Why was Walter Cronkite the epitome of trust? He never allowed his broader passion to diminish and die. 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. 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. "Indeed, a bunch of people were running around but I got to the chair in time for the broadcast." Source: IMDB, Walter Cronkite during his time as a war correspondent during WWII. Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. (November 4, 1916 - July 17, 2009) was an American broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the CBS Evening News [1] for 19 years, from 1962 to 1981. Why was Walter Cronkite so well respected? 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. . Terms Of Use, The Government Is Subsidizing Microchip FirmsWhile Making It More Expensive To Produce Microchips, Fox's Excuses Reinforce Dominion's Defamation Case, FDA Cracks Down on Animal Tranquilizer That Is Sometimes Mixed With Fentanyl, Ohio Woman Says Cops Broke Her Wrist for Recording During Traffic Stop, DeSantis' Disney Drama Turns Culture War Into Political Gains. What a great read, I wish there were more Walter Cronkites in todays society. Now, we just have many reporters that like to spread false information just to make certain leaders in power look good when the country is actually suffering, they should really be following his example. Prove yourself wrong! 3.1.2023 5:00 PM, Emma Camp By then, Mr. Cronkite had retired. Your Privacy Rights Cronkite strongly influenced the politics and outcome of the Vietnam War. I remember siting with my mom watching the news with her. After the war, Walter would cover the Nuremberg war trials. Cronkite first became synonymous with trust in 1972, when the Oliver Quayle and Co. poll included his name in a list of public figures to determine a trust index. Cronkite topped the rankings with 73 percent, which seemed impressive until you considered the skunks polled alongside him. The man who anchored . After he retired, Cronkite began to openly pursue causes he believed in. 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. Alas, the NewsHours Cronkite-lite approach has failed to attract much of an audience. Walter Leland Cronkite . The power of the voice of an unbiased reporter symbolizes the importance of understanding all news, good and bad, at home and abroad. Terms of Use 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. A rocket, more than 350-feet tall, lifted the astronauts into space. The Most Trusted Man in America didnt get there by calling himself the Most Trusted Man in America. Walter Cronkite was born on November 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. 1 Colonization and Settlement (1500-1763), 2 Revolution and Early Republic (1754-1801), 4 Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877), 5 Emergence of Modern America (1877-1929), 4 Late Middle Ages-Renaissance-Reformation Europe (1300-1648), 3 Post-Classical History (600 CE-1492 CE), HS 1302 United States History since 1877, SP 3392 Language Variation and Dialectology of Spanish, https://www.biography.com/media-figure/walter-cronkite, https://www.notablebiographies.com/Co-Da/Cronkite-Walter.html, Jeff Cunningham, Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr.,, Joseph Epstein, A Face Only a Nation Could Love,, College of Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences. The sophisticated and the well-schooled are vulnerable, too. If so, you owe something to Walter CronkiteAmericas uncle and the most influential broadcast journalist of all time. Click here to try out our award-winning content platform for free. Now, all . 3.2.2023 12:01 AM, Jacob Sullum And he was way too into the space program for a grown man. On the contrary, he kept that passion in check until the time was right. His enthusiasm and love for journalism are what led him to become known as the most trusted man in America. Fuel your passion After he retired, Cronkite began to openly pursue causes he believed in. As we mourn "the most trusted man in America" we also mourn the kind of television news that no longer exists. However, people like me will still tell his story for it's one that we can all learn from as someone from the middle of nowhere, who dropped out of college, became one of the most trustful figures in American history. As much as the public may have trusted Cronkite, he didnt top all surveys. His latest cause was world government and. Though Rather never said so publicly, CBS News insiders said he did not approve of her appointment. Walter Cronkites iconic sign-off and thats the way it is was taken at face value by the nation. 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. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. He consoled Americans when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. He was an outstanding journalist, to be sure. "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. 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. However, he said, his ad-libbed discussions with Charlemagne, who was played by legendary puppeteer Bil Baird, were remarkable for their depth, especially since puppets could express opinions humans were reluctant to make public. 