In 1969, Congress was about to cut $20 million from public broadcasting. Senator John Pastore — chairman of the committee, a famously tough man — was not interested in being moved.
Fred Rogers walked in and talked for six minutes. No charts. No data. No drama.
He talked about what he did on his show. He talked about a little song he sang to children about what to do with the mad that you feel. He looked directly at Pastore and recited it from memory:
'What do you do with the mad that you feel when you feel so mad you could bite?'
Pastore, who had been visibly restless and dismissive at the start, went completely quiet.
When Rogers finished, Pastore sat silent for a moment. Then: 'I think it's wonderful. Looks like you just earned the $20 million.'
He hadn't done it with an argument. He had done it by being completely, uncomplicatedly himself — the same way he was on television every day.
The most disarming thing in the world is genuine sincerity. You can't defend against it. You can only feel it.
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