Sherri Chessen (born 1932), also known as Sherri Finkbine, is an American former children's television host. She is also known as Miss Sherri, her role on the Phoenix version of the franchised children's show ''

Romper Room ''Romper Room'' is an American children's television series that was franchised and syndicated from 1953 to 1994. The program targeted preschoolers (children five years of age or younger), and was created and produced by Bert Claster and his ...

''. In 1962, Chessen became a subject of controversy when she sought an abortion after discovering that the

thalidomide Thalidomide, sold under the brand names Contergan and Thalomid among others, is an oral administered medication used to treat a number of cancers (e.g., multiple myeloma), graft-versus-host disease, and many skin disorders (e.g., complication ...

she had been taking caused serious fetal deformities when used in the early stages of pregnancy.

Abortion controversy

In 1961, Chessen's husband, Bob Finkbine, chaperoned a group of high school students on a

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

an tour, where he purchased over-the-counter sedatives and brought the remainder home. Chessen took 36 of the pills in the early stages of her fifth pregnancy, unaware that they contained thalidomide, which could cause deformity in the

fetus A fetus or foetus (; : fetuses, foetuses, rarely feti or foeti) is the unborn offspring of a viviparous animal that develops from an embryo. Following the embryonic development, embryonic stage, the fetal stage of development takes place. Pren ...

.Becker, Bill (25 July 1962)
Abortion to Bar Defective Birth Is Facing Legal Snag in Arizona
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', Retrieved November 16, 2010 Her physician recommended that she obtain a

therapeutic abortion Abortion is the early termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. Abortions that occur without intervention are known as miscarriages or "spontaneous abortions", and occur in roughly 30–40% of all pregnanc ...

,'Before Roe v. Wade: Voices that Shaped the Abortion Debate Before the Supreme Court's Ruling' aplan Publishing 2010, pgs. 11-18. the only type permitted in Arizona at the time. To publicize the danger of thalidomide, Chessen contacted the ''

Arizona Republic ''The Arizona Republic'' is an American daily newspaper published in Phoenix. Circulated throughout Arizona, it is the state's largest newspaper. Since 2000, it has been owned by the Gannett newspaper chain. History Early years The newspap ...

''. Although she was assured anonymity, her identity was not kept secret."Sherri Finkbine’s Abortion: Its Meaning 50 Years Later" lanned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona 15 August 2012, http://blog.advocatesaz.org/2012/08/15/sherri-finkbines-abortion-its-meaning-50-years-later/ The media identified her as "Mrs. Robert L. Finkbine" and "Sherri Finkbine", even though she personally did not use that name. See newspaper insert “In Abortion Case” from July 26, 1962, ''The Republic''. Following the paper's publication of Chessen's story, the hospital where she planned to have the abortion, wary of the publicity, sought assurance that it would not be prosecuted.(31 July 1962)
Mother Loses Round in Legal Battle for Abortion; Arizona Court Dismisses Suit for Prosecution Immunity
''

'', Retrieved November 16, 2010 When such assurance was not forthcoming, the scheduled abortion was canceled. When her physician asked for a court order to proceed with the abortion, she and her husband became public figures,(26 July 1962)
Abortion Suit is Filed
''

'', Retrieved November 16, 2010(28 July 1962)
Phoenix Abortion Ruling Delayed
''

'', Retrieved November 16, 2010 receiving letters and phone calls in opposition to her requested abortion. A few letters included death threats, and the

FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...

was brought in to protect her.Buck, Jerry (18 June 1992
HBO films explores 'A Private Matter'
''

Wilmington Morning Star ''StarNews'' is an American, English language daily newspaper for Wilmington, North Carolina, and its surrounding area (known as the Lower Cape Fear). It is North Carolina's oldest newspaper in continuous publication. It was owned by Halifax M ...

'', Retrieved November 16, 2010 She also lost her job hosting ''Romper Room''. Chessen's case was dismissed by Judge Yale McFate, who found that he did not have the authority to decide on the matter. The controversy became the basis for a

made-for-TV movie A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a terrestr ...

in 1992, '' A Private Matter'', with

Sissy Spacek Mary Elizabeth "Sissy" Spacek (; born December 25, 1949) is an American actress and singer. She has received List of awards and nominations received by Sissy Spacek, numerous accolades throughout her career spanning over five decades, including ...

in the leading role.

