Preface: The politics of abortion study. -- The social force of rhetoric. -- The story of illegal abortion: rhetoric and narrative, 1960-65. -- The pro-life heritage tale: rhetoric and history, 1965-81. -- Life, equality, and choice: rhetoric and values, 1965-72. -- Constructing visions of the fetus and freedom: rhetoric and image. -- Enacting "choice": public rhetoric and the law, 1973-85. -- Prime-time abortion: rhetoric and public culture, 1973-85. -- Mass compromise and minority violence: rhetoric and ideology, 1978-85. -- Public rhetoric and private lives. -- Afterword: The social force of rhetoric. -- Appendix A: A "right to life?" -- Appendix B: Anonymous letter claiming responsibility for Pensacola clinic bombings. -- Appendix C: Methodological issues from Chapter 9