Walter Cronkite

Walter Cronkite
Name	Walter Cronkite
Caption	Cronkite in 1972
Birth name	Walter Leland Cronkite Jr.
Birth date	04 November 1916
Birth place	St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S.
Death date	17 July 2009
Death place	New York City, U.S.
Education	University of Texas at Austin
Occupation	News presenter, journalist
Years active	1935–1981
Spouse	Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Maxwell, 1940, 2005
Employer	CBS News (1950–1981)
Known for	Anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News (1962–1981)

Walter Cronkite was an American broadcast journalist who served as the anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News for nearly two decades, from 1962 to 1981. Often cited as "the most trusted man in America," his authoritative and steady delivery during pivotal moments in the 20th century made him a defining figure in television news. His career spanned print journalism, wire service reporting, and pioneering work in broadcast journalism for CBS News, covering events from World War II to the Vietnam War and the Space Race.

Early life and education

Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was born on November 4, 1916, in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Helen Lena and Dr. Walter Leland Cronkite Sr., a dentist. His family later moved to Houston, Texas, where he attended San Jacinto High School and developed an early interest in journalism. He enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, where he worked on the student newspaper, The Daily Texan, and contributed to Scripps-Howard's United Press bureau. He left university in 1935 without graduating to pursue a full-time career in journalism, beginning at the Houston Post.

Journalism career

Cronkite's professional career began in print media before he transitioned to radio and wire services. He worked for United Press (UP) during the late 1930s and early 1940s, covering the European theatre of World War II as a war correspondent, including reporting on the Battle of the Bulge and flying on bombing raids over Germany. After the war, he served as UP's chief correspondent at the Nuremberg trials. In 1950, he joined the fledgling CBS News division, where he gained prominence for his coverage of national political conventions, starting with the 1952 Democratic National Convention, and for hosting the documentary series You Are There and the game show The $64,000 Question.

CBS Evening News anchor

Cronkite assumed the anchor chair of the CBS Evening News on April 16, 1962, a position he held until his retirement in 1981. As managing editor, he exerted significant editorial control, shaping the broadcast's content and tone. His tenure was marked by authoritative coverage of seminal events, including the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the Civil Rights Movement, the Apollo 11 moon landing, and the Watergate scandal. His special report on the Tet Offensive in 1968, where he publicly expressed doubt about the United States' ability to win the Vietnam War, is widely considered a turning point in American public opinion. The broadcast expanded from 15 to 30 minutes in 1963, solidifying its dominance in the ratings over rivals NBC News' Huntley-Brinkley Report and ABC News.

Public image and influence

Cronkite cultivated an image of impartiality, integrity, and avuncular authority, famously ending each broadcast with the phrase, "And that's the way it is." Polls, including a 1972 survey by Oliver Quayle, consistently ranked him as the most trusted public figure in the United States, earning him the epithet "the most trusted man in America." His editorial stance carried immense weight, influencing both public sentiment and political leaders; his skepticism on Vietnam is famously believed to have affected President Lyndon B. Johnson's decision-making. He became a symbol of the credibility and power of broadcast journalism during the network news era.

Later life and death

After retiring from the CBS Evening News in 1981, Cronkite remained active in public life. He hosted the series Walter Cronkite's Universe, served as a special correspondent for CBS News, and was a frequent narrator for documentaries, including the series The Civil War by Ken Burns. He was also an avid sailor and a vocal advocate for environmentalism and space exploration. His wife of nearly 65 years, Betsy Cronkite, died in 2005. Cronkite died on July 17, 2009, at his home in New York City from complications of cerebrovascular disease.

Awards and legacy

Cronkite received numerous accolades, including multiple Emmy Awards, the George Polk Award, and a Peabody Award. In 1981, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and has a school of journalism named in his honor at his alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin. His legacy endures as the archetype of the authoritative network news anchor, and his name is synonymous with journalistic integrity and trustworthiness in the United States. The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the annual Cronkite Award for excellence in journalism continue to uphold his standards.

Category:American television journalists Category:CBS News people Category:1916 births Category:2009 deaths