On June 7, 1968, two days after the assassination of Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Fred Rogers, host of “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” aired a special episode to help children understand the national tragedy. The episode was created in response to the shock and fear following Kennedy’s murder at a California campaign event, which occurred just two months after the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rogers, an ordained minister with degrees in theology and child development, was deeply concerned about the impact of such events on young children, who were exposed to intense media coverage but excluded from adult discussions.
The special episode, aired just one day before Kennedy’s funeral, featured a conversation between the puppet Daniel Striped Tiger and Lady Aberlin, where Daniel asked, “What does assassination mean?” Lady Aberlin explained it as “somebody getting killed, in sort of a surprise way”. The episode then transitioned to Mr. Rogers, who directly addressed parents, pleading for their protection and support of young children, stating, “I plead for your protection and support of our young children. There is just so much that a very young child can take”. Rogers worked through the night of June 6 to prepare the episode, emphasizing the importance of helping families navigate difficult topics.
This episode was notable for its unprecedented approach in children’s television, as it directly addressed serious social and political issues like violence and grief. It was one of the first times a children’s show tackled such a topic with such sensitivity and depth, reflecting Rogers’ belief in the profound impact of media on children. The episode aired on the public television network NET and was a prime-time special, marking a significant moment in the show’s early history.
