Phyllis Schlafly Dies at 92; Remembered for Her Influence on Conservative Movement
Iconic conservative activist and author Phyllis Schlafly has died at her home in Ladue, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, on Monday. She was 92 years old.
Schlafly died of cancer while surrounded by her family. According to her official Facebook page, she is survived by her six children, 16 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
"Phyllis Schlafly spent an astounding 70 years in public service of her fellow Americans. Her focus from her earliest days until her final ones was protecting the family, which she understood as the building block of life," noted the post on her Facebook page.
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"Phyllis Schlafly was a courageous and articulate voice for common sense and traditional values. She authored 27 books and thousands of articles. She spoke tens of thousands of times across the United States. Her joy in life was evident to all through her smile and wit. Funeral arrangements are pending."
Born Phyllis McAlpin Stewart on Aug. 15, 1924, Schlafly paid her way through Washington University by working a full-time defense job during the World War II.
In 1949, she married a lawyer named Fred Schlafly. Their marriage would produce six children and last until 1993 when her husband died. Throughout the second half of the 20th century and into the 21st century, Schlafly was involved in conservative politics.
"Mrs. Schlafly fought feminists and three presidents to bring the Equal Rights Movement to a screeching halt. During the 1950s and '60s she helped build the anti-Communist movement in the United States," reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"She was a pioneer in the anti-abortion movement and helped send Ronald Reagan to the White House. … If Mrs. Schlafly's glory days seemed decades behind her, conservative audiences didn't seem to care. She drew standing ovations in recent years with her star power, and introduced Donald Trump at a rally in St. Louis in March. She also attended the Republican National Convention in July."
Schlafly is most remembered for her successful campaign to defeat the Equal Rights Amendment, which during the 1970s was on track to be ratified.
Schlafly is credited with helping to defeat the ERA, who believed that the amendment would cause much harm to American society.
"Since the women are the ones who bear the babies and there's nothing we can do about that, our laws and customs then make it the financial obligation of the husband to provide the support," remarked Schlafly at a speech in 1973.
"It is his obligation and his sole obligation. And this is exactly and precisely what we will lose if the Equal Rights Amendment is passed."
In recent years, Schlafly was part of the growing opposition to the Common Core education standards, which she labeled in a June column as a "fraud" and "deceptive."
The death of Schlafly has resulted in many condolences brought forth by conservatives and organizations, including the Family Research Council.
"I have little doubt that the political and cultural landscape of America today would have long ago been devoid of true conservatism if not for her leadership. She never surrendered her principles and she never gave in to intimidation," said FRC President Tony Perkins.
"Her love for God and this country drove her to fight for the Constitutional principles that founded this nation. We honor Phyllis for the lessons that she taught us all. I'm proud to have stood alongside her for faith, family and freedom."
