Description

On May 1 1969 Fred Rogers host of the then recently nationally syndicated childrens television series Mister Rogers Neighborhood testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce Subcommittee on Communications to defend 20 million in federal funding proposed for the newly formed nonprofit Corporation for Public Broadcasting which was at risk of being reduced to 10 million Subcommittee chairman Senator John Pastore DRI unfamiliar with Fred Rogers is initially abrasive toward him Over the course of Rogers 6 minutes of testimony Pastores demeanor gradually transitions to one of awe and admiration as Rogers speaks