|
|
On Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:19:34 -0500, "5011 Dead, 144 since 1/20/09" <...@dead.com
http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/1629972,walter-cronkite-gravely-
ill-061809.article
Legendary CBS journalist Walter Cronkite reportedly gravely ill
Comments
June 18, 2009
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Legendary CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite, 92, long known as the "Most
Trusted Man in America," is gravely ill, according to multiple CBS News
sources and published reports.
RELATED STORIES
More about Walter Cronkite
According to Mediabistro's blog, TVNewser, the network began updating his
obituary more than a week ago; a CBS News executive had no comment to
TVNewser on the reports of Cronkite's failing health.
One of the most recognized and honored journalists in America, Cronkite
anchored the "CBS Evening News" for 19 years, when he was replaced by Dan
Rather.
Cronkite remained a special correspondent for the network through the
years.
The St. Joseph, Mo., native got his start as a battlefield correspondent
during World War II for the United Press. In 1950 he came to CBS as a
Washington correspondent at WTOP after being recruited by Edward R.
Murrow.
Cronkite jumped to the fledgling "CBS Evening News" in 1962 when he was
named anchor of the 15-minute nightly program, which became the first 30-
minute network newscast the following year with him at the anchor desk.
From the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and civil rights
leader Martin Luther King Jr. to publicly questioning U.S. involvement in
the Vietnam War to the landing of the first man on the moon, Cronkite was
known for a tell-it-like-it-is reporting style that was often tinged with
genuine emotion.
Thought of as the dean of broadcast journalism, Cronkite's style has long
been the hallmark of television reporting. A journalism school at Arizona
State University was named for him, and a number of industry awards are
in his name, too.
In addition to leading the "Evening News" to perpetual first-place
ratings, Cronkite gave the country one of the best-known catchphrases in
TV history with his nightly sign-off, "And that's the way it is..."
TVNewser quotes Cronkite speaking on his own mortality from a 2006
interview:
"When you get to be 89, you have to think about it a little bit. It
doesn't prey on me, and it doesn't keep me awake nights. Occasionally,
when I'm upset about something else, I think, 'My gosh, I don't know if I
should do this or that because I'm not sure I'll be here that long to
enjoy it.'"
--
"Well I think that they say that Rush Limbaugh is the 800 lb. gorilla in
the Republican Party. But I think that's mean-spirited to say that. ...
Because, I think he's down to 650 lbs. I think one should be fair to him
about this whole thing." -- Arnold Schwarzenegger
|