The Birth of the Pill: How Four Crusaders Reinvented Sex and Launched a Revolution by Jonathan Eig Page A
Authors: Jonathan Eig
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John Rock and Celso-Ramón Garcia during clinical trials for the pill, circa 1957. (University of Massachusetts Medical School Archives, Lamar Soutter Library, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Mass.)
Before G. D. Searle & Co. won government approval for the sale of a birth-control pill, it marketed Enovid as a cure for irregular menstrual cycles.
When Enovid was finally approved for birth control in 1960, it quickly became one of the best-selling drugs in the world. (Photograph courtesy of the Library of Congress)
By the time the pill gained popularity, Gregory Pincus was battling cancer. (Courtesy of Laura Bernard)
Acknowledgments
I AM GRATEFUL TO so many people who devoted time, knowledge, and energy to this project. Gregory Pincus’s daughter, Laura Pincus Bernard, shared family letters and photos, put me in touch with many of her father’s associates, and accompanied me on a tour of the places where her father lived and worked. Rachel and Hart Achenbach shared their memories of Rachel’s remarkable father, Dr. John Rock. Sue and Wes Dixon welcomed me to their home and told wonderful stories about Sue’s father, Jack Searle. I was also fortunate to interview Isabelle Chang, wife of M. C. Chang.
Hundreds of other people gave generously of their time for interviews. Thanks in particular, and in no particular order, to Esther Katz; Cathy Moran Hajo; Dr. Henry Kirkendall, Jr.; Dr. Leonard Morse; Alex Sanger; Gloria Feldt; Larry Isaacson; Merry Maisel; Ronald Notkin; Andrew Pincus; David Pincus; Mike Pincus; Leo Latz, Jr.; Lex Lalli; Geoff Dutton; Evelyn Karet; Elizabeth Rubin; Erica Jong; Hugh Hefner; Dr. Edward E. Wallach; Ricardo Rosenkranz; Ellen More; Erica Jong; Kristine Reinhard; Tina Mercier; Neena Schwartz; Michael Moschos; Dr. Todd Hunter; Dr. Saul Lerner; Dr. Koji Yoshinaga; Dr. Prentiss C. Higgins; Dr. John McCracken; Dr. Nathan Kase; Judy McCann; Barbara Kupfer; Liza Gallardo; and Dr. Thoru Pederson.
I believe strongly in doing my own research. But scientists write more letters and keep better records than the ballplayers and gangsters I’ve written about in the past, which meant I needed extra hands and eyes to get through the materials stored in libraries and archives around the country. I am grateful to Lisa Applegate, Nick Bruno, Lauren Dickinson, Sonia Gomez, Chris Heidenrich, and Shane Zimmer for their research assistance. Special thanks go to Zimmer—researcher, editor, fact checker, spreadsheet builder, and friend—who has been with me almost from the start of this project. Ayako Mie helped dig up documents, photos, and newspaper clippings in Japan. For my research in Puerto Rico, I had assistance from Mike Soto, Anabellie Rivera, Daniel Epstein, Tyler Bridges, Marisol Lugo Juan, and Diana Rodriguez.
My friend Marci Bailey not only helped me search through library archives in Massachusetts, she also accompanied me on an eye-opening journey to Worcester, thoughtfully commented on my manuscript, and provided me a home away from home in Boston. My cousin, Dr. Jerry Avorn, read the manuscript and made helpful suggestions. Leslie Silverman, another cousin, pitched in with research. My brother, Matt Eig, and my friends Richard Babcock, Pat Byrne, Lou Carlozo, Mark Caro, James Finn Garner, Bob Kazel, Robert Kurson, Ron Jackson, and Jim Powers weighed in regularly with encouragement and advice. Bryan Gruley worked with me to map the path of the story and to make sure I stayed on course. Lori Rotskoff also read an early draft and helped me think more deeply about the book’s themes. My friend and former teacher, Joseph Epstein, pushed me as he’s been pushing me for thirty years to sharpen my writing. Other writer friends who pitched in along the way include Stephen Fried, Louise W. Knight, Gioia Diliberto, T. J. Stiles, Rachel Shteir, Jane Leavy, Rebecca Skloot, Chuck McCutcheon, Bob Spitz, Ben Kesling, and Charlie Newton. I am also thankful for good advice received from
Before G. D. Searle & Co. won government approval for the sale of a birth-control pill, it marketed Enovid as a cure for irregular menstrual cycles.
When Enovid was finally approved for birth control in 1960, it quickly became one of the best-selling drugs in the world. (Photograph courtesy of the Library of Congress)
By the time the pill gained popularity, Gregory Pincus was battling cancer. (Courtesy of Laura Bernard)
Acknowledgments
I AM GRATEFUL TO so many people who devoted time, knowledge, and energy to this project. Gregory Pincus’s daughter, Laura Pincus Bernard, shared family letters and photos, put me in touch with many of her father’s associates, and accompanied me on a tour of the places where her father lived and worked. Rachel and Hart Achenbach shared their memories of Rachel’s remarkable father, Dr. John Rock. Sue and Wes Dixon welcomed me to their home and told wonderful stories about Sue’s father, Jack Searle. I was also fortunate to interview Isabelle Chang, wife of M. C. Chang.
Hundreds of other people gave generously of their time for interviews. Thanks in particular, and in no particular order, to Esther Katz; Cathy Moran Hajo; Dr. Henry Kirkendall, Jr.; Dr. Leonard Morse; Alex Sanger; Gloria Feldt; Larry Isaacson; Merry Maisel; Ronald Notkin; Andrew Pincus; David Pincus; Mike Pincus; Leo Latz, Jr.; Lex Lalli; Geoff Dutton; Evelyn Karet; Elizabeth Rubin; Erica Jong; Hugh Hefner; Dr. Edward E. Wallach; Ricardo Rosenkranz; Ellen More; Erica Jong; Kristine Reinhard; Tina Mercier; Neena Schwartz; Michael Moschos; Dr. Todd Hunter; Dr. Saul Lerner; Dr. Koji Yoshinaga; Dr. Prentiss C. Higgins; Dr. John McCracken; Dr. Nathan Kase; Judy McCann; Barbara Kupfer; Liza Gallardo; and Dr. Thoru Pederson.
I believe strongly in doing my own research. But scientists write more letters and keep better records than the ballplayers and gangsters I’ve written about in the past, which meant I needed extra hands and eyes to get through the materials stored in libraries and archives around the country. I am grateful to Lisa Applegate, Nick Bruno, Lauren Dickinson, Sonia Gomez, Chris Heidenrich, and Shane Zimmer for their research assistance. Special thanks go to Zimmer—researcher, editor, fact checker, spreadsheet builder, and friend—who has been with me almost from the start of this project. Ayako Mie helped dig up documents, photos, and newspaper clippings in Japan. For my research in Puerto Rico, I had assistance from Mike Soto, Anabellie Rivera, Daniel Epstein, Tyler Bridges, Marisol Lugo Juan, and Diana Rodriguez.
My friend Marci Bailey not only helped me search through library archives in Massachusetts, she also accompanied me on an eye-opening journey to Worcester, thoughtfully commented on my manuscript, and provided me a home away from home in Boston. My cousin, Dr. Jerry Avorn, read the manuscript and made helpful suggestions. Leslie Silverman, another cousin, pitched in with research. My brother, Matt Eig, and my friends Richard Babcock, Pat Byrne, Lou Carlozo, Mark Caro, James Finn Garner, Bob Kazel, Robert Kurson, Ron Jackson, and Jim Powers weighed in regularly with encouragement and advice. Bryan Gruley worked with me to map the path of the story and to make sure I stayed on course. Lori Rotskoff also read an early draft and helped me think more deeply about the book’s themes. My friend and former teacher, Joseph Epstein, pushed me as he’s been pushing me for thirty years to sharpen my writing. Other writer friends who pitched in along the way include Stephen Fried, Louise W. Knight, Gioia Diliberto, T. J. Stiles, Rachel Shteir, Jane Leavy, Rebecca Skloot, Chuck McCutcheon, Bob Spitz, Ben Kesling, and Charlie Newton. I am also thankful for good advice received from
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