Angel of Ashland

Of course, many disapproved of his not-so-secret and illegal abortion practice. But he was so committed to the principle of choice, at a time when this was not an easy position to defend, that he endured being blackmailed, often shunned in public, censured by the American Medical Association, arrested by the police, and put on trial. Despite all this, he never spent a night in jail and his clinic always remained open for business. As his reputation grew, his detractors labeled him "King of the Abortionists", and when he died in 1969 his death notice was announced on the national news with the estimate that he had performed 100,000 abortions.

Vincent Genovese has done yeoman's work in accurately reconstructing Dr. Spencer's life and career by researching his correspondence, interviewing surviving Ashland residents who knew him, and combing through old newspaper archives. This unique biography is a must read for anyone interested in the issue of abortion.