In 1969, fledgling Public TV, in the form of PBS, was about to fall under the budget axe as President Nixon sought money to pay for the Vietnam war. Sen. John Pastore, weary of testimony by PBS officials, had the hatchet ready when Fred M. Rogers appeared to defend PBS. This segment can also be found in the "Would You Be My Neighbor?" documentary, and shows what can happen when both parties have enough respect for the other to listen. See "Would You Be My Neighbor?," but bring enough Kleenex/handkerchiefs/towels, there's "a powerful lot of onion cutting going on" during the movie.;)
20 Facts about Mr. Rogers...