Cronkite's death spurs flood of words, memories
As I said in my obituary of Walter Cronkite, in person, he could come off as formal, stiff and even somewhat self-important. But those who worked with and knew him said he had a sense of humor and uncommon kindness.
I saw a bit of both sides of the man over the years in my encounters with him. Let me briefly recount one of those memories before sharing some assessments of Cronkite that didn't make it into my obituary of the legendary newscaster. They come from a Who's Who of television news.
In 1996, he and I sat down at CBS headquarters to talk about a book he was just about to publish, A Reporter's Life. I had been kept waiting a long time while ABC anchorman Charles Gibson posed for publicity pictures and chatted with Cronkite following their interview.
Cronkite, meanwhile, who was already 80 years old at the time, had been running late all day, hadn't eaten any lunch and was not in the best of moods, according to an assistant.
As we sat down, the interview had trouble written all over it.
Once we were settled into our places, I pulled a microcassette tape recorder out of my bag, snapped it on, and placed it in front of Cronkite.
"It won't bother you, will it?" I said, with an edge even I heard as the words came out of mouth, though I really didn't intend it to be there.
Cronkite said nothing at first. He just stared at the 3 by 5 inch, $33 Realistic Radio Shack recorder on the table between us. Then, he stared at it some more and started to chuckle.
"No, I don't think it will bother me -- not exactly the 5,000-pound pencil, is it?" he said, using a term from the TV news business for the equipment it takes to record a TV interview like the one he had just finished with Gibson. "I think it will be okay."
He chuckled the Uncle Walter chuckle as he said it, and the skies parted. And we were off and running on a terrific interview. Not surprisingly, we talked quite a bit about the differences -- and the common ground -- of TV and print journalism. I learned a lot from him that day -- and it was his sense of humor, irony and graciousness that helped make it possible.
As I said at the time, yes, he embraced the 5,000-pound pencil and the celebrity that comes with it to become the quintessential anchorman, the archetype against which all the others have been measured. But he also stayed in touch with the fact-based values and get-it-right goals of the print reporter working with a spiral notebook or simple tape recorder.
Two years later, I had another encounter with Cronkite as I tried to get a quote from him on then-CBS anchorman Dan Rather for a story my wife, Christina Stoehr, and I were writring for the American Journalism Review.
The editor of AJR thought we needed to get Cronkite's voice in the piece, but Cronkite had very complicated feelings about his successor and wasn't co-operating at all with our efforts to talk to him.
I got the quotes, but right now, I'm feeling like it's been a long, long day, and maybe I should sleep on this memory before I commit it to print even in the more informal space of a blog. Maybe tomorrow...
For now, let me leave you with some of the quotes from Cronkite's colleagues that are not in my obituary of him, but have something important to say about who he was and what he came to represent in American life. I am sure of this as I sit here at the computer at 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning: The outpouring of respect and affection from the people quoted here is a tremendous testament to what a giant Cronkite was in the history of TV News.
Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports: “It is impossible to imagine CBS News, journalism or indeed America without Walter Cronkite. More than just the best and most trusted anchor in history, he guided America through our crises, tragedies and also our victories and greatest moments. No matter what the news event was, Walter was always the consummate professional with an un-paralleled sense of compassion, integrity, humanity, warmth, and occasionally even humor. There will never be another figure in American history who will hold the position Walter held in our minds, our hearts and on the television. We were blessed to have this man in our lives and words cannot describe how much he will be missed by those of us at CBS News and by all of America.”
Katie Couric, anchor and managing editor, CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC
correspondent, 60 MINUTES: "“When I think of Walter Cronkite, I think of his high journalism standards, integrity – but most of all his humanity. I think he was so trusted because he exhibited a sense of purpose and compassion, night after night. He was the personification of excellence."
Don Hewitt, executive producer, CBS News, creator of 60 MINUTES and Cronkite's first executive producer on the CBS EVENING NEWS: “How many news organizations get the chance to bask in the sunshine of a half-century of Edward R. Murrow followed by a half century of Walter Cronkite?”