Swedish abortion

Chessen attempted to go to Japan to obtain an abortion, but was denied a visa by the Japanese Consul.(5 August 1962) (AP Story
U.S. Mother Seeks Aid From Sweden
''

'', Retrieved November 16, 2010 She and her husband then flew to

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

, where she obtained a successful and legal abortion, which caused a minor controversy. The abortion panel of the Royal Swedish Medical Board granted Chessen's request for an abortion on August 17, 1962, to safeguard her mental health.Wiskari, Werner (18 August 1962)
Sweden Accedes To Abortion Plea
''

'', Retrieved November 16, 2010 The operation was performed the following day.(19 August 1962
Mrs. Finkbine Undergoes Abortion In Sweden
''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' ("The 30 year old mother of four healthy children was informed after the operation that the fetus was deformed, as she had feared.") The Swedish obstetrician who performed the abortion told Chessen that the fetus had no legs and only one arm and would not have survived. The doctor stated that the fetus was too badly deformed to identify gender. In 1965, Chessen had another baby, a healthy girl.(1 February 196
Mrs. Finkbine Gives Birth To Fifth Child in Arizona
''

'', Retrieved November 16, 2010

Impact

The termination of Chessen’s pregnancy is seen now as a pivotal event in the history of

abortion rights in the United States The United States abortion-rights movement (also known as the pro-choice movement) is a sociopolitical movement in the United States supporting the view that a woman should have the legal right to an elective abortion, meaning the right to termi ...

. According to history professor

Mary Frances Berry Mary Frances Berry (born February 17, 1938) is an American historian, writer, lawyer, activist and professor who focuses on U.S. constitutional and legal, African-American history. Berry is the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thou ...

, her story "helped change public opinion n abortion Fifty-two percent of respondents in a Gallup poll thought she had done the right thing." By 1965, Berry continues, "most Americans, 77 percent, wanted abortion legalized 'where the health of the mother is in danger'"; in that same year, ''The New York Times'' called for reform of

abortion law Abortion laws vary widely among countries and territories, and have changed over time. Such laws range from abortion being freely available on request, to regulation or restrictions of various kinds, to outright prohibition in all circumstances ...

Planned Parenthood The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA), or simply Planned Parenthood, is an American nonprofit organization

wrote that Chessen was able to afford to go overseas to have the abortion, but many other women seeking to terminate unwanted pregnancies would turn to illegal abortions. Lee Epstein, a professor of law and political science, wrote that "Finkbine’s situation evoked sympathetic reactions from various organizations and, in essence, led to the creation of an American abortion reform movement.""The Impact of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project", 1981
/ref>

Later

Chessen has six children from her first marriage with Robert Finkbine. The couple divorced in 1973. Chessen married David Pent in 1991. Pent died in 2002. From September to December 1970, Chessen had her own one-hour variety show on KPAZ in Phoenix. In the 1990s, she did

voice acting Voice acting is the art of performing a character or providing information to an audience with one's voice. Performers are often called voice actors/actresses in addition to other names. Examples of voice work include animated, off-stage, off-sc ...

for cartoons and wrote two children’s books to address the issues of gun violence and bullying. After the

Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022 Chessen gave an interview to

CBS News Sunday Morning ''CBS News Sunday Morning'' (frequently shortened to ''Sunday Morning'') is an American television newsmagazine that has aired on CBS since January 28, 1979. Created by Robert Northshield and E.S. "Bud" Lamoreaux III, and originally hosted by ...

, almost 60 years after her own abortion. In the interview, she characterized herself as

pro-choice Abortion-rights movements, also self-styled as pro-choice movements, are movements that advocate for legal access to induced abortion services, including elective abortion. They seek to represent and support women who wish to terminate their ...

and anti-abortion, saying that abortions are quite awful, but that "We can't go back to willow sticks and knitting needles and all the things that women have perforated their uteruses with.".

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Chessen, Sherri 1932 births Living people American television hosts American women television hosts American children's television presenters Place of birth missing (living people) Abortion in the United States Medical controversies in the United States