Walter Cronkite facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter Cronkite
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Cronkite in 1985
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| Born |
Walter Leland Cronkite Jr.
November 4, 1916 St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S.
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| Died | July 17, 2009 (aged 92) New York City, U.S.
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| Other names | Old Ironpants, Uncle Walter, King of the Anchormen |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin |
| Occupation | Television and radio broadcaster, news anchor |
| Years active | 1935–2009 |
| Spouse(s) |
Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Maxwell
(m. 1940; died 2005) |
| Children | 3, including Kathy Cronkite |
Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. (born November 4, 1916 – died July 17, 2009) was a famous American reporter and news anchor. He was known for being the main news anchor for CBS News from 1962 to 1981.
Walter Cronkite reported on many important events. These included the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He also covered the Apollo 11 moon landing. He reported on the Watergate scandal, which led to President Richard Nixon leaving his job. Many people called him "the most trusted man in America." People watched his news show every night to hear about the Vietnam War.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Walter Cronkite was born on November 4, 1916. His hometown was St. Joseph, Missouri. His parents were Helen Lena and Dr. Walter Leland Cronkite, who was a dentist.
Cronkite lived in Kansas City, Missouri, until he was ten. Then his family moved to Houston, Texas. He went to elementary school at Woodrow Wilson Elementary. He attended Lanier Junior High School and San Jacinto High School. At high school, he was the editor of the school newspaper. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts.
He went to college at the University of Texas at Austin in 1933. There, he worked on the student newspaper, The Daily Texan. He also joined a fraternity and a Masonic group for boys called DeMolay. While in college, he acted in a play with another student, Eli Wallach. He left college in 1935 to focus on his journalism career.
A Career in News
In 1935, Walter Cronkite started working for the Houston Post newspaper. Later, he worked for several radio stations in the Midwest. During World War II, he was a war correspondent for United Press International. This meant he reported from the war zones. After the war, he was the main reporter at the Nuremberg Trials. These were trials for important people from the war.
He joined CBS News in 1950. In 1962, he helped start the CBS Evening News. He was the main news anchor for this show until he retired in 1981.
After retiring, he continued to work on different TV programs. In 1981, he helped make a PBS show called Why in the World. In 1982, he hosted CBS's Universe. He also hosted Dinosaur for A&E. He made a show called Cronkite Remembers for CBS and the Discovery Channel. He also wrote several books. He won many awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981. He also won two Peabody Awards and several Emmy Awards.
Important News Stories
Cronkite was famous for his reporting on the U.S. space program. He covered everything from Project Mercury to the Moon landings and the Space Shuttle. He was the only person not from NASA to receive a special Moon-rock award. Cronkite was also known for ending his news reports with "And that's the way it is," followed by the date.
Cronkite made history when he was the first TV reporter to announce the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The news came in quickly, and the cameras at CBS were not ready. