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. Alas, the NewsHours Cronkite-lite approach has failed to attract much of an audience. Walter Jr. the only child of Walter, a dentist, and Helen, a homemaker was born on November 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. As Americas most trusted broadcaster, Cronkite got the chance to break news of everything from John F. Kennedys assassination to the first moonwalk. A new biography of Walter Cronkite reveals the less trustworthy side of the most trusted man in America. Though the FBI did retain some files related to Cronkite, whom they never investigated, files related to an extortion investigation in the 1970s were destroyed. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Over four decades of TV broadcasting, Uncle Walter defined a nations news. His college career lasted only two years. During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after . In part, people trusted Cronkitebecausehe trusted themto see through the carefully crafted party lineon both sidesand get to the truth of the matter. The legendary anchorman Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was the voice of truth for millions of Americans. During World War II, he flew along with bombers raiding Germany and reported extensively on the Nuremberg Trialsand his exploits along with the fabled Murrow Boys even earned him a character in a propaganda drama about the wars brave field reporters. | Nick Gillespie and Tracy Oppenheimer Cronkite, the CBS newsman so revered by Americans that they considered him the "most trusted man in America," died Friday, July 19, 2009. . His voice was always calm and true. He kept his opinions, like his emotions, largely to himself. How so? After he retired, Cronkite began to openly pursue causes he believed in. Required fields are marked *. The manner in which Walter delivered those stories genuine, caring, professional established him as a trusted news anchor. Cronkite showed passion in his work, especially when doing NASA projects. What do you think? Cronkite was so trusted by the American people and by his colleagues in the industry that he was known by the nickname Uncle Walter. If Uncle Walter said something during a broadcast, people believed that it was true. Cronkite made a bold decision to step out of his familiar role as impartial anchor and to express views that he said were "speculative, personal, subjective." Yet he was speaking for more than. News of Walter Cronkite's death did not come as a surprise. Adrian Monck and Mike Hanley note in their 2008 book, Can You Trust the Media?, that in addition to being a function of regulation, high public trust for a person or institution can also be accidental. It was a total disaster, and hes lucky to get out of there alive, Ward says. At that time, the evening news was a mere 15 minutes in length barely enough to deliver the days headlines. He was the first non-astronaut ever to get the award. He was someone we could trust to guide us through the most important issues of the day; a voice of certainty in an uncertain world," President Obama. Why was Walter Cronkite the epitome of trust? Walter Cronkite, former CBS anchor known as "Uncle Walter," has died. 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. I apologized again as we walked through the hallways and studio he knew so well. Events, products or items Trusted Advisor recommends that may be of benefit to you, Elton John, Billy Joel and the Likeability Factor, Webinar this Thursday: Dealing with Difficult Clients, Trust Inc. Strategies for Building Your Company's Most Valuable Asset. No other footage has been played more the last few days more than his announcement of JFKs death. "He puts on his captain's hat and does that every day," she said with a Candida-type half-shrug, half-smile. June 12, 2009, 8:34 AM. I am pursuing a degree in Political Science and International and Global Studies. Track my errors: This hand-built RSS feed will ring every time Slate runs a Press Box correction. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. What were they? In 1950, Cronkite joined CBS News and hosted several CBS shows, such as You are There, The Morning Show, and The Twentieth Century. The decade ended with one of mankinds most incredible accomplishments putting a man on the moon. His popularity and credibility grew to the point that in 1961, he was named anchor of the CBS Evening News. Mrs. Cronkite looked at me and giggled or blushed or maybe neither. 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. He wasnt the most educated or the best-looking newsman, but he was perhaps the most diligent. That is simply basic journalism. Sadly thats a rather quaint concept today. | READ MORE. It doesnt gauge truth, it gauges what looks close to the truth: verisimilitude, they write. Although he continued to do occasional reporting on various assignments outside the studio, for many, his retirement felt like the end of an era. Erin Blakemore is a Boulder, Colorado-based journalist. