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Fred Rogers' 1969 Senate Testimony on Public Broadcasting Funding

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Fred Rogers' 1969 Senate testimony
Fred Rogers testifying before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, May 1, 1969
DateMay 1, 1969
TimeApprox. 6 minutes
LocationUnited States Senate, Washington, D.C.
ParticipantsFred Rogers, Senator John Pastore, U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Communications
OutcomeFull $20 million funding granted to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

On May 1, 1969, Fred Rogers, the creator and host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, testified before the United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media to oppose a proposed 50% reduction in federal funding for public broadcasting. President Richard Nixon's administration had suggested cutting the budget from $20 million to $10 million. Rogers' six-minute testimony emphasized the emotional and educational value of children's programming, advocating for the importance of non-commercial media in child development. His sincere and composed delivery notably influenced Senator John Pastore, the subcommittee chair, who responded favorably to Rogers' appeal. The testimony is credited with securing the full $20 million funding and is regarded as a pivotal moment in the history of public broadcasting in the United States.[1][2]

Context

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In the late 1960s, the United States sought to enhance educational and cultural programming accessible to the public. This initiative led to the enactment of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, which established the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The CPB was designed as a private, nonprofit corporation to promote and support public broadcasting.[3][4]

By 1969, the CPB relied heavily on federal funding to support its initiatives. U.S. President Lyndon Johnson had proposed a $20 million bill for the creation of PBS before he left office, but his successor, Richard Nixon, wanted to cut the funding to $10 million amidst the Vietnam War.[5][6] This proposal raised concerns among educators, broadcasters, and the public, who feared that such a reduction would hinder the growth and accessibility of educational content.[7]

In response to the proposed budget cuts, the Senate Subcommittee on Communications held hearings to discuss the implications of reduced funding for public broadcasting.[8][9][10] Fred Rogers, the creator and host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, was invited to testify. The clip of Rogers' testimony, which was televised and has since been viewed by millions of people on the internet, helped to secure funding for PBS for many years afterward.[11][12] He appeared before the subcommittee on May 1, 1969..

Testification

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Testimony

Rogers, who was not yet nationally known,[13] began by stating that he had a written statement but preferred to speak extemporaneously to convey his message more personally. He emphasized the importance of nurturing children's emotional and moral development, which he believed public television uniquely supported.[14]

He described his program's approach to helping children deal with complex emotions, such as anger and fear, in constructive ways.[15]

He highlighted his commitment to children's emotional and moral development, stating, "I give an expression of care every day to each child to help him realize that he is unique." He emphasized the importance of helping children manage difficult emotions, particularly anger, through constructive means. To illustrate this, he recited the lyrics of his song "What Do You Do with the Mad that You Feel?"[16][17] He explained that the song was inspired by a question from a young boy and was intended to help children understand and express their emotions safely.

His PBS program then had a budget of $6,000.[18][19]

Throughout his six-minute testimony, Rogers maintained a calm and sincere demeanor,[20] which contrasted with the often formal atmosphere of congressional hearings. His heartfelt appeal resonated with Senator John Pastore, the subcommittee chair, who was initially skeptical. After listening to Rogers' presentation, Pastore remarked, "I think it's wonderful. I think it's wonderful. Looks like you just earned the $20 million."[21][22]

Aftermath and legacy

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According to King, Rogers' testimony was "considered one of the most powerful pieces of testimony ever offered before Congress, and one of the most powerful pieces of video presentation ever filmed".[23] It brought Pastore to tears and also, according to King, has been studied by public relations experts and academics.[24][23] Congressional funding for PBS increased from $9 million to $22 million.[7][19] In 1970, Nixon appointed Rogers as chair of the White House Conference on Children and Youth.[25]

