Integrity would not allow that. In 1945, with the war over, Cronkite didn't stop reporting -- he kept his press pass and covered the Nuremberg Trials. Send your reasons for Cronkitian distrust to slate.pressbox@gmail.com and subscribe to my untrustworthy Twitter feed. Betsy, his wife of forty-five years, died of cancer in 2005. During WWII, Walter Cronkite flew in a real bombing mission over Germany. My unscientific sampling [], I recently listened to Howard Sterns interview with (Sir) Paul McCartney. He was a war correspondent who went on to be a CBS news anchor, and during his 19-year run he gave us the straight dope on two Kennedy assassinations, the Watergate scandal, violence at Kent State, the horrors of Vietnam, and so much more. I am pursuing a degree in Political Science and International and Global Studies. Author Douglas David Brinkley refers often in the book, titled Cronkite, to the anchorman's "most trusted" status. Walter Cronkite always ended his nightly news segments with, And thats the way it is. Fortunately, the show expanded to 30 minutes in September of 1963. Ample breasts. It seemed miraculous for a Brooklyn kid that our babysitter's mom worked for Mr. Cronkite at CBS News. Walter Cronkite Found New Love at 88 after His Wife of 64 Years Died but Left Her Nothing By Camila Santiago Nov 09, 2021 08:20 P.M. Cronkite refused, but the idea reflected polls showing that a journalist -- a television journalist at that -- had become the most trusted man in America. Walter Cronkite and the legend of CBS News. No satellite dish. | Because of his willingness to learn everything about spaceflight and his ability to convey his knowledge to viewers, he seemed to be almost as much a part of the American space program as the astronauts themselves. However, he said, his ad-libbed discussions with Charlemagne, who was played by legendary puppeteer Bil Baird, were remarkable for their depth, especially since puppets could express opinions humans were reluctant to make public. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. If Cronkite reported it thats really the way it was. What do you think? Most importantly, Cronkite never made it about himself, his feelings, or his star status. He died on July 17, 2009, at age 92. I genuinely dont think well ever see a reporter, or journalist, like him, in a long, long time. Cronkite won the best-known category, but John Chancellor took the honors for best-liked and most-watched TV newsperson. The news business has both expanded and fragmented in the post-Cronkite, post-Fairness Doctrine era. He kept his opinions, like his emotions, largely to himself. to see through the carefully crafted party lineon both sidesand get to the truth of the matter. That move was right for Cronkite he was true to himself. Let me share a brief encounter with the newsman everyone knew: Did I say "everyone?" Hecomes back and raises real questions about what our aims are, and whether the aims are being accurately reported to the American people, Ward says. The CBS News veterans furry baritone, the consistency of his demeanor, the steady gaze of his eyenot to mention the news scripts he read to his audience five nights a weekall inspired deep confidence, the eulogists asserted. The New York Posts Robert P. Post died when his plane was shot down on the same mission. Walters influence, trust and journalistic accomplishments he won virtually every award the industry offered set the standard for journalism for the nation and the world. Its hard to see the forest for the trees when all your concerns involve clicks. He did not let his political views get in the way of his reporting. In 1968, there were plenty of people who were protesting the war in Vietnam. Cronkite stayed in the Kansas City area until he was 10. He was an example of what an exemplary journalist should be like. In the 1950s, 60s and 70s, this is how most Americans got their newsand the man who defined this era, more than any other, was Walter Cronkite. There was no 24/7 cable news, no left and right social media echo chambers, and only three major networks broadcasting news. With quiet clarity and some ferocity, I let the security guard know the man before him was the Walter Cronkite, and we would not be showing him any identification and we would, right now, be on our way. The power of the voice of an unbiased reporter symbolizes the importance of understanding all news, good and bad, at home and abroad. Because other news sources were so scarce, Cronkite and the network broadcasts played a huge role in determining what the public considered newsworthy at the time. He became the host of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. Privacy Statement Veronique de Rugy During his time at CBS, he was selected for the Television Hall of Fame, being only the second newsman to ever be chosen, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter. First listed . During that time, he reported on such subjects as the Kennedy assassinations, the Civil Rights . He had a natural talent for communicating the truth that was nurtured by a very caring, middle class upbringing in the Mid-West. Walter Cronkite retired in 1981, at which time he allowed himself to expose his personal beliefs and opinions. It was as if he enjoyed being reminded to remain humble, especially after all of the success and adulation he earned throughout his remarkable career. Other reasons we shouldnt have trusted Cronkite. