Nellie Taft Plants a Legacy

When the Japanese cherry trees bloom each spring in Washington, D.C., the nation's capital is awash in vibrant pink and white hues. That's due to the efforts of First Lady Nellie Taft, who helped journalist Eliza Skidmore realize her dream for a more colorful capital in the first decade of the 20th century. Colleen Shogan talks with John M. Bridgeland about Taft's vision for a shared civic culture, her own political ambitions, and her prophetic visit to the White House as a young woman. Read Bridgeland's essay on Nellie Taft. Hosted by Colleen Shogan, Ph.D. Written and Produced by Jim Ambuske, Ph.D. Audio mixing by Curt Dahl of CD Squared. Music from Music Bed. Production Services by Stand Together. In Pursuit is a podcast by More Perfect. Join the Conversation: Tell us who inspires you: https://www.inpursuit.org/join. Please leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It helps other listeners find the show. Follow In Pursuit: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/In-Pursuit-USA-61580409336588/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inpursuitusa/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inpursuitusa BlueSkye: https://bsky.app/profile/inpursuitusa.bsky.social X: https://x.com/InPursuitUSA