Andy Rooney, 60 MINUTES commentator: “I've been proud over the years to see Walter become, not just one of the best known people on television but one of the best known people in the whole world of people. He was proud of me, too and there's no better feeling in life than that. I wouldn't trade Walter Cronkite liking me for just about anything I’ve ever had.”
Mike Wallace, 60 MINUTES correspondent emeritus: “We were proud to work with him – for him – we loved him.”
Morley Safer, 60 MINUTES correspondent: “Walter was truly the father of television news. The trust that viewers placed in him was based on the recognition of his fairness, honesty and strict objectivity. …and of course his long experience as a shoe-leather reporter covering everything from local politics to World War II and its aftermath in the Soviet Union. He was a giant of journalism and privately one of the funniest, happiest men I’ve ever known.”
Charles Osgood, anchor SUNDAY MORNING, CBS RADIO "The Osgood File":“There was a reason why Walter was called the most trusted man in America. Nothing was more important to him than getting the story right and telling it fairly, and he expected the same of us. I've learned a lot from wonderful colleagues here at CBS News, but from him most of all.”
Jeff Fager, executive producer, 60 MINUTES: “Walter Cronkite reached heights that will be almost impossible to match. It’s unimaginable when you consider his achievements - a journalist who was the most trusted man in America. He made us proud of who we were and what we did, and always with an extraordinary dignity and humility.”
Linda Mason, Senior Vice President, Standards and Special Projects: “I was the first woman producer on the CBS EVENING NEWS, and Walter could not have been more welcoming and more professional. I remember his great enthusiasm for almost every story he touched—from politics to space and even the good fire. Everything was new. When I had the opportunity to executive-produce a two-hour special on Cronkite as his career was winding down, I was again struck by how much he retained the common touch and how he regarded his career with wonder. I told him he was the Forrest Gump of the 20th century and he laughed.”
Rick Kaplan, executive producer, CBS EVENING NEWS: “Radio and television newsrooms all over America are filled with reporters and producers, writers and editors, who got into journalism for one reason: Walter Cronkite. He was a role model for so many of us. I grew up watching Walter on television, and it was the thrill of my life to finally meet him, and a privilege to spend six years producing pieces for him for the CBS EVENING NEWS. He set standards that we in broadcast journalism still strive to meet today. Walter Cronkite was, quite simply, the best. His legacy and his spirit will always be part of CBS News and wherever good journalism is practiced.”
Susan Zirinsky, executive producer 48 HOURS: “As a Washington researcher under Cronkite during Watergate, as a Washington producer for Cronkite, he pushed us all to never give up and always seek the truth. His energy and his passion were infectious. Cronkite made us all better at our jobs—he was the spine of CBS News and we were proud to be on his team.”
Leslie Moonves, President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS Corporation: “It is with enormous sadness that we mark the death of Walter Cronkite. His passing is, of course, a major loss for journalism. He was a great broadcaster and a gentleman whose experience, honesty, professionalism and style defined the role of anchor and commentator. For almost two exciting and turbulent decades during the 1960s and 1970s he helped inform our nation, and bring us together. In so doing, he transcended his field to become the most trusted man in America. The legacy he left us all will endure. It was one of the great honors of my career to have had the opportunity to know him.”
ABC News President David Westin: “Walter Cronkite set an example for all broadcast journalism by simply doing his best to tell us the truth about things that matter, with courage and without partisanship. We will miss him, but will seek to keep his spirit alive by following his example.”
ABC News Anchor Charles Gibson: “Walter Cronkite was and always will be the gold standard. His objectivity, his even-handedness, his news judgment are all great examples. He, as much as anyone, is responsible for developing network television news. He set the standard. He told it ‘the way it is’ and all of us who are privileged to work in this business owe him an enormous debt of gratitude.”
ABC News Anchor Diane Sawyer: “He was the defining anchor of America’s story – reminding us of what we can be at our best.He had depth, foreign reporting experience, endless excitement about the news, and an irresistible irreverence.A call, a note, a compliment from Walter was pretty much the Nobel Prize for a young reporter. I am so lucky to know what it was to be part of the Cronkite team.”
ABC News Anchor Barbara Walters: “There never was and there never will be another Walter Cronkite. We trusted him and that trust was well founded. He was also a jolly and supportive friend. He will be missed by each of us individually who knew him and by the whole country who loved him.”
