"I should point out that I was intimately involved with a group of women here a year and a half ago when there was an effort made by a right wing element in the President's party to get him to turn back the clock"

This quote by Birch Bayh suggests that he had firsthand experience with a team of ladies who were fighting against a conservative element within the President's party. These women were likely trying to press back versus plans or activities that they really felt were regressive or dangerous. The phrase "reverse the clock" could suggest that these policies were targeted at turning around dynamic gains made by previous administrations or social motions. Birch Bayh's use words "intimately" recommends that he was carefully involved with this group of ladies as well as may have been a fan or ally in their reason.