Walter Cronkite (1916–2009,) fully Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr., was an American television journalist and broadcaster. He anchored the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) Evening News 1962–81, bringing forthright, solemn presence in times of war and crisis, scandal and celebration, ending each broadcast with his famous sign-off, “And that’s the way it is.”
Born in St Joseph, Missouri, Cronkite studied political science, economics, and journalism at Texas University (1933–35) but dropped out to work for the Houston Post and later at KCMO radio in Kansas City as news- and sports-reporter.
The United Press employed Cronkite (1939–48.) He provided vivid eyewitness accounts of World War II in Europe and remained to cover the Nuremberg trials and work as the bureau chief in Moscow (1946–48.)
Cronkite joined CBS in 1950. He hosted many shows and narrated You Are There (1953–56) but became best known for his informative, straightforward reporting on the CBS Evening News (1962–81.) Called “the most trusted man in America,” he reported on such historical events as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (1963,) the Apollo 11 Moon landing (1969,) the progress of the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal (1972,) and the ensuing resignation of President Richard M. Nixon (1974.)
Cronkite also hosted the programs Sabotage in South Africa (1962,) D-Day Plus 20 Years (1964,) and Vietnam: A War That Is Finished (1975.)
Cronkite’s memoir is A Reporter’s Life (1996.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Walter Cronkite
There is no such thing as a little freedom. Either you are all free, or you are not free.
—Walter Cronkite
Topics: Freedom
Success is more permanent when you achieve it without destroying your principles.
—Walter Cronkite
Topics: Success
Not only do we have a right to know, we have a duty to know what our Government is doing in our name. If there’s a criticism to be made today, it’s that the press isn’t doing enough to put the pressure on the government to provide information.
—Walter Cronkite
Topics: Media
I can’t imagine a person becoming a success who doesn’t give this game of life everything he’s got.
—Walter Cronkite
Topics: Living, Success & Failure, Success
It is a seldom proferred argument as to the advantages of a free press that it has a major function in keeping the government itself informed as to what the government is doing.
—Walter Cronkite
Topics: Media
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Diane Sawyer American Journalist
Hugh Downs American Television Host
Dan Rather American Newscaster
Charles Kuralt American Journalist
Duke Ellington American Musician
Lowell Thomas American Writer
Edward R. Murrow American Journalist
Freeman Dyson American Physicist, Author
Julia Child American Cook, Author
Charles Sanders Peirce American Philosopher