Walter Cronkite

Date of Birth: November 4, 1916

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: July 17, 2009

Biography

Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was an iconic American broadcast journalist, best known as the anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years (1962-1981). Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Cronkite began his career in journalism as a radio announcer and newspaper reporter before joining United Press International as a war correspondent during World War II. His balanced and trustworthy reporting style earned him the title “the most trusted man in America.” Cronkite covered many of the pivotal events of the 20th century, including the Vietnam War, the Apollo moon landings, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and the Watergate scandal. After retiring from CBS, he continued to contribute to various news outlets and remained an influential figure in journalism until his death in 2009.

5 Interesting Facts about Walter Cronkite

1. Walter Cronkite’s sign-off line, “And that’s the way it is,” became a cultural touchstone in American media.

2. He was the first non-astronaut to receive NASA’s Ambassador of Exploration Award in 2006.

3. Cronkite was an avid sailor and often spent his free time sailing along the coastlines.

4. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States.

5. His coverage of the 1969 moon landing is considered one of the most significant broadcasts in television history.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Walter Cronkite

1. “And that’s the way it is.”

2. “Objective journalism and an opinion column are about as similar as the Bible and Playboy magazine.”

3. “In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story.”

4. “I can’t imagine a person becoming a success who doesn’t give this game of life everything he’s got.”

5. “We are not educated well enough to perform the necessary act of intelligently selecting our leaders.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Walter Cronkite’s highest net worth was estimated to be around $20 million at the time of his death in 2009.

Children

Walter Cronkite had three children with his wife, Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” Maxwell Cronkite: Nancy Cronkite, Kathy Cronkite, and Walter Leland Cronkite III.