Conservative spotlight: Barbara Hagan

Human Events, Oct 1, 1999 by D'Agostino, Joseph A

Roe v. Wade not only established a reign of death across America legalizing abortion on demand, but also spawned legions of American pro-life activists. Some of those activists have hit the 25-year mark in their involvement in the battle since the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its unprecedented decision in 1973.

Barbara Hagan joined New Hampshire Right to Life (NHRTL) in 1974. Over the years she has served as its chairwoman, president, vice president, treasurer, editor, chairwoman of the Public Action and Program committees, and chairwoman of the NHRTL PAC.

Although she is still a member of NHRTL, she now focuses her energy on other things. She has helped take the lead in opposing the merger of the local Roman Catholic hospital in Manchester with a secular one. "In 1996, we started asking the diocese, which ignored us, and the trustees of the hospital, who ignored us, what were the guarantees that abortions would not be performed;" Hagan said.

At the beginning stages of the merger, "they immediately moved the OB/GYN unit out of the Catholic hospital. It was discovered that a 13-week abortion was scheduled to take place in November '96," she said. "I was carrying my daughter at the time."

Hagan was then a reporter with "NHRTL News," and a judge ordered her to reveal how she found out about the scheduled abortion. "I was found in contempt of court for exercising my 5th Amendment right not to reveal how the information about the abortion got to us," she said. "But I was never sanctioned"

The basis for opposing the merger in court, said Hagan, rested on the legal status of the hospitals. "Both hospitals were charitable trusts. In New Hampshire, when you are a charitable trust and have a mission statement, you have to follow the mission statement," she said.

The case is still embroiled in state court, but Hagan expects the local Catholic hospital to be forced to remain pro-life or separate from the other.

Hagan also works for the Bob Smith for President campaign. "I supported Pat [Buchanan] in '92. And I was a delegate [for him] at the convention in '96," she said. But like many other former Buchanan activists, this time around she went to work for an alternative candidate after the fiery commentator took his time in deciding to run.

"I was very disappointed when I went to the '96 convention," she said. "I watched the beginnings of how the national party was going to orchestrate things with the front-loaded primaries, making it impossible for someone like Pat Buchanan to have a snowball's chance to win."

When Buchanan hadn't announced, "back in February, I called Bob Smith and told him I was going to support him for President," Hagan said. She has stuck with Smith despite his defection from the Republican Party.

Hagan has been busy with other causes as well. "I've been very active in Eagle Forun since 1974. I served as vice chairman of the New Hampshire affiliate in the early '80s;' she said. "I've also served as president of the Ad Hoc Committee to Stop Goals 2000. We succeeded until Jean Sheehan was elected governor." Goals 2000 is federal program enticing states with funds from Washington if they adopt federal educational standards. Hagan said that the feminist movement has not only been very successful, but also has understood its goals from the beginning. During the fight over the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Constitution, Hagan said, "I used to go to meetings of the National Organization for Women and listen to them. They had a ten-year plan. I heard what they wanted to do, even some of the stuff they're pushing today." They did not hide their belief, Hagan said, that the ERA would "guarantee abortion rights" in the Constitution.

Over the years, Hagan has done volunteer work for Sen. Gordon Humphrey, Gov. Meldrim Thompson, Rep. Phil Crane, and Ronald Reagan.

Hagan started her conservative activism at an early age. Urged by her father, she began a career in radio at age 16. In 1971, she became the youngest woman in the United States to obtain a First Class Radio Telephone Operator's license. Currently she works part-time as a-legal researcher. "I've held full- or part-time jobs since the age of 16," she said. Married to Robert Hagan, she has seven children, including two from a previous marriage.

Hagan said that she tries to instill in her children a desire for political activism, which she considers vitally important for conservative Americans. "Bill Clinton was elected by a minority both times," she pointed out, and explained that most Americans do not care much about him or his philosophy. "We can hope for someone better next year," she said.

Barbara Hagan may be reached at 100 Bremer St. #2, Manchester, N.H. 03102 (e-mail: barbara@smithforprsident.org).