R.I.P. Walter Cronkite

Hudson Boy · July-17th-2009, 08:18 PM

Walter Cronkite has died at 92 years old.

Monte Smith · July-17th-2009, 08:23 PM

I wish all network anchors retired three decades before they died.

GoodSpeak · July-17th-2009, 08:46 PM

I just saw this on the Evening News.

Very sad day, indeed.

My most poignant memory of Mr. Cronkite was when he announced John F. Kennedy had died. The man choked up over it [and rightly so] but you just never saw that type of emotion displayed on the network news...ever. It was that experience along with the loss of RFK [which I watched happen on TV as well] and Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 60s which helped shape my view of America and helped my understanding of a depth of emotion for greatness.

Tonight, I feel a deep sense of loss and will always be grateful for Walter Cronkite's impact on my life as a viewer and as a fellow American.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Cronkite. You were one of a kind.

Gentle Giant · July-17th-2009, 09:57 PM

It's inconceivable to think of a modern "news personality" possessing the integrity, intelligence, and empathy of Cronkite, or engendering the trust and affection of an audience as he did. He delivered news; these days, the shit they cram down our throats is a mix of staged, sensationalistic melodrama and shallow, insipid "lifestyle" stories.

RIP

Ron Thorne · July-17th-2009, 10:33 PM

I grew up with Walter Cronkite, and never had a single occasion to doubt his sincerity, honesty, passion or compassion.

Television news anchors should be in his debt, but most have learned little or nothing from his example ... apparently.

We've lost a great American, and I'm greatly saddened by the loss.

R.I.P., Walter Cronkite~

RBS · July-17th-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

I grew up with Walter Cronkite, and never had a single occasion to doubt his sincerity, honesty, passion or compassion.

Television news anchors should be in his debt, but most have learned little or nothing from his example ... apparently.

We've lost a great American, and I'm greatly saddened by the loss.

R.I.P., Walter Cronkite~

I met him in person once and told him how much I liked his work. He shook my hand and made it clear that he remembered my name. I'll never forget that. Yes, he had a tremendous amount of decency that always came through.

Valerie · July-17th-2009, 11:21 PM

you guys have just about said it all for me (except Monte). Mr. Cronkite was one of a kind and we shall more than likely never see his kind again. an enormous passing, and of a bygone era as well

hornplayer · July-18th-2009, 03:27 AM

I never met him, but somehow I feel like I've lost an old friend or family member. Definitely grew up watching him tell us what was happening in the world every evening.

He truly delivered the news. These days, sadly, it seems the news personalities inject far too much opinion to call it "news."

If the true measure of greatness is whether a person leaves the world a little better place than they found it, then he really qualifies.

Rest in peace, Mr Cronkite.

That's the way it is...... ;(

Chazro · July-18th-2009, 04:01 AM

Just heard of the passing of this great man. Always gracious, elegant, honorable, and intelligent. The faith this nation had in him is something that will never be seen again. Truly a great American.

RIP

Monte Smith · July-18th-2009, 07:50 AM

There was a C-Span caller who got it right during the hagiography of Cronkite this morning. "Mister, I'm 75 years old and I heard a lot from Cronkite and everything he said I took with a grain of salt. I love C-Span but I take everything you say with a grain of salt, too."

The problem with Cronkite, maybe, wasn't Cronkite. It's after he retired everyone wanting to be Walter Cronkite, "most trusted man in America." And therefore the network news annointed Brinkley, Rather, Jennings, Brokaw, and their successors as Voices of Integrity, rather than as news readers. I prefer news readers. I don't want to trust the avuncular presence on my TV screen. I don't want to welcome an image into my home every night as though he is a cherished friend and neighbor.

Cronkite, of course, had a career before he became the warm, beating heart of American journalism and its great professor emeritus. He was a radio personality and a war correspondant and then one of "Murrow's boys." I grew up with Cronkite, too, like everyone else old enough to have done (though we were always a Hunt-Brinkley family, later McNeil-Lehrer). You have to have warm feelings for him, but the Saint Cronkite aspect, this glowing credulous nostalgia, come on, "that's not the way it was."

