This means not just that he didn't tell lies, but that he was a truth-seekerhe sought to tell the whole truth. He had no truck with deconstructionists who believe its all subjective, he was a midwest pragmatist of the William James school. Read More. Walter Cronkite, often referred to as Uncle Walter, delivered hard news to a nation for two decades. In his day, truth mattered above all else. If so, you owe something to Walter CronkiteAmerica's uncle and the most influential broadcast journalist of all time. She sat for the interview. He was 92 and had homes in New York and Martha's Vineyard, Mass. 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. Reading about Walter Cronkite was very interesting since he was an fascinating man who took his passion to the next level, I really enjoyed reading this article. He hears one thing from the generals, and then he walks around and talks to GIs and Vietnamese, and he realizes theres a disconnect.. Walter Cronkite was born on November 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Tracy Oppenheimer is a producer at Reason TV. He was offered a job with CBS television, which he initially turned down. Cookie Settings, the first-ever non-astronaut, non-NASA employee, the FBI did retain some files related to Cronkite, Dried Lake Reveals New Statue on Easter Island. Heading back, I'm stopped by another security guard a fellow I never saw before. I feel like nowadays we let our political views get in the way of each and every news story that it almost seems biased now. During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after . Cronkite also trusted the people to respond well to his truth-telling and to use their intelligence to evaluate his words. Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was born Nov. 4, 1916, in . June 12, 2009, 8:34 AM. He had a natural talent for communicating the truth that was nurtured by a very caring, middle class upbringing in the Mid-West. After the war, as the TV news era blossomed, Cronkite was there to become one of its key figures. Like Cronkite, integrity and honesty are at the core of Media Showers approach to communication. That is simply basic journalism. Sadly thats a rather quaint concept today. Despite the fact that there was less scrutiny on the media during Cronkites time than today, he approached his career as a broadcaster with integrity and with a sense of responsibility to his viewers. Your Privacy Rights These news performances are in stark contrast to Walter Cronkites definition of news. My grandmother used to tell me about Cronkite and his reporting. Cronkite was a firm believer in doing what is fair. Track my errors: This hand-built RSS feed will ring every time Slate runs a Press Box correction. How did Cronkite join this popularity list in the first place? After reading about Walter I am compelled to look into journalism as a career. But the passing of the man known universally as The Most Trusted Man in America also offers us one last chance to learn from him. "President Lyndon Johnson certainly felt it. 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. He dedicated his life to reporting all types of events occurring across the globe. Chung's last broadcast as co-anchor was on May 18, 1995. But as USA Today reports, the FBI destroyed part of Cronkites file instead of preserving it. Why was Walter Cronkite the epitome of trust? News no longer waits for a single trusted voice and "the way it is" depends on who you choose to believe. Some of the more notable , Walter Jr. the only child of Walter, a dentist, and Helen, a homemaker was born on November 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. In moments that shocked the country, Cronkite was able to deliver hard news with diligence. to see through the carefully crafted party lineon both sidesand get to the truth of the matter. Advertising Notice Cronkite was the face of CBS from 1962 to 1981. "When the Eagle landed on the moon, I was speechless - overwhelmed, like most of the world. On the contrary, he kept that passion in check until the time was right. Scroll down for downloadable versions and subscribe to ReasonTV's YouTube Channel to receive automatic updates when new stories go live. Your Privacy Rights 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. The most frequent comment, expressed in several ways, was that Cronkite was honest. Have you watched the news lately? Entering the 1950s, both his heart and career were in full bloom. News of Walter Cronkite's death did not come as a surprise. He never allowed his broader passion to diminish and die. Advertisement Today, more and more reporters never leave the comforts of their desks. Cronkite was committed to delivering accurate news, refusing to report stories until they were validated and vetted. Seek the complete storyIn Cronkites own words In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story.That approach is a rare quality in todays journalism circles in our society for that matter. The CBS legendary Anchorman Walter Cronkite lived the last four years of his life enjoying life with his gal pal Joanna Simon but didn't include her in his testament. 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. In the early 1970s, an opinion poll identified Cronkite as the most trusted public figure in America, a label that stayed with him for decades. Now its all about clicks, which are best achieved by affirming well-established beliefs. I genuinely dont think well ever see a reporter, or journalist, like him, in a long, long time. Walter Cronkite defined the role of a newsman on television. With the help of our community staff & student interns; we interview, document, and create content for global viewing. Indeed, his modesty and his dedication were the reasons his wide audience liked him so much and trusted him. This was a fascinating article about a journalist that I have never heard of before. 