Video of Rogers' 1969 testimony in defense of public programming has experienced a resurgence since 2012, going viral since.[26] It first resurfaced after then presidential candidate Mitt Romney suggested cutting funding for PBS.[27][28] In 2017, video of the testimony again went viral after President Donald Trump proposed defunding several arts-related government programs including PBS and the National Endowment for the Arts.[27][29] The testimony received revived attention in 2025 after Trump signed an executive order in May cutting funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds PBS and NPR.[30][31][32][33]

References

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  1. ^ "What Trump's NPR and PBS Cuts Mean to Someone Raised in Rural North Carolina". Forbes. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  2. ^ "American Rhetoric: Mr. Rogers - Testimony Before the U.S. Senate on Funding for PBS". Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Public Broadcasting Act of 1967" (PDF). Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original (PDF) on Oct 17, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  4. ^ Emily Hellewell (November 8, 2012). "How Public Radio Scotch-Taped Its Way Into Public Broadcasting Act". NPR. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  5. ^ "The Best Argument for Saving Public Media Was Made by Mr. Rogers in 1969". 16 March 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Watch Mister Rogers' Heart-Melting Plea to Save Federal Funding for PBS in 1969 (Video)". 16 March 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  7. ^ a b Frank, Steve (September 6, 2013). "Mr. Rogers offers timeless defense of PBS funding…in 1969". MSNBC.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  8. ^ https://cpb.org/aboutpb/mrroger
  9. ^ https://www.bunkhistory.org/resources/fred-rogers-testifies-before-the-senate-subcommittee-on-communications
  10. ^ https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-15-32d7wxf3?term=EDUCATIONAL+TELEVISION+FACILITIES+ACT+OF+1962&
  11. ^ King, pp. 170–171.
  12. ^ King, p. 176.
  13. ^ "How Did Mister Rogers Raise $140 Million for PBS in Just 7 Minutes?". 14 September 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  14. ^ https://www.ksbw.com/article/54-years-ago-today-mr-rogers-takes-on-washington/43755687
  15. ^ https://drdansiegel.com/emotions-are-mentionable-and-manageable-the-mindsight-and-kindness-of-mr-rogers-brain/
  16. ^ "Public turns to Fred Rogers' testimony to save arts funding". Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  17. ^ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mister-rogers-fred-death-google-doodle-stomach-cancer-nixon-died-pbs-a8548696.html
  18. ^ https://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Watch-Mister-Rogers-Heart-Melting-Plea-to-Save-11007328.php. Retrieved 31 May 2025. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ^ a b "A Comforting Face in Difficult Times: 20 Things You Might Not Know About Mr. Rogers". 16 April 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  20. ^ https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2014/09/25/how-emotional-intelligence-landed-mr-rogers-20-million/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ^ Harris, Aisha (5 October 2012). "When Mister Rogers Defended Public TV". Slate. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  22. ^ "PBS funding fight goes back to Mr. Rogers". 2 March 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  23. ^ a b King, p. 172.
  24. ^ https://pac.org/impact/what-mr-rogers-can-teach-us-about-public-speaking
  25. ^ King, p. 175.
  26. ^ "America's Favorite Neighbor Mister Rogers Being Celebrated in 2018 - CBS Texas". CBS News. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  27. ^ a b Eberson, Sharon (March 17, 2019). "Fred Rogers re-emerges as champion for PBS". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  28. ^ Harris, Aisha (October 5, 2012). "Watch Mister Rogers Defend PBS In Front of the U.S. Senate". Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  29. ^ Strachan, Maxwell (March 16, 2017). "The Best Argument For Saving Public Media Was Made By Mr. Rogers In 1969". HuffPost. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  30. ^ Mullin, Benjamin (26 March 2025). "PBS and NPR Have Faced Pressure from Congress Before". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  31. ^ "Why conservatives are finally ready to cut the cord on public broadcasting". Politico. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  32. ^ "Watch Mister Rogers defend public television to the U.S. Senate in 1969". 18 February 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  33. ^ "Are Lost 'Mr. Rogers' a Shot at Trump?". The Daily Beast. 25 March 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
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