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". The news business has both expanded and fragmented in the post-Cronkite, post-Fairness Doctrine era. In today's atmosphere of media partisanship and fake news it seems a bygone notion, but Cronkite was known as "the most trusted man in America.". And so: when so many people from so many eras and walks of life agree that Walter Cronkite was TMTMAhe must have touched more than a few trust bases. Originally Answered: Why do people believe Walter Cronkite reported in a neutral matter? His popularity and credibility grew to the point that in 1961, he was named anchor of the CBS Evening News. Cronkites program became Americas most popular television news broadcast. Click here to try out our award-winning content platform for free. And every article, blog or TV clip mentions how Walter Cronkite was so trusted. The broadcast was just moments away. Despite his objective persona, it was clear to his viewers that Cronkite was a real person with real interests and feelings. "Whew, boy, " he said, as Armstrong descended the ladder. "President Lyndon Johnson certainly felt it. Is there some secret hidden in Cronkites missing FBI papers? Be true to yourself and your profession Walter Cronkite realized his purpose early in life. Charlemagne would be short-lived (Baird would go on to produce The Sound of Musics Lonely Goatherd sceneand other legendary puppet shows), but Cronkite was notand eventually he branched out into editorial work like his lion friend. He was someone we could trust to guide us through the most . He passed away when I was a freshman in college, but I can't help thinking of him today because I know he would be so proud of this moment. As I said in my obituary of Walter Cronkite, in person, he could come off as formal, stiff and even somewhat self-important. Your email address will not be published. The notion that Walter Cronkite was "the most trusted man in America" has received fresh stimulus from the recently published biography about the avuncular CBS News anchorman. He never allowed his broader passion to diminish and die. Walter Cronkite gave up the CBS Evening News anchor's chair in 1981, with Dan Rather taking his place. Walter Jr. the only child of Walter, a dentist, and Helen, a homemaker was born on November 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. This he saw as a natural outgrowth of professional principles; it also fit his personality like a glove. It was his integrity and commitment to fair reporting which established him as the most trusted man in America. 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. Speaking of papers, youd think that given Cronkites status as one of the worlds most respected and well-traveled public figures, hed draw special attention from the FBI. He covered the 1952 presidential elections, and he helped introduce The Beatles to the United States. 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 . 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. He claimed, "I built my reputation on honest, straightforward reporting. In a world saturated with reality TV and tell-all blogs, you have to look harder to see itthat sense of self-reserve, tough but with a soft centerthat used to be middle Americas ideal self-image. One Womans Charge Change How News is Reported. The longtime New York City townhouse that once belonged to Walter Cronkite, otherwise known as the most trusted man in news, has quietly sold for $7.25 million, The Post has learned. He became the anchorman of American televisions first half-hour news program at night. "That wasn't why I was laughing, young man," Walter said to me. Reading the encomiums in his honorand watching the raw man-in-the-street interviews Friday nightthere is a clear hierarchy of what people meant when they said they trusted Walter Cronkite. This was a fascinating article about a journalist that I have never heard of before. The CBS anchor is remembered as a media giant who gruffly championed hard-hitting journalism. He began his career with a commitment to journalism as well. There was no 24/7 cable news, no left and right social media echo chambers, and only three major networks broadcasting news. But those who worked . Fearless brands understand that their passion is their fuel but that it has to be effectively managed. "When the Eagle landed on the moon, I was speechless - overwhelmed, like most of the world. If Cronkite were working in todays news environment, painting the news from the same palette he used when he anchored the CBSprogram, would viewers still invest their deep trust in him? That is simply basic journalism. Sadly thats a rather quaint concept today. So What? 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. Advertisement These results came about because Walter Cronkite was a fearless brand. A reporter of the old school, he believed that there was such a thing as the truth, and his job was to find it. 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. Walter Cronkite. What Made Walter Cronkite The Most Trusted Communicator in America? Cronkite finished fourth in best-liked, behind Harry Reasoner, who placed second, and Howard K. Smith (ABC News), who placed third. Cronkites enthusiasm for the U.S. space program carried throughout his journalistic career and helped Americans follow and support the program. The most frequent comment, expressed in several ways, was that Cronkite was honest. Other reasons we shouldnt have trusted Cronkite. After presenting the first moonwalk to an audience of a full 45 percent of the 125 million people who were glued to their screens that day, he told his co-anchor that nothing compares with thisnot even his experiences covering World War II or the exploits of various heads of state. Working on the desk was.". Additionally, I enjoy partaking in various on-campus and non-profit organizations. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. to see through the carefully crafted party lineon both sidesand get to the truth of the matter. He covered events such as the moon landing, the assassination of JFK, and Vietnam. Cronkite showed passion in his work, especially when doing NASA projects. Soon he would be named host of the Morning Show on CBS. 0 Why the World Trusted Walter. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. 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. Walter Cronkite realized his purpose early in life. Cronkite, the main influence at CBS News, chose to err on the side of valid news rather than being first to break a story. Today, the job he perfected has largely lost its relevance. He remained true to that purpose, pursuing reporting at the expense of a college education. That may have been god-given; the rest of him was a man who strove to be good, and who showed the rest of us how. 