Brian Olewnick · July-18th-2009, 08:21 AM

I'm with Monte. Nothing against the individual person here, but this whole idea of elevating news-readers to philosopher status is just creepy and not a little Orwellian.

Gordon B · July-18th-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

I'm with Monte. Nothing against the individual person here, but this whole idea of elevating news-readers to philosopher status is just creepy and not a little Orwellian.

Agreed. I just re-read Monte's post on the Tim Russert thread. It was one of his finest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

There's nothing the media loves to talk about more than the media. That's why I groaned twice when I heard about Russert. First the groan of sadness, he's a man, ask not for whom the bell tolls. Then the groan of disgust, what kind of a meal are the journalistic estate going to make of this.

I liked Russert, but I do not like the position he attained. I like diversity in news which would best be represented by not having careerists as gatekeepers of opinion. For that reason I do not like anchors and I do not like "Meet the Press" meaning "Meet Tim Russert." I would prefer anonymous talents a la C-Span to rotate thru the big chairs frequently. High turnover, low salaries, bland faces. Watch the meal they make of Russert tonight, Olberman and Matthews, heirs to the throne. This is no slam on Russert, who was better than most. God bless his soul.

rollhead · July-18th-2009, 11:10 AM

What you have all said here is utterly asinine. Cronkite was a real journalist, who happened to be on TV. He did more real, shoe-leather reporting than I am sure 99 percent of TV anchors these days.

He worked for United Press, and covered among other things, the Battle of the Bulge, and Moscow for two years after the war. As someone who worked for UPI myself, I can tell you you don't get by as a wire service reporter "reading the news." It's damn hard work which takes persistence, intelligence and a great deal of talent , and Cronkite did it with distinction (far, far better than I ever did), which is why Edward R. Murrow recruited him for CBS.

I am not a big fan of today's TV "personalities," but as a former journalist, I always respected Cronkite as a great reporter of honor and integrity.

And Gordie, with all due respect, you can't compare Russert, who was never a real journalist, with Cronkite.

Russert was a lifetime talking head who had his career handed to him on a silver platter because of his political connections. I can't imagine Russert flying onto a battlefield in a glider, like Cronkite did, long before he was a "star" on TV.

Uli · July-18th-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollhead

I am not a big fan of today's TV "personalities," but as a former journalist, I always respected Cronkite as a great reporter of honor and integrity.

I was not around during Cronkite's heydays; I trust Rollie's judgement in this case. What bothers me is that today's tv personalities don't practice the virtues they now praise in Cronkite.

RIP, Sir.

Brian Olewnick · July-18th-2009, 11:24 AM

I don't think anyone's arguing against his credentials as a reporter. I'd bet that 99% of the people mourning him now are only familiar with him as someone who read them the news each evening, an affable, avuncular presence who's words they believed when he spoke them. "The most trusted man in America", right? That's the creepy thing. ie, (rather like with the King of Pap), it's not Cronkite himself being criticized but the bovine reaction to him in his most prominent role on the part of the US public. "We believe whatever this nice old man is telling us." That's not so healthy, I think you'd agree.

Gentle Giant · July-18th-2009, 11:32 AM

It's not hagiography, or maudlin, to remember fondly the virtues of a man with talent and integrity. He's not Saint Walter to me, just the last vestige of believability in the entertainment medium called news reporting. Instead of criticizing those who lament the passing of an honorable person, why not direct your bile towards all the hotties hosting newscasts these days, and the sexy graphics that draw mindless sheep to them every night.

Gordon B · July-18th-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollhead

What you have all said here is utterly asinine. Cronkite was a real journalist, who happened to be on TV. He did more real, shoe-leather reporting than I am sure 99 percent of TV anchors these days.

He worked for United Press, and covered among other things, the Battle of the Bulge, and Moscow for two years after the war. As someone who worked for UPI myself, I can tell you you don't get by as a wire service reporter "reading the news." It's damn hard work which takes persistence, intelligence and a great deal of talent , and Cronkite did it with distinction (far, far better than I ever did), which is why Edward R. Murrow recruited him for CBS.

I am not a big fan of today's TV "personalities," but as a former journalist, I always respected Cronkite as a great reporter of honor and integrity.

