Before You Read

In this video, beloved children’s entertainer and television personality Fred Rogers speaks before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications in 1969 regarding funding for PBS programming. Rogers specifically addresses Senator John Pastore, the impatient chairman of the subcommittee who had previously dismissed the arguments of each speaker preceding Mr. Rogers. The exchange here presents a successful rhetorical argument on Roger's part as he creates a strong emotional connection with his audience, Pastore, and sways the opinion of the senator through use of emotional and ethical appeals.

Introduction by the editors

Fred Rogers testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, 1969

by Fred Rogers

Watch the video Fred Rogers testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, 1969.

Fred Rogers testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, 1969 is licensed under Public Domain: No Known Copyright

Rogers, Fred. “Fred Rogers testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, 1969.” The Commons: Tools for Reading, Writing, and Rhetoric (2nd ed.), edited by Jill Parrott and Dominic Ashby, Eastern Kentucky University, 2026.