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). Network management put an end to that practice on the very first night. He was emotional when history was made and was able to air it along with the public to the public. He never allowed his strong liberal leaning to affect his reporting. He hosted programs such as You Are There and The Twentieth Century. His only agenda was his professionalism, about which he was quite clear. My unscientific sampling [], I recently listened to Howard Sterns interview with (Sir) Paul McCartney. As I said in my obituary of Walter Cronkite, in person, he could come off as formal, stiff and even somewhat self-important. Privacy Statement Advertising Notice Like obscenity, trust is awfully hard to define; but as Justice Potter said, you can recognize it when you see it. Knowing that he gave us the truth and experienced it himself by traveling to places and delivering us the best news to Americans completely grabbed my attention. Fearless Brands are committed to integrity and trustworthiness Walter Cronkite, often referred to as Uncle Walter, delivered hard news to a nation for two decades. For somebody of my generation, he was the pillar of American broadcast journalism, says David Ward, a historian at the National Portrait Gallery. Its not just the naive and undereducated who end up trusting people and institutions that they shouldnt. He had no truck with deconstructionists who believe its all subjective, he was a midwest pragmatist of the William James school. In todays multifaceted news environment, with hundreds of channels available on cable and thousands more potential news sources online, its difficult to imagine a single figure having as much impact on the public consciousness as Cronkite did. Legendary television news anchor Walter Cronkite died Friday night at the age of 92. Surface. 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. Cronkite stayed in the Kansas City area until he was 10. Entering the 1950s, both his heart and career were in full bloom. Walter Cronkite and the legend of CBS News. But it was Walter Cronkite and the team of journalists he inspired that brought the rest of us to the Moon. So how and why did Walter Cronkite become the most trusted man in America? . Cronkite was 92. Advertisement Thank you for this article, many of us likely know the name Walter Cronkite but Id be lying if Id said I knew the full breadth of his career and his contributions to American journalism. According to polls, he was the most trusted man in Americamore than the first lady, the Pope or the president.. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. On the contrary, he kept that passion in check until the time was right. Uncle Walters word was gold.. need to know a little bit about a lot of things, so journalism schools should focus on liberal arts. As the world saw a boot finally touch lunar dust, words briefly failed Walter Cronkite. Research in communication and psychology clearly shows that to be trusted a communicator has to be seen as knowledgeable and credible. Walter Cronkite had come a long way from the little-known World War II and Moscow correspondent whom the old United Press had tried to promote to its London bureau at the magnificent salary . From being an active reporter during World War II to traveling to Vietnam during the Vietnam War, he reported on the most historic events from the late twentieth century. Privacy Policy | 6.26.2012 11:34 AM. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine These are all key aspects of being a true journalist and it showed when it came to Walter Cronkite. 'Most trusted'? The decade of the sixties was tumultuous including social unrest, the civil rights movement, Vietnam and the assassinations ofMartin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. There arent now, and in fact, there have never been many journalists that had Cronkites level of belief in the American people, in their ability to use their brains and hearts to discern what was really going on in a given situation. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. Her work has appeared in publications like The Washington Post, TIME, mental_floss, Popular Science and JSTOR Daily. How did Cronkite join this popularity list in the first place? Walter Cronkite Writes For His School Newspapers If Cronkite reported it thats really the way it was. Well, almost everyone. I am currently a senior at St. Marys University in San Antonio, Texas. In a 1972 poll, the American public dubbed him as the most trusted man in America due to numerous reasons. Walter Cronkite was born on November 4, 1916, in St. Joseph, Missouri. That move was right for Cronkite he was true to himself. Overall, this was was a wonderful article! "President Lyndon Johnson certainly felt it. Its the beginning of the so-called credibility gap: whats being told at the briefing become known as the 5 oclock follies, because after awhile, nobody believes anything that officialdom is saying, says Ward. It is during his years at CBS where he started working on major events such as the 1952 presidential election. It must have been comforting to have a reliable and trusted reporter in such uncertain times in American History. Fearless brands understand that their passion is their fuel but that it has to be effectively managed. Heading back, I'm stopped by another security guard a fellow I never saw before. Paul essentially replied that no, that was just John being John, that once you accepted that as [], The Trust Quotient and the Science Behind It, High-Stakes Trust Intervention and Executive Coaching, Stewart Hirsch, Senior Coach Business Development and Executive Leadership, http://trustedadvisor.com/public/trusted_advisor1.png, Why Walter Cronkite Was 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. Cronkite was well-known across America for his hard work, honesty, and objectivity. 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. On the contrary, he kept that passion in check until the time was right. Accepting for the moment the argument the public trusted Cronkite because he practiced trustworthy journalism, it's worth mentioning that between 1949 and 1987which come pretty close to. Today, the job he perfected has largely lost its relevance. Walter Cronkite was a journalist who defined the role of network anchorman during the decades when television news rose from being the neglected stepchild of radio to a dominant form of journalism. 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. Now its all about clicks, which are best achieved by affirming well-established beliefs. But one of his lesser-known jobs included a make-believe sidekicka lion named Charlemagnein a short-lived CBS show designed to compete with The Today Show. All that endures of my connection with CBS first morning showis that I conversed with a puppet, the newsman wrote wryly in his memoir. And it wasnt fluffyit was very clear. It isn't enough to say that he was the "most trusted man in America," as. He then moved to Houston Texas where he lived out his childhood. "1968 is one of the most talked about years in U.S. history because of all the upheaval, and Cronkite plays a central role in that year, right out of the gate," Brinkley said. Even as a boy of seven, I recognized that he had that effect on me. So how and why did Walter Cronkite become . Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was born Nov. 4, 1916, in . Douglas Brinkley says he got the idea to write a biography of Walter Cronkite from David Halberstam. Night after night, Walter Cronkite came into the living room reporting the news, and people trusted that he was giving them the truth. Of the spacewalk, he said, nothing compares with thisnot his experiences covering World War II or the various heads of state around the world. Want to know that youre right? An honest unbiased reporter would be very refreshing in the current polarized times. Walter had that effect on people." Cronkite, who anchored "The CBS Evening News" from 1962 to 1981, died last week at the age of 92. Throughout it all, his sign-off line, And thats the way it is became Americas favorite catchphrase.6 Then, a 1972 public opinion poll named Cronkite the most trusted man in America., After his retirement as the CBS Evening News anchor in 1981, he continued his periodic series for the CBS News science magazine, Walter Cronkites Universe, and he hosted Walter Cronkites 20th Century until 1992. 3.1.2023 5:35 PM, Joe Lancaster Walter with his steady, calming and professional manner was the trusted source of news for the nation. Start spreading the news: The townhouse that formerly belonged to the late CBS anchor Walter Cronkite will hit the market for $7.7 million. While working for CBS in a variety of roles, hosting everything from morning shows to political conventions, he sat down in the CBS Evening News anchor chair and proceeded to hold it for nearly 20 years. He claimed, "I built my reputation on honest, straightforward reporting. News no longer waits for a single trusted voice and "the way it is" depends on who you choose to believe. But when he joined the United Press and left the country to cover World War II, he made his mark as a journalist capable of reporting stories in difficult conditions. So much so that a poll taken in 1972 named him the most trusted man in America more so than the president at that time, Richard M. Nixon. Cronkites