How Fred Rogers voted

[King of Kensington]

According to Joanne Rogers, Fred Rogers was a registered Republican but "very independent" in the way he voted.  Given he was a mainline Protestant (Presbyterian) minister from an affluent family, the Republican affiliation makes sense.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-11-26/mister-rogers-widow-legacy-a-beautiful-day-in-the-neighborhood

So what's his voting history?  Since he was born in 1928, his first presidential election was in 1952 and he last votes in 2000.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

His last vote is probably for the "compassionate conservative" with the "humble foreign policy". It should be noted that Dubya, to his credit, gave Mr. Rogers the Presidential Medal of Freedom a year before the latter's death.

Other than that I'm not sure, but I can't see him being, for example, a Goldwater fan.

[King of Kensington]

Don't see him voting for Goldwater given his stance on civil rights and the Vietnam War.

[Alben Barkley]

My guesses:

1952: Ike
1956: Ike
1960: Nixon probably
1964: LBJ
1968: Humphrey probably
1972: Nixon probably
1976: Carter
1980: Carter
1984: Reagan probably
1988: Bush
1992: Bush
1996: Dole
2000: Bush

If alive afterwards:

2004: Bush probably
2008: Obama probably
2012: Obama probably
2016: Clinton
2020: Biden

All I know for sure is that Jimmy Carter was basically Mr. Rogers as a president, and there is not a chance in hell Rogers would ever vote for Trump.

[Mr. Smith]

I'd be surprised if he didn't vote for Carter the first time at least.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

My guesses:

1952: Ike
1956: Ike
1960: Nixon probably
1964: LBJ
1968: Humphrey probably
1972: Nixon probably
1976: Carter
1980: Carter
1984: Reagan probably
1988: Bush
1992: Bush
1996: Dole
2000: Bush

If alive afterwards:

2004: Bush probably
2008: Obama probably
2012: Obama probably
2016: Clinton
2020: Biden

All I know for sure is that Jimmy Carter was basically Mr. Rogers as a president, and there is not a chance in hell Rogers would ever vote for Trump.

His widow has made it very clear that she thinks he would have loathed everything Trump 2016 stood for.

[Vice President Christian Man]

I'm guessing Rep except for Goldwater & Ford. 1980 is the toughest one to predict, but I'd say lean Carter because Reagan seemed like Goldwater going into that election and I think he and Carter were relatively similar ideologically despite party differences which I think is more explained by geography than anything else. I have a feeling he would've voted Dem in 2004 due to opposition to Iraq and 2008- for obvious reasons.

[King of Kensington]

In 1980, he could have been a supporter of liberal Republican John Anderson as well.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

His widow has made it very clear that she thinks he would have loathed everything Trump 2016 stood for.

Which almost doesn't even need to be said as there is something thoroughly nihilistic to Trump and his general appeal, and it's hard to think of anything more thoroughly and fundamentally antithetical to Rogers's vocation and message than that.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

His widow has made it very clear that she thinks he would have loathed everything Trump 2016 stood for.

Which almost doesn't even need to be said as there is something thoroughly nihilistic to Trump and his general appeal, and it's hard to think of anything more thoroughly and fundamentally antithetical to Rogers's vocation and message than that.

You're familiar with him? I heard he was virtually unknown outside the US which is why that Tom Hanks movie about him was in limbo forever, studios didn't want to fund it because it would run so weak internationally until they cast Tom Hanks because he's a recognizable enough actor worldwide.

Totally agree though. It's hard to think of more polar opposites than Trump and Rogers.

[King of Kensington]

He's known in Canada, mostly because Canadians watch PBS.  But he also had a short stint in Canada where he hosted a children's program on CBC that was the forerunner to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.


https://www.cbc.ca/archives/before-mr-rogers-neighborhood-came-misterogers-on-cbc-1.4696434

[Filuwaúrdjan]

You're familiar with him? I heard he was virtually unknown outside the US which is why that Tom Hanks movie about him was in limbo forever, studios didn't want to fund it because it would run so weak internationally until they cast Tom Hanks because he's a recognizable enough actor worldwide.

Totally agree though. It's hard to think of more polar opposites than Trump and Rogers.