Jon Klein, president, CNN/U.S.: “Walter Cronkite not only anchored a newscast, he anchored the nation during perilous times that included the assassination of a president and the resignation of another as well as a divisive war and the culture clash that followed. To this day, more than a quarter century since he vacated the anchor chair, every television journalist aspires to be what Walter was - steady, certain, reassuring, reliable, authoritative but accessible. He was America's Uncle Walter, and for three decades he was the most trusted name in news.”
Comments
Hey I was at my computer at 1:30 a.m. too at my work computer. You are a night owl. It must be nice to have those two great memories of the him to look back on. I remember him, although a little sketchy. Seems like we always had Brinkley on at my house . It sounds like many people admired Walter Cronkite for his journalistic values, I got to hear Katie Couric on CNN before I went off to work last night.
It is nice that you and your wife are in the same business, that doesn't happen too often, but would make life very interesting. Z, Thanks for this nice memorial of Cronkite. You better get some sleep!
Posted by: Sherry T. | July 18, 2009 11:22 AM
When Kennedy died the dream died. When Mr. Cronkite said "That's the way it is..." for the last time, something happeed to the news. In a short time I stopped watching the evening news. Funny, he took Joe Friday's "Just the facts..." as a guide to what he was doing. He reported stories and stories are all we really have...so it is important that we get them right. My dad taught me a lot. The one thing I can still hear him saying is "Tell the truth." And together we would watch the CBS Evening News with Mr. Cronkite to see what he was talking about.
Posted by: Joe Chamberlin | July 18, 2009 12:00 PM
So many memories of Walter Cronkite delivering both good and bad news for a lot of years. To me, Walter Cronkite was similiar to President Ronald Regan in that no matter how dire the news somehow you knew everything would be OK. He had the capacity to instill a sense a hope and calm.
Posted by: ruth | July 18, 2009 2:10 PM
The something that happened to the news seems to be the variety that we have now, all of these news channels to pick from is nice, but kind of overwhelming. Maybe it's my ADD (the adult version) but I find that I switch between channels for news and it is hard to get a feel for any one anchors view points. Back when Cronkite, Brinkley there was not so much to choose from people have said they seemed like they made it their mission to report the facts. Now it is harder to get that trusting feeling. It's more opinion. But I guess we can't go back.
Posted by: Sherry Tellitocci | July 18, 2009 2:16 PM
Here is man who derved the praise that a Michael Jackson got. But he was from different generation when people were not taken in by fame, fortune and entertainment.
The generational difference makesa big difference, you are right. And it takes different forms. I think there is far less online interest in Cronkite's death than there was in jackson's. At firfst, I was a bit surpised, but then, I thought about online use, and it makes perfect sense. Thanks. Z
Posted by: Realitychecks | July 18, 2009 3:40 PM
Z on that edit request, I meant to say "please and thanks" . -Sherry
You are most welcome. Z
Posted by: Sherry T. | July 18, 2009 3:45 PM
David, I didn't have the opportunity to read your recent obit on Walter Cronkite, but I thoroughly enjoyed your fond personal reminiscences of this giant among Network T.V. news anchors on your blog posting.
Thank you for the heartfelt remembrances and kind words from so many of his esteemed news-media colleagues; their unanimously glowing comments re/ Walter as both THE news anchor who set the ultimate bar of excellence for T.V. news reportage, and the most genuine, loyal, fun, caring and humane friend anyone could hope to have.
Rightfully so, there have been few negative observations, or comments re/ this icon of broadcast news, but I have viewed Cronkite's original stunning bulletin announcement on CBS of JFK's tragic death in Dallas as a 17-year old high-schooler, and on countless occasions thereafter.
Most people claim that they saw the usually very 'objective', just-the-facts-ma'am Cronkite lose his stoic composure when telling the world that we had sadly lost our beloved, young, and vital President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, emphasizing the exact minute and seconds of his tragic passing.
Media observers claim Cronkite lifted his glasses after sharing this almost surreal news of JFK's death, and wiped away a tear, or two, feigning that he had something in his eye.
