Being a guest observer behind the scenes at the ABC network’s recent special, "Abortion—The New Civil War" and the ensuing debate masquerading as a discussion, offered fresh insights into network strategy and the generals of this uncivil war.

For two days, staffers had role-played the strategy of possible questions and answers. A pleasant young man called Silverman played the part of Father Richard McBrien of Notre Dame University with a funny but inappropriate mock Irish brogue, for effect.

Prior to broadcast of the live debate, participants wandered about. Judge Robert Bork, totally relaxed, seemed to be enjoying himself, with the exception of enduring the mandatory makeup. Faye Wattleton, the seasoned spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood, strode in stone-faced and to-tally ignored chatty Dr. John Willke, the president of National Right to Life. Rate Michelman of the National Abortion Rights Action League stood silent and looking nervous as rumors spread that a vast majority of tickets to witness the nationally televised debate had been distributed to the pro-choice fan clubs.

Mary Cunningham Agee sat alone with her thoughts. She holds to the philosophy that you can disagree without being disagreeable. However, she assumed correctly that many this night would raise their voices, but they would not raise the consciousness level of the viewers. As the founder of the nationwide Nurturing Network for unwed women in crisis pregnancies, Mrs. Agee has, for four years, walked the narrow path of being a major player in the "civil" war of abortion who avoids being judgmental. "I leave that to God and the judiciary," she said.

The one-hour overview of abortion that prefaced the debate was executed for ABC News by Lorimar Productions, but it might just as easily have been produced by the left wing of the National Organization for Women or other propagandists for abortion, it was so sliced with pro-choice rhetoric and prejudice. When mention was made of the Catholic Church, the image on the screen was of the Vatican, filmed from behind iron bars, suggesting a prison. Why use subliminal messages when you can use a sledgehammer? When Peter Jennings splendidly tailored and cool, the host and/or referee, began the live telecast, he obviously expected fiery exchanges. What he and the audience got was a dull Pier Six brawl of charge and countercharge, accusation, sound bites of toothless tigers and hysterical self-hype.

Thirty-one minutes into the debate, Jennings called upon Mary Cunningham Agee to explain the Nurturing Network’s approach. In quiet, measured tones, she said that abortion is usually an act of fear and desperation and that most women believe the only "choice" they have is abortion. Briefly, she outlined how her young network is giving women not just choice but a chance, an alternative, a real option with housing, medical care, college transfers and job placement in discretionary locations.

When she finished, a remarkable thing happened. The studio audience, both pro-life and pro-choice, began for the first time to applaud, it happened again and again each time she spoke, as if the voice of reason was heard in the land for the first time. While the TV battle stormed about her, this calm, pretty woman, whose work went beyond words, became the centerpiece of a momentary truce as all the embattled "generals" of this civil war suddenly bent over backward to agree with her. Even Peter Jennings concurred.

As Mary Cunningham Agee left the ABC studio at 1:45 a.m. to complete her Long day’s journey of 5,000 miles back to Idaho and her husband, children and mission, she wondered if any of the late night audience really understood. She need not have wondered. Millions of households had seen the show. The switchboards at ABC New York and affiliates around the country began lighting up, with five of every seven calls in praise of Mary and her Nurturing Network. Tomorrow, she would learn of a flood of calls from grateful people and, better still, unwed women in a crisis pregnancy seeking help. In the cold New York night, a group of college students had waited to shake hands and say thanks. Mary Cunningham Agee smiled. Maybe people were beginning to understand.

They had, and so had the country.