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. It was a total disaster, and hes lucky to get out of there alive, Ward says. In 1981, CBSs mandatory retirement age of 65 required that Cronkite step down from his post. On the contrary, he kept that passion in check until the time was right. But we connected with him because of his obvious compassion, modesty, and joyous enthusiasm. His voice was always calm and true. Start spreading the news: The townhouse that formerly belonged to the late CBS anchor Walter Cronkite will hit the market for $7.7 million. Its those characteristics which make him a fearless brand. For me, its a moment for which I long have planned, but which, nevertheless, comes with some sadness. Subscribe to Reason Roundup, a wrap up of the last 24 hours of news, delivered fresh each morning. He was one of several reporters assigned to the European theater to cover World War II (WWII). Events, products or items Trusted Advisor recommends that may be of benefit to you, Some years ago I wrote about a Better New Years Resolution. It was pretty good, if I do say so myself. Your ambitious agenda is filling a desperate need.". The security guard didn't fully believe him, but finally let Walter Cronkite in. 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. 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. #3 Integrity. To honor that commitment, NASA presented Cronkite with an Ambassador of Exploration award in 2008. After the war, as the TV news era blossomed, Cronkite was there to become one of its key figures. Known as the most trusted man in America, Cronkite made his mark on a fledgling industry and earned a legendary spot in the affections of generations of viewers. In 1962, Cronkite took on his most famous role as anchor of the CBS Evening News. Erin Blakemore is a Boulder, Colorado-based journalist. A few weeks later he announced that . Ample breasts. Cronkite stayed in the Kansas City area until he was 10. . As a newsman, his passion was limited to his role of reporter. | 7. That his passing coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing is less a surprise than a cosmic alignment. 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. 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. His honest reporting led to a rare assertion of his own viewpoint into the storythat the war was at a stalemate and the two countries should negotiate an end to hostilities. Legendary television news anchor Walter Cronkite died Friday night at the age of 92. 8. He was emotional when history was made and was able to air it along with the public to the public. Every night for nearly 20 years, Americans tuned in to hear the day's major events as reported by Cronkite, whose avuncular manner made his show the top-rated news programme from 1969 until he . With quiet clarity and some ferocity, I let the security guard know the man before him was the Walter Cronkite, and we would not be showing him any identification and we would, right now, be on our way. It will make you smarter and keep them honest. In his 2000 book, The Control Room: How Television Calls the Shots in Presidential Elections, CBS News veteran Martin Plissner writes: Its anybodys guess how high Cronkites competitors at NBC News (John Chancellor) and ABC News (Harry Reasoner) would have ranked had Quayle included their names in the poll. The times that Cronkite directly engaged controversy can be counted on one handhis 1968 special, in which he called the Vietnam War a stalemate and called for negotiations, and a pair of 1972 broadcasts about the Watergate scandal, both of which are cited in his New York Times obituary. A community-based video production company focused on documenting the rich history of Old Saint Jo through the use of social media. My dad was one of those people. Essays by over 30 trust experts. McLaughlin, who . I cant add much to the list of eloquent obituaries for Walter Cronkite, other than to say I agree with them. In 1927, his family relocated to Houston, Texas where he grew in admiration of journalism after reading an article in American Boy magazine.1 After this, his interest encouraged him to avidly work at his middle school and high school newspapers. Walter Cronkite was born on November 4, 1916, in St. Joseph, Missouri. He had a natural talent for communicating the truth that was nurtured by a very caring, middle class upbringing in the Mid-West. Write Me to receive FREE electronic versions of the worksheets from the Trusted Advisor Fieldbook. It took a man of great character and outstanding humility to so sublimate his personal views and inherent bias to achieve that rather impossible standard. Advertising Notice Walter Cronkite, often referred to as Uncle Walter, delivered hard news to a nation for two decades. So I stepped outside for a few moments for a smoke. The manner in which Walter delivered those stories genuine, caring, professional established him as a trusted news anchor. 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. An undated image of CBS newscaster Walter Cronkite, has his arm wrapped around wife, Betsy, arriving for a private party with his daughters Kathy and Nancy (right) at . Cronkite himself, would die in 2009 at the age of 92. Then he exclaimed, "Armstrong is on the moon -- Neil Armstrong, 38-year-old American, standing on the surface of the moon." In the generation since he left the anchor desk at the CBS Evening News, there have been other public figures who inspire passion, devotion, confidence, intensity and . Known as the "most trusted man in America," Cronkite made his mark on . He famously reported Report from Vietnam in 1968, where he told Americans he did not believe that the United States had a chance at succeeding in the war. Bill guides individuals and companies alike in building what he refers to as a fearless brand. Covering yet another war, this time Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Mr. Cronkite kindly agreed to help our coverage with an interview. He was televisions version of Gary Cooperstoic, his own man, capable