In 1969 the US Senate had a hearing on funding the newly developed Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The proposed endowment was $20 million, but President Nixon wanted it cut in half because of the spending going on in the Vietnam War.

This is an video clip of the exchange between Mr. Rogers and Senator Pastore, head of the hearing.

Senator Pastore starts out very abrasive and by the time Mr. Rogers is done talking, Senator Pastore’s inner child has heard Mr. Rogers and agreed with him.