Tuesday, November 4, 2008

TODAY'S TWD: WALTER CRONKITE

I can't think of a greater combination than Walter Cronkite celebrating his 92nd birthday on Election Day!

Once dubbed "the most trusted man in America", Cronkite was inducted into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame back in November of 2001, when he turned 85. His qualifications at that time? Appearances on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', 'Murphy Brown', 'Captain Kangaroo', and 'You Are There'. (Let's face it, with CBS newsmen going back in Time to interview historical figures, it was more of a science fiction program than it was a news show.)

But it's for his work in the anchor chair at CBS, his coverage of the Vietnam War, the space program, but especially the assassination of President Kennedy, which will forever be burned into our cathode memories. That moment when Cronkite took off his glasses and checked the clock, holding it together as he announced that Kennedy had been killed in his Dallas motorcade..... As tragic a moment as it was, it was Television in its purest form.

Happy Birthday, "Uncle Walt"!

BCnU!
Toby O'B

1 comment:

Terence Towles Canote said...

I think Walter Cronkite is still the best known and most successful news anchor of all time. I still remember his coverage of the first moon landing, and I was only 5 at the time!