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. Just doing the news -- the live performance -- wasn't important. Is there some secret hidden in Cronkites missing FBI papers? Raised in Houston, Texas, he decided to become a journalist after reading a magazine article about a foreign correspondent. Walter Cronkites iconic sign-off and thats the way it is was taken at face value by the nation. Walter Cronkite earned the American people's trust by telling them hard truths and refusing to toe the expected line. I liked reporting as well. In doing so, he could honestly sign off from each nights broadcast with the catchphrase, And thats the way it is, and his viewers could honestly believe it to be true. If you live honestly with integrity with the historical version and then dramatize it, he said in an interview with the Archive of American Television, you are not committing any sin at all., One of his anchor jobs included interviewing a puppet named Charlemagne. For e-mail notification of errors in this specific column, type the word Cronkite in the subject head of an e-mail message, and send it to slate.pressbox@gmail.com. In 1968, he goes to Vietnam and does a documentary, Ward says. Everyone who watched Walter Cronkite somehow felt a personal connection to the newsman: whether they shared his coverage of the moon landing or his agony announcing the assassination of President Kennedy or endured with him the daily torment of an endless war in Vietnam or the despicable hostage-taking of diplomats in Iran. July 2, 2012. I did not not who Walter Cronkite was before reading your article, but have learned a lot about him after reading it. Finally, I said, either you let me in right now or in about thirty seconds the largest group of people you can imagine will be running through that studio door. Known as the most trusted man in America, Cronkite made his mark on a fledgling industry and earned a legendary spot in the affections of generations of viewers. Walter was very lucky, because soon after moving, he read an article in. In 1981, CBSs mandatory retirement age of 65 required that Cronkite step down from his post. No other footage has been played more the last few days more than his announcement of JFKs death. So I stepped outside for a few moments for a smoke. This story already sounds like fiction doesnt it? We trusted him and that . Public mistrust of the government reached a new level, and Cronkites interview of Ellsbergcaptured ina photographnow among the National Portrait Gallerys collectionsbecame one of the many iconic moments of his career. The newscasting industry, though very chaotic, needs more today like him to keep the peace and calm through the times. Joseph Stromberg was previously a digital reporter for Smithsonian. This was a fascinating article about a journalist that I have never heard of before. A reporter of the old school, he believed that there was such a thing as the truth, and his job was to find it. Part of HuffPost Media. He truly laid out the foundation of what great newscasters should be like. He began his career with a commitment to journalism as well. The show was noteworthy not just for its creative spin on historical events: It was also a haven for writers whose names had made it onto Hollywoods black list because of their un-American activities., Three blacklisted screenwriters contributed more than50 of the shows scripts, including many thinly veiled depictions of literal and figurative witch hunts like the trial of Galileo. So how and why did Walter Cronkite become . Walter Cronkite was born on November 4, 1916, in St. Joseph, Missouri. "Walter was always more than just an anchor. Its not just the naive and undereducated who end up trusting people and institutions that they shouldnt. I left my jacket and wallet in the studio and we're going to be on the air in a few minutes. He remained true to that purpose, pursuing reporting at the expense of a college education. "There never was and there never will be another Walter Cronkite. June 12, 2009, 8:34 AM. He put forth his personal opinion, a luxury he denied himself in deference to the integrity of the news and his role. He hears one thing from the generals, and then he walks around and talks to GIs and Vietnamese, and he realizes theres a disconnect.. So how and why did Walter Cronkite become the most trusted man in America? Scroll down for downloadable versions and subscribe to ReasonTV's YouTube Channel to receive automatic updates when new stories go live. Though Rather never said so publicly, CBS News insiders said he did not approve of her appointment. Mrs. Cronkite looked at me and giggled or blushed or maybe neither. - Walter Cronkite. March on the Pentagon 50 Years Later. He had no truck with deconstructionists who believe its all subjective, he was a midwest pragmatist of the William James school. It was a total disaster, and hes lucky to get out of there alive, Ward says. His honest reporting led to a rare assertion of his own viewpoint into the storythat the war was at a stalemate and the two countries should negotiate an end to hostilities. Originally it was a 15-minute broadcast, but due to his high ratings, it was extended to 30 minutes, being the first half-hour nightly news show on American television.3, Cronkite was well-known across America for his hard work, honesty, and objectivity. Cookie Policy But those who worked . Just the name Walter Cronkite conveys a significance backed by well-vetted facts. It is during his years at CBS where he started working on major events such as the 1952 presidential election. He hosted programs such as You Are There and The Twentieth Century. But you can still see it. For 19 years, beginning in 1962 . This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. The news monopoly the three broadcast networks enjoyed for two decades has been shattered by the three cable news networks, all of which embrace (and thrive on) the controversy that Cronkite eschewed. Sign-Off and thats the way of his reporting working on major events such as the Kennedy,. Was born on November 4, 1916, in a few moments for a few moments for a smoke well-vetted... Stepped outside for a smoke this post was published on the same mission he was to. This was a midwest pragmatist of the William James school the forest for the trees when all concerns... The Mid-West and only three major networks broadcasting news the war over, never... 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