Mister Rogers Goes To Washington (In 1969)

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Alicia

The United States Senate Subcommittee on Communications had one very special guest in 1969: Fred Rogers. He came asking for government funding to support PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting after then-President Richard Nixon had attempted to slash it significantly. It’s a wonderful bit of video:

Mister Rogers spoke out on behalf of America’s children:

“There is something deep inside that helps us become what we can. For a girl can be someday a lady and a boy can be someday a man.”

And the best part is, he won.

Now in 2011, even if most of us aren’t quite as charming as Mister Rogers was, it’s time for us to stand up and defend PBS all over again.

Found by Steven on YouTube.


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  • Anonymous

    Wait! Huge difference between PBS and NPR, huge. I believe the government is proposing to cut funding for NPR, not PBS. They should cut ALL funding for NPR. WHy should my taxed money go to an organization that is the quinticential liberal progressive voicebox of the Democratic party? It’s just like those select teachers out there that don’t want thier dues going toward support of the liberal democratic machine. I’m all for PBS, great programming. We should definately allow funding for PBS, just not NPR.

  • Anonymous

    I believe the word is quintessential – but then, that’s from a contributing supporter of both NPR and PBS. As you stated, wrong is wrong.

  • Anonymous

    I never stated it, it happens to be a user name. Are you suggesting that supporters of NPR can spell better than non-supporters? Typical liberal democrat, when there is simply no adequate way to argue with a point, you resort to picking on my spelling. Keep throwing money at your liberal public radio, your loss, not mine.

  • Anonymous

    Sadly, I lost my respect for Mr. Rogers the day I heard him say that “manholes are called this because only men work in them.” OMG!! nnEven this statement has issues. Girls become ladies, and boys become “men.” Lady is an adjective meaning gentile, where man is a worker. The underlying sexism is inappropriate! Our children do not need to learn that women are passive and men are the doers.nnHe was a closet sexist who slipped out to subconsciously warp our children’s minds way too often. The Muppet Show was far more rewarding.

  • Anonymous

    Yes, funding for PBS is cut.nn”The House of Representatives voted to eliminate the CPBu2019s funding as part of a government spending bill that was passed in the early hours of [last] Saturday morning.nnThe Corporation for Public Broadcasting provides support for ventures like National Public Radio (NPR) and PBS, home of u201cSesame Street.u201dnnRep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., says the vote reflects the will of the people, and that its time u201cto get our fiscal house in order.u201d”nnNo one asked me what I wanted, and I doubt my interests are represented by the two “old white man” Senators from AZ. Please save PBS!!

  • Anonymous

    Less than 1% of NPR’s budget comes from CPB. PBS is funded by CPB which is funded by the federal govt. NPR’s funds come from member stations and donations.

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