(like numerous people I loved Hulu's take on "The Handmaid's Tale." I wanted to see how such a story could actually come about, though. That led to the creation of this thread.)
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"Florida-native and former beauty queen Donna Rice was found dead last night in her home. Medical reports indicate that she suffered a massive heart attack in her sleep. The viewing will be held at Mark's Funeral Home on Saturday, June 14th from 1-5pm."- Miami Herald Obituary Section (Wednesday, June 11th, 1986)
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"Friends this country has suffered for the past eight years. We have lived with an administration that cares more for helping the super-wealthy instead of those who slip between the cracks. We have had portions of the population be told that the disease outbreak they deal with on a daily basis does not matter and cannot be helped by the government. With a Kennedy White House that all changes. That is why I am proud to announce my candidacy for President of the United States."- Excerpt from Massachusetts Senator Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy's Presidential announcement speech (April 7th, 1987)
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"Attention: Effective Immediately the organization known as the Moral Majority ceases to exist. All employees and resources will be shifted towards growing the National Interfaith Alliance (NIA)"- Memo by Reverend Jerry Falwell to all employees of the Moral Majority (June 1st, 1987)
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"The Reverend Jerry Falwell and renowned televangelist Pat Robertson announced today the formation of the National Interfaith Alliance. Falwell and Robertson stated that the goal of the organization is to spread God's word in all forms across the U.S. Unlike Falwell's previous organization, The Moral Majority, the NIA will be open to members of all religions that pay homage to God. When asked what role the NIA was expected to play in national politics during the 1988 election, both Falwell and Robertson refused to comment."- New York Times article announcing the creation of the National Interfaith Alliance (June 4th, 1987)
 
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Dr. Joseph Francis loved his job. As Head of Obstetrics at John Hopkins Hospital, Francis was generally recognized as one of the leaders in his field. He adored the feeling of seeing new life enter the world and knowing that he was doing his part in creating a better human race. He noticed that his days were getting easier, though. When he first started working at John Hopkins he would often be asked to supervise at least five births every day. Nowadays he was lucky to oversee two births a week.

Could it be a change in the diets of pregnant women? The changes to cigarettes that Dr. Koop had pushed through? This so called Global Warming? Doctors in the Netherlands had been doing studies over the past few years and the results were not optimistic. Birth rates all over the world were dropping, and nobody seemed to understand why. Few people seemed to be really be looking into it though. The info that he alone requested had taken weeks to gather from all over the country.

While flipping through the charts and graphs that he had been provided from hospitals and state health agencies all over the country, Francis couldn't help commenting how high some of the numbers were.

"500 births in a day at an average Georgia hospital. That is an extraordinary figure"

Francis's assistant uncomfortably shifted his feet and stared at the ground.

"In a year"

Dr. Francis almost dropped the file he had been reading. "Excuse me?"

"Dr. Francis those numbers do not show births in a single day. Those are the number of births at an average Georgia hospital in a single year. That number doesn't even include the number of miscarriages and stillbirths the hospitals deal with. That chart was also made in 1985. The 1987 information shows a decline to 400 births at an average hospital in a single year."

Dr. Francis slumped into his chair and stared at the photos of his children that cluttered his desk. He turned to his assistant: "Get me Vice-Admiral Koop's office. I'm going to have to arrange a meeting with somebody"
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"Hospitals around the country deal with influx of cases of miscarriages and stillborns. No explanation found."- New York Times (August 7th, 1987)
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"Ted Kennedy and Gary Hart battle for dominance in the Democratic race for President as Dukakis, Gephardt, and Cuomo refuse to enter."- The Washington Post (September 1st, 1987)
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"Dr. Joseph Francis,

Thank you for your very kind letter to U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. Surgeon General Koop takes all potential cases of nationwide epidemics very seriously, especially those involving children and expecting mothers. Surgeon General Koop has been made aware of this situation and will deal with it at the appropriate time and in the appropriate manner. Any help that you and your colleagues would be able to provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Jasmine Storm
Personal Assistant to U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop
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"The NIA is proud to announce that Phyllis Schlafly has agreed to join us in our crusade for morality in this country as our Director of Female Outreach. Ms. Schlafly has chosen Thelma Gridiron, an up and coming crusader from Pennsylvania, to act as her deputy"
- Internal memo passed around at the National Interfaith Alliance headquarters in Washington, D.C. (September 7th, 1987)
 
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