This is Hidden Brain, I'm Shankar Vedantam.

Many years ago, the corporation for public broadcasting was on the chopping block.

President Richard Nixon wanted to radically slash its proposed budget.

Supporters of CPP, as it's known, took that case to a congressional hearing.

They have committed against hearings on S1242.

They argued that $20 million was a small amount to pay

for the many educational and entertainment television programs

that the public broadcaster would generate.

In hour after hour of testimony, advocates argued that funding public broadcasting

was good for America and good for America's children.

A number of scientific studies pointed to the fact that America may be literally

important to government hearings and other public activities.

The head of the Congressional Committee, Senator John Pastore of Rhode Island,

had a reputation for being tough-minded and impatient.

All right, now will you answer my question?

Had you not done this?

After a deluge of data and declarations had been presented to his committee,

a famous children's television host took the stage.

His name was Fred Rogers.

All right, Rogers, you got the floor.

He talked about what his program meant to America's children.

I end the program by saying, you've made this day a special day.

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