Born September 14, 1879, in Corning, New York, the sixth of eleven children born to Michael Hennessey Higgins, a stonemason, and Anna Purcell Higgins, a devoutly Roman Catholic Irishwoman. Sanger’s life course was shaped by the poverty of her childhood and the death of her mother at age 50, which Sanger understood resulted from the physical toll of eleven pregnancies. Sanger later became a nurse, attending Claverack College and Hudson River Institute in 1896 and completing the nursing program at White Plains Hospital in 1902. That year she married William Sanger, an architect, and moved to Hastings, New York, where the couple had three children....
The modern day word for her would be activist. She wanted to end the poverty women faced in the 19th Century with having many children. She became iconic in the USA and Europe. Her criticism reached into the vestiges of World War II. She was vocal about USA neutrality. She was welcome in circles of power. Was she successful in her pursuits of influencing that power?
In favoring neutrality she could be viewed as a Nazi sympathizer. It was never an obvious character trait, but, there comes a time when a country has to take a stand or be willing to surrender before the war is even begun for them. If Margaret Sanger had her way, the USA would be run by Nazis and there would be no freedom. The question is not about contraception or elevating poor women out of poverty or even population growth; the question is did Margaret Sanger and her influence change the course of history for democracy? The answer is no. The USA entered the war and fought along side allies to the end of Nazi power that committed genocide.
She had conflicting values due to the love of her sons. That is legal and it is important because it creates an intolerance of war that buffers the blatant power the USA has in it's own right. She is important to history and very important to the women's movement even today. No one needs demonize her for the love she held dear of her sons.
Last night I dreamed of Hitler (click here) – Saw him in a room so close that I could see his eyes wink ... house I was in with others raided by Nazis. I hid under a table with others but one womans leg was discovered then we all were brought forth. Hitler came in to execute war plans & operations using this house as his base. A bird flew into the room from the window & lighted near me – It was white & a dove – Hitler caught it, held it up high over my head & told me to pick out a feather – I did so & awakened. (Journal Entry, MSM S70:513-514)
May 1942
Grant in Navy! ... expects to be called Somewhere any day. God forbid– (Journal Entry, MSM S70:570)
January 26, 1943
Millions of Women in Industry, Defense & other National Activities are needed unencumbered & unhampered for the duration as much as their husbands or brothers are needed as free men on the battle fronts. (MS to Kenneth Rose, MSM S22:108-109)
March 22, 1943
I do not know whether or not you listened to Churchill's speech yesterday, but I was never more disappointed in his views, expressing, as they did, the whole Tory clique of the City of London. It was what I call a nationalistic, jingoistic brain storm! (MS to Margaret Valiant, MSM S22:373)
August 12, 1943
Stuart may have to go Overseas – God knows I'll be crushed over that. It will be the end for me! (MS to Florence Rose, MSM S23:0062)
March 10, 1944
Planned Parenthood must be an important plank in the post war platform if enduring peace is to prevail. Global war demands global peace, and the gains which we are struggling to achieve in this country must be extended throughout the world if they are to be effective for us. In the United States we have achieved a favorable balance between population and resources which has contributed greatly to the raising of our national standard of living. But it will avail us little in the long run if European and Asiatic countries continue to overrun their boundaries, and to breed themselves into greater poverty, famine and ultimately into war. Therefore the fight for planned parenthood must encompass the world. ("Children of Tomorrow" speech, MSM S72:380)
May 10, 1944
What an amazing experience for you, as you say, to have two human beings fall through the air from that height – it is all too ghastly and horrible. I keep wondering what is going to happen after the war to men who live through experiences of that kind. (MS to Stuart Sanger, MSM S23:954)
September 19, 1944
Stuart is in France having left England with the others without a days vacation. I think the American Army is treating the American boys as if they were children, not letting them get away in case they get into trouble when not with his Uncle Sam. (MS to H. G. Wells, MSM S24:323)
October 27, 1944
Grant is out in that Philippine battle in a carrier ... its too horrible being at the end of a phone waiting. (MS to Margaret Valiant and Florence Rose, MSM S24:395)
August 10, 1945
Atomic Bomb over Japan startled the World. (Calendar Entry, MSM S80:647)
August 30, 1945
Stuart has come back from France but is not out of the Army. Grant was still in Okinawa the last we heard, we only hope he will not be sent in Japan. We as everyone else are terribly thankful that the war is over. (MS to Marion Willis Brock, MSM S24:1148)
October 25, 1945
Isn't it true, General, that until America, with her present power, stands for the rights of parents everywhere in the world to voluntary and healthful reproduction, neither a large standing army or the atomic bomb can save us from another war? (MS to General Douglas MacArthur, MSM S25:213)
