I CERTAINLY TALK TO YOUNG WOMEN AND SAY LOOK, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK ISN'T RIGHT, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT SOMEBODY ELSE DOESN'T THINK IT'S EITHER AND IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU'LL BE SURPRISED IF YOU ACTUALLY STAND UP AND SAY SOMETHING OR TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS, YOU'LL FIND THAT THERE'S MORE, I THINK YOU'LL HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN YOU WOULD EXPECT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I'VE BEEN TRAVELING AROUND THE UNITED STATES THESE LAST FOUR MONTHS.

LISTENING TO WOMEN.

WOMEN ARE ON FIRE IN THIS COUNTRY, THEY ARE MAKING CHANGE, THEY'RE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, THEY ARE STARTING NEW ORGANIZATIONS, THEY'RE GOING TO TOWN HALL MEETINGS, THEY'RE CALLING THEIR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

A LOT OF THE WOMEN WHO HAVE SAID I'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING IN MY LIFE BEFORE, BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO STAND UP AND ACTUALLY SEE IF I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> BONNIE: WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

POLITICS?

>> CECILE RICHARDS: WELL I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED IN POLITICS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER >> BONNIE: NO, I MEAN RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

I DON'T KNOW, I MEAN NEVER SAY NEVER.

BUT THAT'S NOT MY PLAN.

I'M SO EXCITED FOR THESE MIDTERMS TO SEE SO MANY YOUNG WOMEN, YOUNG DIVERSE WOMEN RUNNING FOR CONGRESS, RUNNING FOR THE STATE HOUSE AND GETTING ELECTED.

I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT WE CAN DO TO KNOW ORGANIZE WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT, POWERFUL POLITICAL FORCE WE CAN.

BECAUSE I THINK WOMEN ARE THE AGENTS OF CHANGE, THEY ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AND THIS IS A PARTICULAR MOMENT IN OUR COUNTRY WHERE I THINK WOMEN COMING TOGETHER ACROSS GENERATIONS, ACROSS RACIAL LINES, ACROSS GEOGRAPHIC LINES, ACROSS PARTY LINES CAN BE A FORCE FOR GOOD.

AND I'D LIVE TO BE OF THAT.

>> BONNIE: AND, BUT YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT YET HOW YET.

>> CECILE RICHARDS: WELL, I MEAN I'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH SOME WOMEN, YEP, AND ACTUALLY WE'VE BEEN IN 15 STATES TALKING TO WOMEN AND BEGINNING TO ORGANIZE AND AGAIN WHAT I'M FINDING FOR WOMEN IS THEY'RE SAYING, "WE JUST NEED SUPPORT FOR LEARNING HOW TO DO THIS BETTER, LEARNING HOW TO WORK TOGETHER, AND LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER."

AND SO YEAH, STAY TUNED BUT IN THAT'S MY PLAN.

>> BONNIE: ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH, THIS HAS BEEN SO INFORMATIVE.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.

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