What if Mister Rogers Had Become President Rogers?

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. broadcast debut of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (it had aired in Canada on the CBC as a 15 minute program from 1963 to 1966).

Like numerous children who grew up in the 1970's, 1980's, 1990's and even into the early 2000's, I watched Fred Rogers' program and was always struck by his decency, kindness, sincerity and gentle candor. He somehow managed to win the trust of generations of children across North America without a hint of condescension.

Aside from his support for increased federal public funding for public television, I don't know what Fred Rogers' politics were. Truth be told, Mister Rogers was too smart to sully his hands in the political arena. But if he had felt compelled to run for the White House or any other public office, I believe Mister Rogers would have comported himself with dignity, grace, respect and would not have insulted the intelligence of the voters on both the campaign trail and after being sworn into office.

President Rogers would have handled his duties with enormous care especially where it concerned sending our military personnel into harm's way. I'm sure that he would have made decisions with which I disagreed. But I would have appreciated his honesty. Regardless of his decisions, Mister Rogers would have treated the office he was bestowed with his unimpeachable character.

Unfortunately, many of the children who were raised on Mister Rogers saw fit to cast a ballot for Donald Trump a little over a year ago. Perhaps they outgrew Mister Rogers' wisdom, forgot it or just plain ignored it. But Trump is everything that Mister Rogers isn't. Whereas Mister Rogers is kind, Donald Trump is cruel. Whereas Mister Rogers speaks simple truths, Donald Trump peddles lie after lie. Whereas Mister Rogers imparts wisdom, Donald Trump imparts foolishness. Could you imagine how Mister Rogers would have used his Twitter account?

Of course, Mister Rogers has been dead and gone for nearly 15 years. The idea of Mister Rogers being President during his lifetime would have been considered preposterous. Of course, it wasn't so long ago that the idea of President Trump was also considered preposterous. If Americans are now in the practice of electing TV personalities President, rather than aspiring to make America great again we should try to make a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

I think if Mister Rogers had become President Rogers, he would have addressed the nation much in the way he addressed the audience assembled at the 1997 Daytime Emmy Awards when he received a lifetime achievement award. He instructed the audience to have a 10 second moment of silence to think of the people who helped them become who they are. At first the audience thought he was joking. But when he started to look at his watch, everyone knew he was serious and they followed his he lead. Tears soon began to shed.

If only we had this kind of leadership in Washington.