Sherri Finkbine
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Sherri Chessen (born 1932), also known as Sherri Finkbine, is an American former children's television host. She is known also as ''Miss Sherri'', her role on the
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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 p ...
''. 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 a medication used to treat a number of cancers (including multiple myeloma), graft-versus-host disease, and a number of skin conditions including complications o ...
she had been taking caused serious fetal deformities when used in early stages of pregnancy.


Abortion controversy

In 1961, Chessen's husband Bob Finkbine chaperoned a group of high school students on a
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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 (; plural fetuses, feti, foetuses, or foeti) is the unborn offspring that develops from an animal embryo. Following embryonic development the fetal stage of development takes place. In human prenatal development, fetal deve ...
.Becker, Bill (25 July 1962)
Abortion to Bar Defective Birth Is Facing Legal Snag in Arizona
''
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'', Retrieved November 16, 2010
Her physician recommended that she obtain a
therapeutic abortion Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pregn ...
,'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. Copies are sold at $2 daily or at $3 ...
''. 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 at which she planned to have the abortion performed, 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
''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', 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
''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', Retrieved November 16, 2010
(28 June 1962)
Phoenix Abortion Ruling Delayed
''
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'', 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 its principal Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement age ...
was brought in to protect her.Buck, Jerry (18 June 1992
HBO films explores 'A Private Matter'
''
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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 make a decision 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 or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...
in 1992, '' A Private Matter'', with
Sissy Spacek Mary Elizabeth Spacek (; born December 25, 1949) is an American actress and singer. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominations for four Britis ...
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
''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', Retrieved November 16, 2010
She and her husband then flew to
Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
, 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
''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', Retrieved November 16, 2010
The operation was performed the following day.(19 August 1962
Mrs. Finkbine Undergoes Abortion In Sweden
''
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("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
''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', 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. 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 Tho ...
, her story "helped change public opinion
n abortion N, or n, is the fourteenth Letter (alphabet), letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the English alphabet, modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is English alphabet# ...
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 ...
s. Planned Parenthood wrote that Chessen was able to afford going overseas to have the abortion, but many other women seeking to terminate unwanted pregnancies would turn to
illegal abortion 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 ...
s.
Lee Epstein Lee Epstein is an American political scientist who is currently the University Professor of Law & Political Science and Charles L. and Ramona I. Hilliard Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Southern California. Career Universi ...
, 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 L. 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 voice-overs to present a character or provide information to an audience. Performers are called voice actors/actresses, voice artists, dubbing artists, voice talent, voice-over artists, or voice-over talent ...
for cartoons and wrote two children’s books to address the issues of gun violence and bullying.


References


External links

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