Cronkite, Walter (1916—)
Walter Cronkite's 19-year tenure as anchorman of the CBS Evening News was an uncanny match of man and era. Two generations of Americans came to rely upon his presence in the CBStelevision anchor chair in times of war and crisis, scandal and celebration. His was a forthright, solemn presence in a time when each new dawn brought with it the prospect of nuclear annihilation or a second American civil war. Yet the master journalist was also a master performer—Cronkite was able and quite willing to display a flash of emotion or anger on the air when it suited him; this combination of stoic professionalism and emotional instinct earned the broadcaster two enduring nicknames: the man known familiarly as "Uncle Walter" was also called "The Most Trusted Man in America." When Cronkite closed the Evening News each night with his famous sign-off "And that's the way it is," few doubted he was telling them the truth.
Cronkite's broadcasting career had a unique prologue; the young war correspondent did what few others dared: he turned down a job offer from Edward R. Murrow. The CBS European chief was already a legend; the radio correspondents known as "Murrow's Boys" were the darlings of the American press, even as they defined the traditions and standards of broadcast journalism.
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