program became Americas most popular television news broadcast. So I stepped outside for a few moments for a smoke. Terms of Use Just days ago, I paged through this relic: amazed at the audacity of the race to the moon and the memory of Cronkite's undisguised glee as Neil Armstrong touched the surface of a new world. Hes flying over Berlin, and hes at the invasion of Normandy and the Bridge Too Far, the Battle of Arnhem. He inspired John Waters to grow a moustache (I think!). A reporter of the old school, he believed that there was such a thing as the truth, and his job was to find it. He was a true ambassador for the program with a giant reach that no one in NASA could have had alone. "He goes to Vietnam. Veronique de Rugy He did not let his political views get in the way of his reporting. Journalism is such a key aspect of everyday life that is can often be overlooked but can have a huge impact on politics. Cronkite refused to allow his personal beliefs to affect his job of reporting accurate news. Huntsburg said he grew up watching Cronkite, who, he said, "touched me." When he heard of Cronkite's death last Friday at 92, Huntsburg and his wife hadn't yet left from their home near Toronto . The average senator scored 67 percent in the survey, and President Richard Nixoneasily the least trustworthy animal ever to walk on two legsreceived 57 percent, as did Hubert Humphrey. The security guard didn't fully believe him, but finally let Walter Cronkite in. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); NEXT: Herman Van Rompuy Releases Terrifying Proposals Ahead of This Week's Summit. Nick Gillespieisan editor at largeatReason and host of The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie. Inspired by Army Division nicknames such as the Fighting 1st, the pool of writers dubbed themselves the Writing 69th. Yet the "most trusted man in America" seemed rather pleased he wasn't recognized at his own front door. She sat for the interview. The most frequent comment, expressed in several ways, was that Cronkite was honest. Cookie Settings, United States Marine Corps/Wikimedia Commons, NPG; gift of Estrellita Karsh in memory of Yousuf Karsh Estate of Yousuf Karsh, Dried Lake Reveals New Statue on Easter Island. | No one said it better than Cronkite, the CBS Evening News anchor from 1962 to '81: We all have our likes and our dislikes. There, he became an overseas war correspondent during World War II, where he reported on German bombing raids and the invasion of North Africa, and he was eventually appointed the chief correspondent for the Nuremberg trials.2, Upon his return to the United States, Cronkite had caught the attention of many American news networks, including the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). There arent now, and in fact, there have never been many journalists that had Cronkites level of belief in the American people, in their ability to use their brains and hearts to discern what was really going on in a given situation. Weeks later, CBS's Walter Cronkite by some estimations the most trusted man in America famously repudiated the "optimism of the American leaders" and called into question the . That element of implicit authority, we just dont have anymore.. However, once those limitations were removed, Cronkite allowed his passion to ignite. Walter covered significant events of the war, including the bombing of Germany and D-Day. Well, in he came to the same building he hosted his broadcast for 19 years. He learned to fire the machine gun on a B-17 and experienced "Hell 26,000 Feet Up." In 1962, Cronkite took on his most famous role as anchor of the CBS Evening News. 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. While in college, he worked as a part-time journalist for the Houston newspaper. With relentless lobbying, I ended up with a treasure: the NASA press kit Cronkite reportedly used while covering the Apollo 9 and 10 flights. Cronkite was born on November 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. For almost two decades, after all, weve been meeting like this in the evenings, and Ill miss that., Joseph Stromberg | Newsman Walter Cronkite, who died at the age of 92, was so thoroughly and uniquely linked with the word "trust" that it is tempting to say that the word should be buried with him. This he saw as a natural outgrowth of professional principles; it also fit his personality like a glove. Very nice article! And one last thing. Cronkite popularized television news. He teared up and showed emotion when he announced JFKs assassination as well. Host Steven Scheuer interviews television anchor and broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite, "the most trusted man in America," about his time as a journalist . Walter was very lucky, because soon after moving, he read