Yes, I have a fairly serious interest in both pedagogical theories/approaches and public broadcasting and he's a relevant figure to both. I have seen that film as well: rather good actually.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

He's known in Canada, mostly because Canadians watch PBS.  But he also had a short stint in Canada where he hosted a children's program on CBC that was the forerunner to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.


https://www.cbc.ca/archives/before-mr-rogers-neighborhood-came-misterogers-on-cbc-1.4696434

Yeah I should've mentioned Canada too, or at least areas in Canada near the border because they can get PBS coverage. But he is one of the most quintessential distinctly American figures and a very rare example of one who didn't become recognizable worldwide vis globalization.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Rogers was an actual small-c conservative, so he definitely wouldn't have voted for any subsequent Republican nominee had he been alive for it.

[dw93]

1952: Ike
1956: Ike
1960: Nixon
1964: LBJ
1968: Nixon
1972: Nixon
1976: Carter
1980: Anderson
1984: Reagan
1988: Bush
1992: Bush
1996: Dole
2000: Bush

If he were alive beyond 2003:

2004: Kerry
2008: Obama
2012: Could honestly see him going either way
2016: Reluctantly Clinton
2020: Biden

[King of Kensington]

If alive after 2004, I think he no longer votes R.  I think he votes Kerry because of the Iraq War.  Of course he votes Obama in 2008 and make history. In 2012 he considers Romney, but votes for Obama over the Big Bird/PBS funding comments.  Votes for Kasich in the 2016 primaries. And of course he's vehemently anti-Trump, and ends his Republican affiliation after that.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I'm guessing Rep except for Goldwater & Ford. 1980 is the toughest one to predict, but I'd say lean Carter because Reagan seemed like Goldwater going into that election and I think he and Carter were relatively similar ideologically despite party differences which I think is more explained by geography than anything else. I have a feeling he would've voted Dem in 2004 due to opposition to Iraq and 2008- for obvious reasons.

Why would he have not voted for Ford?

[Skill and Chance]

I'm guessing Rep except for Goldwater & Ford. 1980 is the toughest one to predict, but I'd say lean Carter because Reagan seemed like Goldwater going into that election and I think he and Carter were relatively similar ideologically despite party differences which I think is more explained by geography than anything else. I have a feeling he would've voted Dem in 2004 due to opposition to Iraq and 2008- for obvious reasons.

Why would he have not voted for Ford?

He was super culturally NE, so I don't see any reason he would be backing Carter either time.  More likely he goes Gore in 2000 than Carter.

[Vice President Christian Man]

I'm guessing Rep except for Goldwater & Ford. 1980 is the toughest one to predict, but I'd say lean Carter because Reagan seemed like Goldwater going into that election and I think he and Carter were relatively similar ideologically despite party differences which I think is more explained by geography than anything else. I have a feeling he would've voted Dem in 2004 due to opposition to Iraq and 2008- for obvious reasons.

Why would he have not voted for Ford?

He was super culturally NE, so I don't see any reason he would be backing Carter either time.  More likely he goes Gore in 2000 than Carter.

My logic was that he would've been more attracted to Carter's Southern Baptist backgorund and less so to Ford's Nixon pardon.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I'm guessing Rep except for Goldwater & Ford. 1980 is the toughest one to predict, but I'd say lean Carter because Reagan seemed like Goldwater going into that election and I think he and Carter were relatively similar ideologically despite party differences which I think is more explained by geography than anything else. I have a feeling he would've voted Dem in 2004 due to opposition to Iraq and 2008- for obvious reasons.

Why would he have not voted for Ford?

He was super culturally NE, so I don't see any reason he would be backing Carter either time.  More likely he goes Gore in 2000 than Carter.

My logic was that he would've been more attracted to Carter's Southern Baptist backgorund and less so to Ford's Nixon pardon.

I don't think he would have held the pardon against Ford, maybe not even disagreed with it. Either Ford or Carter seem like candidates he wouldn't have a problem supporting.

[King of Kensington]

I don't think he would have disagreed with the Nixon pardon.

[Alcibiades]

I would presume that Rogers voted for Ford - Ford did very well with moderate Northern mainline Protestants.