Equal Rights Amendment

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution which would have guaranteed equal rights under law for Americans regardless of gender.

Opponents of the ERA in Congress

Opponents of the ERA, at the time of its proposal by the 92nd Congress, were a very interesting mix of politicians that included many conservatives and a few liberals.

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In the House of Representatives:

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• Thomas G. Abernethy (1903–1998) (D-MS)
• John M. Ashbrook (1928–1982) (R-OH)
• John W. Byrnes (1913–1985) (R-WI)
• Glenn R. Davis (1914–1988) (R-WI)
• W. J. Bryan Dorn (1916–2005) (D-SC)
• Emanuel Celler (1888–1981) (D-NY)
• William V. Chappell, Jr. (1922–1989) (D-FL)
• William M. Colmer (1890–1980) (D-MS)
• David W. Dennis (1912–1999) (R-IN)
• John N. Erlenborn (1927– ) (R-IL)
• John J. Flynt, Jr. (1914– ) (D-GA)
• J. Edward Hutchinson (1914–1985) (R-MI)
• Charles R. Jonas (1904–1988) (R-NC)
• Earl F. Landgrebe (1916–1986) (R-IN)
• William M. McCulloch (1901–1980) (R-OH)
• Koln G. McKay (1925–2000) (D-UT)
• Lucien N. Nedzi (1925– ) (D-MI)
• William R. Poage (1899–1987) (D-TX)
• John R. Rarick (1924– ) (D-LA)
• John H. Rousselot (1927–2003) (R-CA)
• Charles W. Sandman, Jr. (1921–1985) (R-NJ)
• John P. Saylor (1908–1973) (R-PA)
• John G. Schmitz (1930–2001) (R-CA)
• Sam Steiger (1929– ) (R-AZ)
• Leonor K. Sullivan (1902–1988) (D-MO)
• Jamie L. Whitten (1910–1995) (D-MS)
• Charles E. Wiggins (1927–2000) (R-CA)

Note: While Representatives Davis, Erlenborn and Landgrebe opposed the Amendment, they did not vote.

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In the Senate:

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• Wallace Bennett (1898–1993) (R-UT)
• James L. Buckley (1923– ) ("Conservative"-NY)
• Norris H. Cotton (1900–1989) (R-NH)
• James O. Eastland (1904–1986) (D-MS)
• Samuel J. Ervin, Jr. (1896–1985) (D-NC)
• Paul J. Fannin (1907–2002) (R-AZ)
• Barry M. Goldwater (1909–1998) (R-AZ)
• Clifford P. Hansen (1912– ) (R-WY)
• John C. Stennis (1901–1995) (D-MS)

Note: While Senator Eastland did not vote against it, he was opposed to the Amendment.

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