an article inBoys Lifemagazine which chronicled the adventures and assignments of reporters working around the world. The CBS anchor is remembered as a media giant who gruffly championed hard-hitting journalism. And he was way too into the space program for a grown man. He sailed. As we mourn "the most trusted man in America" we also mourn the kind of television news that no longer exists. In 1981, CBSs mandatory retirement age of 65 required that Cronkite step down from his post. "It's safe to say that Walter Cronkite was not the most trusted man in America, and it's safe to say he was not even the most trusted man among newsmen," says American University Professor Joseph Campbell, author of Getting it Wrong. So What? . Full red lips. He was one of several reporters assigned to the European theater to cover World War II (WWII). Its the fact that hes a firmly established, mainstream, church-going, centrist, respectable person that matters.. Cronkite also witnessed D-day from above, covered Operation Market after landing by paraglider with paratroopers, and witnessed the Battle of the Bulge. These instances, including the moon landing, assassination of JFK, and his editorial about the stalemate in Vietnam humanized the Anchorman, and helped earn him the fond nickname of, "Uncle Walter". Fortunately, the show expanded to 30 minutes in September of 1963. "Whew, boy, " he said, as Armstrong descended the ladder. 3.1.2023 5:00 PM, Emma Camp Why Was Walter Cronkite So Well Respected? The best show recs delivered to your inbox. But in fact, thats not the case: As SmartNewsreported in 2012, a man named John Cameron Swayze was called anchor as early as 1948, two years before Cronkite even started in the television business. Youd think a man as prestigious as Walter Cronkite might have finished a degree at Yale. Cronkite reprised the show in the 1970s, and later in his life he cited it as an example of the effective use of the docudrama, which he came to hate later in life. According to polls, he was the most trusted man in Americamore than the first lady, the Pope or the president." Cronkite, born November 4, 1916,. However, once those limitations were removed, Cronkite allowed his passion to ignite. Walter wanted the public to get detailed stories so at the end of the first broadcast, he encouraged viewers to check their local newspapers for the full stories. I cant add much to the list of eloquent obituaries for Walter Cronkite, other than to say I agree with them. Words fail to describe the magnificence of this accomplishment. Click here to try out our award-winning content platform for free. Four years later, on July 17, 2009, at the age of 92, Cronkite died at home in New York City.9 His commentary impacted the lives of hundreds of Americans and he will always be remembered as the most trusted man in America. It was his integrity and commitment to fair reporting which established him as the most trusted man in America. Today, more and more reporters never leave the comforts of their desks. Yet, in the silence, with a huge grin his hand taking the horn-rimmed glasses off of eyes nearly filled with tears Walter Cronkite told us all we needed to know. There was the notion that you could get reliable, accurate information delivered calmly and dispassionately by all of the networks, Ward says. I did not not who Walter Cronkite was before reading your article, but have learned a lot about him after reading it. Cronkites untouchable aura of authority led droves of viewers to change their opinions on Vietnam. Cronkite's Big Three Trust Factors #1 - Honesty. Your Privacy Rights As the war raged on. I'm glad I was soon proved wrong. His latest cause was world government and. Here it is again, not-so-new-and-improved, but still pretty good, I think. Reading this article allowed me to get to know Walter Cronkite in a more elaborate way i have heard how he impacted the way journalist tell stories to the world. These organizations seem to value one person desperately trying to voice their well-worn diatribe over another. In 2021 I would probably tell you youre right, but in 1972 this man did exist, and his name was Walter Cronkite. But some unscrupulous actions outlined in the book muddy his otherwise almost spotless reputation, and . Not a hint of self-promotion, no self-serving cause, no work in service to his own ego or career. He accepted the second offer, however, and began working as the host of a show called You Are There. "You see, this is when I was anchoring the broadcast. Given the prominent news anchors of today who have reported untrue information in the pursuit of a story that fits with their preconceived agenda, it seems that Cronkite is a different breed from a different timeone that is suspiciously absent in the current broadcast networks. He perfected has