under stress of expressing deep feelingsbut in a highly controlled manner. Yet the "most trusted man in America" seemed rather pleased he wasn't recognized at his own front door. Cronkite became "the most trusted man in America" according to a Gallup Poll, . If so, you owe something to Walter CronkiteAmerica's uncle and the most influential broadcast journalist of all time. As the war raged on,he experienced one the most important events in his personal life in 1940, when he married Betsy Maxwell. Id be selling myself and not the news.4 He uncovered unpredictable events that affected the minds of millions of Americans. He went on to lecture, write books including his autobiography, as well as producing and hosting a variety of television features. So how and why did Walter Cronkite become . The news monopoly the three broadcast networks enjoyed for two decades has been shattered by the three cable news networks, all of which embrace (and thrive on) the controversy that Cronkite eschewed. Big blonde hair. What? 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 . 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. He was 92. It isn't enough to say that he was the "most trusted man in America," as. "He puts on his captain's hat and does that every day," she said with a Candida-type half-shrug, half-smile. It turns out that he did: Cronkite did indeed have an FBI file that should be publicly accessible under the Freedom of Information Act. Full red lips. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. Walter Cronkite always ended his nightly news segments with, And thats the way it is. This is a mostly justifiable assessment. At the CBS News Broadcast Center, and throughout the news business, Walter Cronkite largely defined the ethical and journalistic standards that engendered the trust of a nation. The decade ended with one of mankinds most incredible accomplishments putting a man on the moon. 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. My grandmother used to tell me about Cronkite and his reporting. July 18, 2009 -- One day after legendary reporter and anchorman Walter Cronkite died, colleagues and admirers are mourning the loss of "the most trusted" voice that led America through 40 years of . | Words fail to describe the magnificence of this accomplishment. 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. Cronkite is famous not only for his impartiality and journalistic integrity, but the few recorded instances of emotion he expressed on air. He says CBS then used the survey results to promote the network. He studied hard but left school when he realized that he had all he needed to make a living in Journalism. He inspired John Waters to grow a moustache (I think!). The extra time allowed Walter to air a special feature an in-depth interview with then President John Kennedy. Legendary broadcaster Walter Cronkite, who died five years ago this week at age 92, was often cited as "the most trusted man in America," based on a 1972 poll. Cronkite refused to allow his personal beliefs to affect his job of reporting accurate news. As consumers shifted consumption of news from newsprint to television in the 1960s, consumers shifted whom and what they trusted, too. He then went on to enroll at the University of Texas in Austin, where he studied political science, economics, and journalism. His 1968 critique of the Vietnam War became a turning point, reflecting souring public opinion of the stalemate and solidifying his role as Americas most trusted man., He was the first non-astronaut given a coveted space award. Cronkite also trusted the people to respond well to his truth-telling and to use their intelligence to evaluate his words. 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. Mrs. Cronkite looked at me and giggled or blushed or maybe neither. No one said it better than Cronkite, the CBS Evening News anchor from 1962 to '81: We all have our likes and our dislikes. Nick Gillespie and Tracy Oppenheimer 399 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02116 +1-617-564-3443. Walter covered significant events of the war, including the bombing of Germany and D-Day. I apologized again as we walked through the hallways and studio he knew so well. "I was remembering another time. 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. "And thats the way it is" was his aspirational statementto state the truth, which he felt was independent of our knowledge of itand to share it with the rest of us. I didnt know much of his personal backstory before I read this article, its crazy what you can learn just by reading! 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. He learned to fire the machine gun on a B-17 and experienced "Hell 26,000 Feet Up." Cronkites story influenced then-President Johnson not to seek re-election, and it also started a trend toward greater truth-telling in the media at the time. Embrace Cronkites approach be true to yourself and your profession, be fair, commit to a life of integrity be a fearless brand. As I prepared to whisk him off, a security guard at the front desk stopped him. But when we're doing news, it is our duty to be sure that we do not permit our prejudices to show. Buy it here. His only agenda was his professionalism, about which he was quite clear. He had no truck with deconstructionists who believe its all subjective, he was a midwest pragmatist of the William James school. It was his integrity and commitment to fair reporting which established him as the most trusted man in America. 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. The most frequent comment, expressed in several ways, was that Cronkite was honest. Today, more and more reporters never leave the comforts of their desks. 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. Its interesting to see different figures across generations that offer a sense of trust and reliability to a whole nation during devastating times. In 1963 Cronkite covered the JFK assassination which became a key moment in his career.