On this day 57 years ago, Fred Rogers testified before the U.S. Senate in support of funding for the Public Broadcasting System.
Rogers appeared before a Senate subcommittee on May 1, 1969, when his children’s show was still in its infancy, to explain to federal officials the benefits it and public television provided to children.
Rogers was hoping to secure $20 million in federal funding for public broadcasting.
The speech has been the subject of thousands of reaction videos on YouTube, mostly owing to Rogers’ effective, persuasive, compassionate argument for his longtime habit of telling every viewer that they are unique and special.
“I give an expression of care every day to each child, to help him understand that he is unique,” Rogers says. “There’s no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are. If we can only make it clear that feelings are mentionable, and manageable, we will have done a great service for mental health.”
Rogers makes a strong impression on committee chair Sen. John Pastore, whose attitude goes from impatient to impressed rather quickly.
“I’m supposed to be a pretty tough guy,” Pastore said. “And this is the first time in the last two days that I have goosebumps.”
Watch Rogers’ speech below.
Here are a few more interesting bits and pieces from Rogers’ career.
Not only does Arsenio Hall give Mr. Rogers a new jacket for his wardrobe, but they discuss the way that messages like Rogers’ can resonate with people.
Most of us can hum the theme song to “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” and it’s so catchy that many people who heard it may not have even realized they were hearing jazz for the first time. Over the years, Rogers regularly featured Pittsburgh jazz guitar legend Joe Negri on his program, and the theme song — written by Rogers and musical director Johnny Costa — is much more complex than it initially sounds.
Composer and performer Charles Cornell breaks down the show’s music in this video.
It seems almost difficult to believe now, but in 1969 the mere act of sharing a baby pool with a Black man had Rogers courting controversy.
The segment in question finds Rogers helping a policeman cool off on a hot day. This reaction video shows a clip from a Fred Rogers documentary, an interview with the man who portrayed the policeman.
Even when he is the subject of praise — in this case, a Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award in 1997 — Rogers was still striving to teach gratitude and respect.
“All of us have special ones who have loved us into being,” Rogers says. “Will you just take 10 seconds with me to think of the people who have helped you become who you? Those who loved you and wanted what was best for you in life.”
Good luck keeping your eyes dry with this one. In this segment from the 2018 documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” a young boy named Jeff Erlanger appeared on the show to talk about the medical condition that resulted in his permanent use of a wheelchair. The pair sang one of Rogers’ songs, “It’s You I Like,” on the show.
Years later, Erlanger showed up as an adult to help induct Rogers in the Television Hall of Fame.