I don't dispute that Cronkite was a first-rate journalist before becoming anchor of "The Evening News" but the RIP's and tributes are mostly because of the latter. How active a role did he have in shaping the newscast? If he was active, was his newscast more informative than Huntley-Brinkley or Howard K. Smith or was he beloved due to his delivery of the newscopy?

Gentle Giant · July-18th-2009, 01:22 PM

A journalist is a conduit between the Truth and the Audience. The best don't impose themselves on the information they convey. Following a newscast, one shouldn't be thinking of what the journalist wore or whether or not her new hairstyle is flattering. One shouldn't remember the music or the graphics, or the smiling, jokey cutaway to the on-scene reporter.

Cronkite, and he wasn't alone among his generation of newscasters, such as Huntley and Brinkley, knew their job was to simply be articulate, honest, objective, and clear. In the passage of time, we have come to learn that it wasn't so simple, or maybe it was because the times were simpler. Today, Nielsen makes the news.

Ultimately, Cronkite engendered the affection of his audience more than his peers because of his plain manner, soothing voice, and unconcern for showing emotion when it counted, such as reporting JFK's death or telling the truth about the Vietnam quagmire.

And stone, by all means think about the man in silence. If that's your way, there's nothing wrong with it. But there's no need to throw stones, as it were, to those who remember in a different way. Don't worry, I don't think Cronkite will sell out the Staples Center.

walto · July-18th-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

He's not Saint Walter to me

That's cuz I am, right?

Gordon B · July-18th-2009, 06:06 PM

David Gregory's email to Mark Sanford's communications director (now "ex") Joel Sawyer.

http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2009/0...ob-at-nbc.html

Gregory's email, which Sarah Palin might scoff at for its incoherence, invites Sawyer to come on Meet The Press and "frame the conversation." This is journalism?

Monte Smith · July-18th-2009, 06:15 PM

By the way, that's a very interesting microphone Cronkite is speaking into. "Crusade for Freedom." Sounds like Fox.

Hudson Boy · July-18th-2009, 06:48 PM

It's Radio Free Europe, broadcasting to the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War.

Monte Smith · July-18th-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hudson Boy

It's Radio Free Europe, broadcasting to the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War.

Sounds like Fox.

Ron Thorne · July-18th-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

Sounds like Fox.

No, not really.

It was Radio Free Europe, not Radio Fair Europe.

GoodSpeak · July-18th-2009, 10:03 PM

Or Radio Dipshit America.

[Definitely] Sounds like Fox.

rollhead · July-18th-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon B

I don't dispute that Cronkite was a first-rate journalist before becoming anchor of "The Evening News" but the RIP's and tributes are mostly because of the latter. How active a role did he have in shaping the newscast? If he was active, was his newscast more informative than Huntley-Brinkley or Howard K. Smith or was he beloved due to his delivery of the newscopy?

Cronkite was the managing editor of the Evening News, and Managing editors -- at least in his day -- often assigned the stories, made decisions on what stories are aired and edited the copy of what is presented. Cronkite did all three, and he did it as a top-notch professional whose integrity was never questioned, except by those who object to facts.

Gentle Giant · July-18th-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walto

That's cuz I am, right?

Well, maybe Walter Bishop, Jr. is further along in achieving sainthood, but I'll keep you in mind if I need a backup.

GoodSpeak · July-18th-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollhead

Cronkite was the managing editor of the Evening News, and Managing editors -- at least in his day -- often assigned the stories, made decisions on what stories are aired and edited the copy of what is presented. Cronkite did all three, and he did it as a top-notch professional whose integrity was never questioned, except by those who object to facts.

republicans do that, Rollie.

Always blame the other guy....they can't help themselves.

Valerie · July-18th-2009, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

Well, maybe Walter Bishop, Jr. is further along in achieving sainthood, but I'll keep you in mind if I need a backup.

speaking of . . . Bret Primack just posted some of Walter's teaching videos on Facebook from YouTube on the Study of Fourths: Voicings, Chord Progressions, etc., etc.

cookie · July-18th-2009, 11:56 PM

Cronkite was one of those folks that I wished I could meet and have dinner with. He was a fixture of my childhood.

Does anybody remember "You Were There"?