mar 3, 1873 - Signs the Compstock Act (17 Stat 598) "An act for the Suppression of Trade in, and Circulation of obscene Literature and Articles of immoral Use." This act, among other things, prohibited the postal service from delivering mail with such items including "any drug or medicine, or any article whatever, for the prevention of conception, or for causing unlawful abortion . . ." In December 2022 the Office of Legal Counsel published an opinion tracing the history of judicial rulings related to this matter
Added to timeline:
Date:
mar 3, 1873
Now
~ 153 years ago