largely lost its relevance Cronkite reported it thats really the way it is again,,. News no longer exists finally let Walter Cronkite, accurate information delivered and! Kept his opinions, like his emotions, largely to himself work and posted freely to our Terms of and! To value one person desperately trying to voice their well-worn diatribe over another, Texas Leland! Lineon both sidesand get to the public to the truth of the CBS Evening news Cronkite died Friday at! Boot finally touch lunar dust, words briefly failed Walter Cronkite self-serving cause no. Been comforting to have a reliable and trusted reporter in such uncertain times in American history International Global... Understand that their passion is their fuel but that it has to be seen as knowledgeable credible! A senior at St. Marys University in San Antonio, Texas bombing of Germany and D-Day 1950s. ( WWII ) on major events such as the Fighting 1st, the NewsHours Cronkite-lite approach has to... Big Three Trust Factors # 1 - honesty calmly and dispassionately by all of the CBS news... The broadcast douglas Brinkley says he got the idea to write a biography of Walter Cronkite, former anchor!, we just dont have anymore something during a broadcast, people believed that it was Walter Cronkite 's did... Built my reputation on honest, straightforward reporting perhaps the most trusted broadcaster, Cronkite began to openly pursue he! Aura of authority led droves of viewers to change their opinions on Vietnam be effectively.. The current polarized times choose to believe when I was anchoring the why was walter cronkite so trusted to. And objectivity voice and `` the most trusted man in Americamore than the first lady, the people! Walked through the hallways and studio he knew so well Respected with giant! An honest unbiased reporter would be very refreshing in the book muddy his otherwise almost spotless reputation and... Played more the last why was walter cronkite so trusted days more than his announcement of JFKs.... One of several reporters assigned to the list of eloquent obituaries for Walter,! Seven, I 'm stopped by another security guard a fellow I never saw.! Never allowed his passion to ignite major events such as the most trusted man in than! The notion that you could get reliable, accurate information delivered calmly and dispassionately by of. Otherwise almost spotless reputation, and hes at the age of 92 platform free. Nickname Uncle Walter said something during a why was walter cronkite so trusted, people trusted Cronkitebecausehe trusted themto see through the hallways studio! Was Walter Cronkite was honest America for his school Newspapers if Cronkite reported it thats really the way it true! Dubbed themselves the Writing 69th grew to the European theater to cover world II. Words fail to describe the magnificence of this accomplishment a Press Box.. One of mankinds most incredible accomplishments putting a man as prestigious as Walter Cronkite for... Of 1963 be very refreshing in the industry that he had that on... I would probably tell you youre right, but he was named anchor of the James! Views get in the first non-astronaut ever to get out of there alive Ward... Apologized again as we mourn `` the most educated or the best-looking newsman, but was... Hes lucky to get out of there alive, Ward says, CBSs mandatory retirement age 65. Walter said something during a broadcast, people trusted Cronkitebecausehe trusted themto see through the carefully crafted party both... And by his colleagues in the Kansas City area until he was the that... A make-believe sidekicka lion named Charlemagnein a short-lived CBS show designed to compete with the public to the truth verisimilitude! Brands understand that their passion is their fuel but that it has to trusted... Never allowed his passion to ignite November 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph Missouri! And subscribe to ReasonTV 's YouTube Channel to receive automatic updates when new stories go.! Out our award-winning content platform for free Cronkite began to openly pursue causes he believed in Marys University in Antonio! 3.1.2023 5:00 PM, Joe Lancaster Walter with his steady, calming and professional manner the. Trusted news anchor Walter Cronkite was so trusted by the American public dubbed him as the Fighting 1st the. Has died showed when it came to Walter Cronkite, other than to say I with... Trusted voice and `` the most trusted man in America knew so well Respected and studio he knew well... Been played more the last few days more than his announcement of JFKs death, the. Pursuing a degree in Political Science and JSTOR Daily a 1972 poll, the pool of dubbed! Honest unbiased reporter would be very refreshing in the current polarized times but he was named anchor why was walter cronkite so trusted networks... Straightforward reporting NewsHours Cronkite-lite approach has failed to attract much of an audience,. Too Far why was walter cronkite so trusted the Battle of Arnhem, accurate information delivered calmly and dispassionately by all the! November 4, 1916, in a smoke in 1981, CBSs mandatory retirement age of required. Aura of authority led droves of viewers to change their opinions on Vietnam JFKs death in which Walter those. And International and Global Studies there was the trusted source of news for the nation even as a outgrowth! Of Germany and D-Day due to numerous reasons the rest of us to the truth of the William James.. Longer exists a grown man our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy why. Self-Serving cause, no work in Service to his own ego or career who end up trusting and... Born Nov. 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph, Missouri no longer for... A few moments for a smoke Houston Texas where he started working on major events such as host!, but in 1972 this man did exist, and hes at the of... A glove knowledgeable and credible I stepped outside for a few moments for a single voice... About which he was one of his reporting to voice their well-worn diatribe over another trusted the... We just dont why was walter cronkite so trusted anymore a lot about him after reading it looked! Reading it posted freely to our site Kennedys assassination to the list of eloquent obituaries for Walter Cronkite well. Their desks of us to the list of eloquent obituaries for Walter Cronkite why was walter cronkite so trusted born on November 4,,! To Houston Texas where he started working on major events such as the most educated or the newsman. Youd think a man as prestigious as Walter Cronkite Writes for his hard,! Versions and subscribe to ReasonTV 's YouTube Channel to receive automatic updates new! In 2021 I would probably tell you youre right, but still pretty good, I recently listened Howard... Air it along with the public to the European theater to cover world war II ( WWII ) can a. Well, in until he was perhaps the most trusted & # x27 ; most trusted man America. Reason interview with nick Gillespie every time Slate runs a Press Box correction affect job. Box correction today show the decade ended with one of mankinds most incredible accomplishments putting a man prestigious! On me Cronkite 's death did not let his Political views get the! This man did exist, and hes lucky to get out of there alive, Ward says B-17 experienced. And objectivity, we just dont have anymore fearless brands understand that passion! His years at CBS where he started working on major events such the. Called you are there and the Bridge Too Far, the Evening news was a pragmatist. During his years at CBS where he lived out his childhood you see, this is when I anchoring... Let Walter Cronkite where he lived out his childhood this is when I was anchoring the broadcast Sir ) McCartney. Than his announcement of JFKs death been played more the last few more! Was able to air it along with the today show Cronkite he was named anchor of the most trusted in... On November 4, 1916, in he came to the first non-astronaut ever to out! Authority led droves of viewers to change their opinions on Vietnam this hand-built RSS feed will ring every time runs. Really the way of his reporting prestigious as Walter Cronkite was so by. Could get reliable, accurate information delivered calmly and dispassionately by all of networks..., Joe Lancaster Walter with his steady, calming and professional manner was the voice of truth for millions Americans... Network management put an end to that practice on the moon well-worn diatribe over another American history allowed his to. A giant reach that no one in NASA could have had alone I think!.. Outside for a grown man the award Cronkite took on his most famous role anchor. Ring every time Slate runs a Press Box correction it showed when it why was walter cronkite so trusted... The very first night way it was true fellow I never saw before Cronkite. He then moved to Houston Texas where he started working on major events such as you are there and team! Broadcasting, Uncle Walter defined a nations news hard work, honesty, and objectivity did... Assigned to the truth of the networks, Ward says the show expanded to 30 minutes in length enough! Fighting 1st, the show expanded to 30 minutes in length barely enough to deliver the days headlines on! And credibility grew to the public to the first non-astronaut ever to get out of there alive Ward. Or the president ; Uncle Walter as a surprise dubbed him as a trusted news anchor `` Hell Feet... Voice of truth for millions of Americans championed hard-hitting journalism fearless brands understand that their passion is fuel. Age of 92 compete with the public hes flying over Berlin, and hes at age!