As I recall, he may have made this most human of gestures, but in the main I was so struck by Cronkite' totally matter-of-fact, unemotional, delivery, and as a young teen said to myself, "How could this guy be so cold.... damn it!....... JFK, this almost mythic, symbol of America's future collective hopes and dreams has just died!" (Being a Canadian, living in Toronto in 1963, we Canucks loved JFK equally as fervently and dearly as most Americans, and saw him as that 'shining light' on the hill, as did the entire globe.)
I believe Cronkite's heart was just as heavy that fateful and somber November day of JFK's passing that has been etched in our collective memories over all these decades, but like the consummate journalist Walter was, he chose not to flinch, but mustered all his anchor/ newsman skills to be our nation's bearer of bad tidings, keeping his cool, while all around him were wallowing in grief and sadness.
I still remember the late, great news-anchor Peter Jennings's (a fellow Canadian) initial live coverage of the unfolding 9/11 disaster, and was struck by the Herculean task he faced in containing the powerful mix of emotions, fear, anger, hate, confusion, that were surely welling up inside, but dare not be revealed on air.
In the tradition of the incomparable Walter Cronkite he, along w/ most of the Network anchors, did a yeomans job covering the horrors of that catastrophic day, but I will always remember Jennings letting down his guard on a few occasions, usually when cutting to commercial, and speaking straight from his heart, allowing his genuine humanity to shine thru.
I guess there is a place for objectivity, and a stoical, just-the-facts-ma'am delivery in T.V. news, which was kind of the credo of the late, great Walter Cronkite, yet bottom-line, these purveyors of our news, both good and bad, are mere mortals, sensitive human beings who, like Mr. Cronkite, would deviate,on a rare occasion, from the script and reveal their true, heartfelt emotion and basic humanity.
They definitely broke the proverbial mold w/ Walter Cronkite.
May he RIP.
ALEX
Hi Alex, Once again, thanks so much for your thoughtful and in-depth comments. Z
Posted by: ALEX MCCRAE | July 20, 2009 7:05 PM
I like Alex, he always gives you something to think about. Very nicely written. When I saw an older interview of Cronkite on the Larry King live show he said that he held his emotion in the death of JFK as many workers in the medical field for example hold back emotion until after the experience. I believe he would have had lots of emotion later in private. Maybe it was the time of Cronkite. I think we would allow our anchors to show more emotion today.
Posted by: Sherry T. | July 21, 2009 6:57 AM
Sherry T., I thank you for your most kind and flattering remarks, and I must admit it's always nice to be "liked". HA! HA!
I'm pleased that my wide-ranging opining and reflections give other thoughtful, and intellectually engaged folks, as you Sherry have so stated, "something to think about."
I realize we all reflect our own subjective biases and carry around our own personal baggage and history, but in the main I attempt in my 'observations' to be fair and balanced, perhaps a too over-used term in these hardly balanced, unfair and troubled times.
I really enjoy David Z's take on such a myriad array of T.V-related subjects-of-interest in his blog, and though I don't see eye-to-eye w/ him on all issues, he really intelligently stirs the pot for potential dialogue and opinion, so to speak, and you always know exactly where he stands on any given story .... one of the key strengths of any critic worth his , or her salt.
Sherry, I'm so glad you recounted the old interview of Cronkite w/ CNN's Larry King where Walter revealed that on the occasion of his most-memorable on-air announcing of JFK's passing, he intentionally "held his emotions", not unlike a surgeon who has great empathy and feeling for his patient, but MUST remain ever-cool, and emotionally collected in dealing w/ his charge, until the medical crisis has ebbed, or been resolved.
I truly believe that all America, while witnessing Cronkite's stoical delivery of the dreadful news of JFK's death, even looking up at the in-studio clock to make sure, as the ultimate perfectionist, to get the exact minute that President Kennedy had expelled his last breath, were hoping to see "The Most Trusted Man in America" let down his anchorman guard, and reveal a flood of emotion from just the reassuring, folksy, everyman, Walter, a grieved human being, like us all.
But, as you point out Sherry, perhaps this unimpassioned Cronkite moment in U.S. T.V history was just a simple sign of the times, Walter's times, when Network news was in its formative, feeling-out stage, and that as you concluded, "I think we would allow our anchors to show more emotion today."
