John O. Pastore
Encyclopedia
John Orlando Pastore was a Rhode Island
Democratic Party politician who was a United States Senator
from Rhode Island (1950 until 1976) and the 61st Governor of Rhode Island
(1945 until 1950), and was the first Italian American
to hold either position.
on March 17, 1907, he attended Classical High School
and graduated from law school at Northeastern University
in 1931 where he went on to practice law in Providence. He was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
from 1935 to 1937, was assistant attorney general of Rhode Island from 1937 to 1938 and again from 1940 to 1944. He was elected Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island in 1944. He became Governor of Rhode Island in 1945 when Governor J. Howard McGrath
resigned to become Solicitor General of the United States
. In 1946, Pastore was elected to a gubernatorial term in his own right; he was re-elected in 1948.
as a Democrat in a special election to replace — once again — J. Howard McGrath
, who had resigned in 1949 to become United States Attorney General (Edward L. Leahy
held the office during a 16-month interim appointment). Pastore was re-elected in 1952, 1958, 1964 and 1970.
In the summer of 1964, he delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which renominated Lyndon B. Johnson for the Presidency.
He won his final Senate race in 1970 by a 68%-32% margin over John McLaughlin
, a Catholic priest who was against the Vietnam War
. (McLaughlin, who later left the priesthood, would become more famous as the host of the television program The McLaughlin Group
.)
In 1976 he retired, living in Cranston
until his death due to kidney failure on July 15, 2000.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000100
Pastore served as the chairman of United States Senate Subcommittee on Communications. He is probably best remembered for taking part in a hearing involving a $20 million grant for the funding of PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
, which was proposed by Former President
Lyndon Johnson. The hearing took place on May 1, 1969. President
Richard Nixon
had wanted to cut the proposed funding to $10 million due to all the spending during the Vietnam War
, and Fred Rogers, host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
, appeared before the committee to argue for the full $20 million. In about six minutes of testimony, Rogers spoke of the need for social and emotional education that Public Television provided. Pastore was not previously familiar with Rogers' work, and was sometimes described as gruff and impatient. However, he told Rogers that the testimony had given him goose bumps
, and after Rogers recited the lyrics to "What Do You Do with the Mad that You Feel?
", one of the songs from his show, Pastore finally declared, "I think it's wonderful. I think it's wonderful. Looks like you just earned the $20 million." The following congressional appropriation, for 1971, increased PBS funding from $9 million to $22 million.
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
Democratic Party politician who was a United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Rhode Island (1950 until 1976) and the 61st Governor of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
(1945 until 1950), and was the first Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
to hold either position.
Early life and career
Born in ProvidenceProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
on March 17, 1907, he attended Classical High School
Classical High School
Classical High School, founded in 1843, is a public exam school in the Providence School District, in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. It was originally an all-male school, but has since become co-ed...
and graduated from law school at Northeastern University
Northeastern University School of Law
Northeastern University School of Law is a law school in Boston, Massachusetts. From the time of its founding in 1898, the law school's mission has focused on addressing the needs of students and of society....
in 1931 where he went on to practice law in Providence. He was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Rhode Island House of Representatives
The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 75 members, elected to two year terms from 75 districts of equal population. The Rhode Island General Assembly does not have...
from 1935 to 1937, was assistant attorney general of Rhode Island from 1937 to 1938 and again from 1940 to 1944. He was elected Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island in 1944. He became Governor of Rhode Island in 1945 when Governor J. Howard McGrath
J. Howard McGrath
James Howard McGrath was an American politician and attorney from the U.S. state of Rhode Island.McGrath, a Democrat, served as U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island before becoming Governor, U.S. Solicitor General, U.S...
resigned to become Solicitor General of the United States
United States Solicitor General
The United States Solicitor General is the person appointed to represent the federal government of the United States before the Supreme Court of the United States. The current Solicitor General, Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 6, 2011 and sworn in on June...
. In 1946, Pastore was elected to a gubernatorial term in his own right; he was re-elected in 1948.
Senate
In 1950, Pastore was elected to the United States SenateUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
as a Democrat in a special election to replace — once again — J. Howard McGrath
J. Howard McGrath
James Howard McGrath was an American politician and attorney from the U.S. state of Rhode Island.McGrath, a Democrat, served as U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island before becoming Governor, U.S. Solicitor General, U.S...
, who had resigned in 1949 to become United States Attorney General (Edward L. Leahy
Edward L. Leahy
Edward Lawrence Leahy was a United States Senator and federal judge from Rhode Island. Born in Bristol, Rhode Island, he attended the public schools, was a student at Brown University in 1904 and 1905, graduated from the law school of Georgetown University in 1908, was admitted to the Rhode Island...
held the office during a 16-month interim appointment). Pastore was re-elected in 1952, 1958, 1964 and 1970.
In the summer of 1964, he delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which renominated Lyndon B. Johnson for the Presidency.
He won his final Senate race in 1970 by a 68%-32% margin over John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin (host)
John McLaughlin is an American television personality and political commentator. He created, produces and hosts the long-running political commentary series The McLaughlin Group as well as John McLaughlin's One On One....
, a Catholic priest who was against the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. (McLaughlin, who later left the priesthood, would become more famous as the host of the television program The McLaughlin Group
The McLaughlin Group
The McLaughlin Group is a syndicated half-hour weekly public affairs television program in the United States, where a group of five pundits discuss current political issues in a round table format. It has been broadcast since 1982, and is currently sponsored by MetLife...
.)
In 1976 he retired, living in Cranston
Cranston, Rhode Island
Cranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. With a population of 80,387 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston...
until his death due to kidney failure on July 15, 2000.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000100
Pastore served as the chairman of United States Senate Subcommittee on Communications. He is probably best remembered for taking part in a hearing involving a $20 million grant for the funding of PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a non-profit corporation created by an act of the United States Congress, funded by the United States’ federal government to promote public broadcasting...
, which was proposed by Former President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Lyndon Johnson. The hearing took place on May 1, 1969. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
had wanted to cut the proposed funding to $10 million due to all the spending during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, and Fred Rogers, host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, also known as Mister Rogers, is an American children's television series that was created and hosted by Fred Rogers. The series is aimed primarily at preschool ages, 2-5, but has been stated by Public Broadcasting Service as "appropriate for all ages"...
, appeared before the committee to argue for the full $20 million. In about six minutes of testimony, Rogers spoke of the need for social and emotional education that Public Television provided. Pastore was not previously familiar with Rogers' work, and was sometimes described as gruff and impatient. However, he told Rogers that the testimony had given him goose bumps
Goose bumps
Goose bumps, also called goose flesh, goose pimples, chill bumps, chicken skin, funky spots, Dasler Bumps, chicken bumps or the medical term cutis anserina, are the bumps on a person's skin at the base of body hairs which may involuntarily develop when a person is cold or experiences strong...
, and after Rogers recited the lyrics to "What Do You Do with the Mad that You Feel?
What Do You Do with the Mad that You Feel?
"What Do You Do?" is a song written and sung by famed PBS personality Fred Rogers . It was influential early on in the funding process of PBS as noted by Senator John O. Pastore.-External links:* at PBS Kids...
", one of the songs from his show, Pastore finally declared, "I think it's wonderful. I think it's wonderful. Looks like you just earned the $20 million." The following congressional appropriation, for 1971, increased PBS funding from $9 million to $22 million.