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. Learn more at erinblakemore.com. In the days ahead, we will celebrate the men who first walked on the moon and the anchor who took us there with them. Id be selling myself and not the news.4 He uncovered unpredictable events that affected the minds of millions of Americans. Walter Cronkite defined the role of a television news anchor. A reporter of the old school, he believed that there was such a thing as the truth, and his job was to find it. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); For a free copy of the eBook "Selling to the C-Suite," email me, Charlie, personally and I'll send it along to you. Trust is an essential quality to have in any communicating experience, particularly newscasting. He was the first non-astronaut ever to get the award. Thats where the family lived until moving to Houston, Texas when Walter was 10-years-old. Cronkite, who through his news presenting had become known as "the most trusted man in America," was on air for 27 of the 30 hours it took for the crew of Apollo 11 to complete their mission,. Walter Cronkite seems to be as notable as todays ABC news anchor David Muir. He began his career with a commitment to journalism as well. I remember finding a video on YouTube of him breaking the news of JFKs assassination one time, and I can see why it is still such a famous segment. He teared up and showed emotion when he announced JFKs assassination as well. Nick Gillespie and Tracy Oppenheimer 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. Now, all . Though Rather never said so publicly, CBS News insiders said he did not approve of her appointment. After the war, Walter would cover the Nuremberg war trials. (Assuming, of course, that the public did regard Cronkite as the nations most trustworthy man.). Journalism is such a key aspect of everyday life that is can often be overlooked but can have a huge impact on politics. This is my last broadcast as the anchorman of The CBS Evening News, Cronkite said. Part of HuffPost Media. Buy it here. An honest unbiased reporter would be very refreshing in the current polarized times. Veronique de Rugy Why Was Walter Cronkite So Well Respected? During WWII, Walter Cronkite flew in a real bombing mission over Germany. The news business has both expanded and fragmented in the post-Cronkite, post-Fairness Doctrine era. Ample breasts. Cronkite famously reported in 1968 that the government was not being truthful to the American people about the Vietnam War after he went to Vietnam and observed the situation there for himself. The decade of the sixties was tumultuous including social unrest, the civil rights movement, Vietnam and the assassinations ofMartin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. 3.1.2023 5:00 PM, Emma Camp Fuel your passion After he retired, Cronkite began to openly pursue causes he believed in. Cronkite's heartbreaking report on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy became one of the most famous news reports in television history. He's being remembered as the "father of television news," as . A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. 399 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02116 +1-617-564-3443. Your email address will not be published. Source: IMDB, Walter Cronkite during his time as a war correspondent during WWII. That element of implicit authority, we just dont have anymore.. "Everybody knew that Walter didn't get his suntan in the studio lights." Cronkite. Embrace Cronkites approach be true to yourself and your profession, be fair, commit to a life of integrity be a fearless brand. Cronkite also witnessed D-day from above, covered Operation Market after landing by paraglider with paratroopers, and witnessed the Battle of the Bulge. Well, almost everyone. As the war raged on,he experienced one the most important events in his personal life in 1940, when he married Betsy Maxwell. One of the key reasons was his integrity. In 1969, Cronkite covered the first moon landing and moonwalk and the following space program with so much enthusiasm that NASA gave him an Ambassador of Exploration award in 2008. 3.2.2023 12:01 AM, Jacob Sullum The invitation was extended the very next day and that meeting led to the Camp David accord and the Israel-Egyptian Peace Treaty. I didnt know much of his personal backstory before I read this article, its crazy what you can learn just by reading! Listening to tribute after tribute by journalists who remember Mr. Cronkite, every reminiscence appears to share the same sentiment: "Walter Cronkite was why I wanted to work in broadcasting." "There was a reason why Walter was called the most . Riding the Shark Conquering Fear in Selling. What an amazing resume and life lived by Cronkite. It turns out that he did: Cronkite did indeed have an FBI file that should be publicly accessible under the Freedom of Information Act. Permanent disclosure: Slate is owned by the Washington Post Co.). Uncle Walters word was gold.. 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. Walter covered significant events of the war, including the bombing of Germany and D-Day. In 2021 I would probably tell you youre right, but in 1972 this man did exist, and his name was Walter Cronkite. 