WONDERAMA {SEGMENT WITH SENATOR-ELECT ROBERT F.
KENNEDY} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of children's programs. In this edition, host Sonny Fox speaks with Senator-elect Robert F. Kennedy of New York, who responds to questions posed by children from the Sands Point Country Day School. After the children describe their impressions of the word "politician," the senator-elect suggests that politicians "reflect the best and worst of the public." Kennedy also explains how he and his family discuss current affairs and research historical figures together. Questions posed by Fox and the children lead Kennedy to remark on the following topics: the political background of his relatives; his attempt to preserve the Kennedy tradition of family political discussions; his children's future career interests; and his parents' belief that Kennedys have an obligation, via public service, to pay back a debt to the country. Other topics discussed include whether his children enjoy school; the fact that his wife, Ethel, helps them with homework; regulations on his kids' television viewing and their favorite programs, including "Profiles in Courage," "The Addams Family," and "The Outer Limits"; reading with his kids at home; and the fact that Kennedy watches only football and documentaries on television. Then Kennedy talks about the recent civil rights legislation, the need for more money for education, and the way high school drop-out rates lead to unemployment. One child suggests that an insufficient number of jobs exists for a work force that was enlarged through civil rights laws, and another child wonders how desegregation laws can be enforced. Kennedy answers a child's question about busing and notes the need for equality in school conditions. The program concludes after Kennedy emphatically tells the group of white children the importance of befriending kids from all racial and religious backgrounds. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: WNEW-TV
- DATE: November 30, 1963
- RUNNING TIME: 0:21:58
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T85:0934
- GENRE: Children's; Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Blacks - Politics and suffrage; Children's programs; TV - Social aspects; U S - Officials - Talk/Interviews
- SERIES RUN: WNEW (New York, NY) - TV series
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Sonny Fox … Interviewer
- Robert F. Kennedy … Guest