Walter Cronkite

 Early Life

In 1916, Walter Cronkite was born in St. Joseph Missouri. As a little boy, he realized he wanted to become a journalist by reading a magazine regarding a foreign correspondent. From there, Walter Cronkite was determined to make a name for himself in the journalism industry.

He attended the University of Texas and worked part time at the Houston Post to help pay for his tuition. In 1935, he graduated and went to work with them full time. A short while later, in 1939, he moved on to work for the United Press. In 1941, when the United States entered World War II, he was assigned as an overseas war correspondent for the company in the North Atlantic. 

Throughout his time at the United Press, he accomplished many things. He reported on German bombing, the invasion of North Africa, and the Allied landing on the beaches of Normandy for D-Day to name a few. When the war ended, he decided to remain in Europe to cover the Nuremberg trials. During the trials, he acted as the chief United Press correspondent (Ray). He later returned to the United States in 1948.                                                                                                     

His Time at CBS

With all of his hard work at the United Press and world wide, he caught the attention of CBS news. In 1950, he joined the CBS team and worked on a variety of programs. For twelve years he worked on programs like The Morning Show, a documentary series called The Twentieth Century, and a historical show called You Are There (Warnes). Walter Cronkite, thrived in each setting and showed off his diversity of talents regarding reporting and journalism. 

While he did accomplish many amazing things in his early life, he is most well known for being the news anchor for the CBS Evening News. In 1962, he helped launch the program and stood as its news anchor for nineteen years before his retirement in 1981. During this time, he developed his famous ending remark, "and that's the way it is." This came to be a world-famous catchphrase and one that fit perfectly with his personality. 

(Pictured: Walter Cronkite with his cohost Charlemagne for The Morning News)

Most Notable Broadcasts at CBS

During his many years at CBS, he was able to report on a variety of important historical events. To name just a few, he reported on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, civil rights struggles, Vietnam War coverage and commentary, and the Apollo 11 moon landing (Staff).

In 1968, Cronkite led a broadcast about the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, calling him an "apostle of nonviolence in the civil rights movement." Walter Cronkite provided details of King's death and even one witness account. After Cronkite's death, The New York Times wrote an appreciation describing the broadcast, "America went into shock while staring at Mr. Cronkite as he read the bare facts aloud. His face, subdued, grave but studiously unemotional, was reassuring in a way that President Johnson, who that night gave a speech urging people to stay calm, was not" (Staff). This comment proves why he became known as the most trusted man in America. 

Another feat for Walter Cronkite occurred in 1972 with the Watergate reports. While he was not the one to break the story, the Washington Post did, he is credited for bringing it to the attention of a much wider audience. He aired a detailed report of the scandal just before the next election. He did a fourteen minute report on Watergate and followed up four days later with an eight minute segment. Cronkite was even on air in 1974 when President Nixon resigned.

Last but certainly not least is Walter Cronkite's coverage of the Iran Hostage Crisis from 1980-81. As stated above, he would end every show by saying, "and that's the way it is." However, during this hostage crisis his sign off did not end there. He would follow up his famous quote with, "the (50th, 150th, etc.) day of captivity for the American hostages in Tehran." He did this all the way up until day 444 when the hostages were finally released (Staff). In all, Walter Cronkite devoted his life to his work and showed more care and compassion than many. It is clear that his style for journalism was one for impartiality, honesty, and level headedness.

Legacy and Death

During his life, Walter Cronkite received numerous well deserved awards. He received the Peabody Award twice, once in 1963 and another in 1981. He won several Emmy Awards and even the Presidential Medal Of Freedom. His most recent and last award while alive was the Harry S. Truman Good Neighbor Award from the Truman Foundation in 2004 (Biography). This list does not nearly include all the awards Walter Cronkite received during his time of service.

In 2005, Walter Cronkite lost his beloved wife Betsy to cancer at the age of 89. Four years later in 2009, Cronkite died in his home in New York City from a cerebrovascular disease. He is now buried next to his wife at their family plot in Kansas City, Missouri.

Walter Cronkite was an experienced journalist that devoted his life to the truth and knowledge for all, "and that's the way it is."