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. And every article, blog or TV clip mentions how Walter Cronkite was so trusted. This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. I also didnt know that he had traveled to Vietnam to report on the war, I think that was very brave of him. Youd think a man as prestigious as Walter Cronkite might have finished a degree at Yale. By then, Mr. Cronkite had retired. Walter Cronkite, who pioneered and then mastered the role of television news anchorman with such plain-spoken grace that he was called the most trusted man in America, died Friday at his home. Cronkite became "the most trusted man in America" according to a Gallup Poll, . "Walter was always more than just an anchor. Erin Blakemore is a Boulder, Colorado-based journalist. Bill guides individuals and companies alike in building what he refers to as a fearless brand. Stt: United States Rod: M Narozeniny: 1916-11-04 Zemel: 2009-07-17 ivotopis Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. (November 4, 1916 - July 17, 2009) was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years (1962-81). Days later he made the very poignant announcement that Kennedy had died. Want to know that youre right? He was an inspiration because he was one of the first household name reporters to have come out of television. Walter Cronkite Was The "Most Trusted Man In America", But I Could Never Watch His Program Once I Moved To Johannesburg. The February 1968 assessment by Walter Cronkite, the anchor of the CBS Evening News (known as "the most trusted man in America"), that the conflict was "mired in stalemate" was seen by many as the signal of a sea change in reporting about Vietnam, and it is said to have inspired Pres. But the lack of real-world experience has put perspective in short supply, and the public's interest in reading things that simply confirm their own views has put news outlets in a tough spot. Source: IMDB, Cronkite on the Cbs Evening News. Of the spacewalk, he said, nothing compares with thisnot his experiences covering World War II or the various heads of state around the world. 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. He inspired John Waters to grow a moustache (I think!). Walter Cronkite Writes For His School Newspapers A rocket, more than 350-feet tall, lifted the astronauts into space. 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. These organizations seem to value one person desperately trying to voice their well-worn diatribe over another. As I discussed in an earlier post Want to know that youre right? Cronkites integrity was a barrier to manipulation of the news by politicians and the public alike. That his passing coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing is less a surprise than a cosmic alignment. I'm glad I was soon proved wrong. While in college, he worked as a part-time journalist for the Houston newspaper. | He was avuncular. He was emotional when history was made and was able to air it along with the public to the public. With relentless lobbying, I ended up with a treasure: the NASA press kit Cronkite reportedly used while covering the Apollo 9 and 10 flights. No cable news. 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. In 2005, Cronkite suffered a great loss when his wife Betsy died of cancer. These results came about because Walter Cronkite was a fearless brand. Joseph Stromberg was previously a digital reporter for Smithsonian. Thats where the family lived until moving to Houston, Texas when Walter was 10-years-old. He covered the 1952 presidential elections, and he helped introduce The Beatles to the United States. Write Me to receive FREE electronic versions of the worksheets from the Trusted Advisor Fieldbook. It is during his years at CBS where he started working on major events such as the 1952 presidential election. No streaming internet video, no podcasts, not even a remote control. One part stood out. 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. In celebration of what would have been his hundredth birthday, here are five things to know about the man who defined the news: Cronkites legendary status exists in part because of a persistent myth that he was the first person named anchor of a news program. Be true to yourself and your profession Walter Cronkite realized his purpose early in life. Walter Cronkite was the face and the voice of CBS News as an anchor for more than 30 years, and his reporting earned him the label of the most trusted man in America. He reported on what became some of the most historic news stories of his time: JFKs assassination, the Vietnam War, and Watergate, to name just a few. He did not let his political views get in the way of his reporting. | READ MORE. Cronkite also refused to report stories until they were validated. Covering yet another war, this time Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Mr. Cronkite kindly agreed to help our coverage with an interview. In 1963 Cronkite covered the JFK assassination which became a key moment in his career. | READ MORE. Required fields are marked *. Walter Cronkites legacy continues. After graduating, Walter enrolled at the University of Texas, where he would study political science, economics and journalism in pursuit of becoming a reporter his dream career. Cronkites enthusiasm about the space program was one of his signaturesespecially when he spent 27 out of the30 hoursof the Apollo 11 launch broadcasting. 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