You said it so well and so succinctly. I think this was kind of my point in bringing up Peter Jenning's 9/11 coverage, where he allowed glimpses of himself to shine through the nuts-and-bolts reportage of one of the most horrific singlular events in human history.
I'm sure Cronkite would have been immensely proud of how all the major anchors, and their invaluable support teams covered the 9/11 tragedy. Walter really mellowed out in his golden years, on and off camera.
Thanks again for your kind and supportive words, Sherry T., and I'll look forward to more of your commentary down the road.
ALEX
Posted by: ALEX MCCRAE | July 21, 2009 3:08 PM
Hi Alex,
You're welcome for the comments. I do actually take time read as many of the blogs as I can in my busy life. Yours stood out. Yes Z does give us the most interesting and intelligent articles and then we can make up our own minds about the issue at hand. I have enjoyed the blog since I found it. I have tried other blogs that will not even allow you to address for example the relgious aspect of a topic and I find that here you can express your opinion freely. That is important in so many ways. Keep up the good work Z and Alex this is what makes it so captivating to follow.
Posted by: Sherry T. | July 21, 2009 6:48 PM
Hi (again) Sherry T.,
Obviously you have had more of a blogging history than me, a relative neophyte in on-line communication, other than personal back-and forth e-mailing w/ friends.
I virtually stumbled onto David Z's excellent blog about a month ago, and have become hooked, but feel like sometimes I get a bit too verbose, and carried away w/ my slant on things, and hope I'm not becoming an on-line pain in the butt, on this particular site.
I'm an avid golf, tennis, politics, nature, and pop-culture buff; a typical eclectic, short-attention span Gemini.
I often check out many other on-line blogs, and find that many, particularly those of the sports and pop-culture variety, tend to attract some extremely shallow, narcissistic, not-too-swift, often angry, hostile, and just plain mean individuals who seem to find some kind of license in their partial blog anonymity to just go off on some kind of wild rant, or totally warped line of argument.
Since some of these blogs almost seem to breed a whole cesspool of these doofus-type commentators, I rarely, if ever, submit my two-cents worth, as I just wouldn't want to share my space w/ these petty mental midgets.
Call me a 'blog-snob' if you like, but I'll just continue to enjoy David Z's mixed-bag of breaking news commentary, and enjoy the generally thoughtful and intelligent on-line discourse that he generates.
Frankly, sometimes I wonder if David Z. has actually cloned himself, because I'm really blown away by how on top of the diverse, and vast T.V. scene he obviously is, steadily turning out cogent and entertaining criticism and helpful viewing recommendations that two full-time media observers would be hard-pressed to produce under the constraints, and deadlines that Mr. Zurawik must face each and every day.
Ideally, I believe that this blog is what it's all about.... the freedom to speak our minds, yet welcome the inputs and perhaps divergent opinions of others in a forum of civil and meaningful debate, and discourse.
Thanks Sherry T. for enriching this enterprise w/ your heartfelt, and constructive thoughts.
And thank YOU Mr. Z for being the ringmaster of this whole fun blog adventure.
ALEX
Posted by: ALEX MCCRAE | July 21, 2009 8:51 PM
Hi Alex, I am a newcomer too. I accidentally stumbled onto the site also several months ago. There was an article that interested me because I am a fan of the show House. You should go back into the archives for some interesting discussions and blogger opinion. I made it a point to read through them and it was very interesting. I am not sure how Z writes so many articles either, I have come to the conclusion that he really enjoys us and he is up until all hours writing. Thankfully for us. For what it is worth I am supposedly a overly critical Virgo. Keep on writing so we can all benefit from your well written posts.
Posted by: Sherry T. | July 21, 2009 9:27 PM
I'm glad that Walter Cronkite was acknowledged for his contributions, but pleased that the media didn't do what they did for Tim Russert. I liked Russert and appreciated his presence, but hell he was no WCand fortunately was spared the two weeks of eulogies of his greatness and likeability,unlike Russert when he didn't come close to Mr. Cronkite
Posted by: JB hanson | July 22, 2009 8:38 PM