Issue and Opponent: The Cherry Tree Rebellion was a protest against the construction of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial along Washington D.C. Tidal Basin, which was to replace the beloved cherry blossom trees planted upon the grounds. These trees were not only a pleasant addition to the city. They held historical significance since two of the first Yoshino cherry trees were planted by the then First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador in 1912. In 1936, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission was formed, and the present-day location was selected in 1937. However, this also meant that 88 of the publicly-adored cherry blossom trees would be removed. Thus began the Cherry Tree Rebellion, and many clubs, boards, communities, and citizens protested the construction. The protest, spearheaded by Eleanor “Cissy” Patterson, and her newspaper Washington Times-Herald, criticized the Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration and spurred her fellow citizens to speak out against the construction.
Dilemma Action: There were several actions taken, however, the most significant took place on November 18, 1938. A total of 50 protesters, led by Patterson herself, chained themselves to the cherry blossom trees later that day following a demonstration where they marched to the White House and recited the Joyce Kilmer poem “Trees.” The choice was to either forcibly remove the protesting women and bring even further criticism from the Washington D.C. citizens as they tore down the cherry blossom trees or to allow the protesters to continue chaining themselves to the trees and delay the construction of the memorial. Ultimately, the Roosevelt administration was forced to consult alternative methods of removing the protestors led by Patterson, ones that would avoid further villainy from the city– or perhaps even national scrutiny, given that Roosevelt was the President incumbent– as a result of their decision to carry on with the construction against the wishes of the protesters.
Outcome: The Cherry Tree Rebellion concluded when the women were convinced to give up. Roosevelt threatened to have the protesters chained to the trees be taken along with them, so the women retreated upon learning of the President’s unwillingness to back down. Another account suggested that the women were convinced to retreat after being served lunch by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior Michael Strauss. Strauss served the chained protesters a neverending supply of coffee, which quickened their need to use the restrooms and abandon the movement. The remaining cherry blossom trees were cleared in the middle of the night to avoid further conflict. Though Patterson would blast Roosevelt later in the evening of that day for misrepresenting the number of trees removed, the movement was stopped, and the project completed its construction. Work carried on, and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial was formally dedicated on April 13, 1943.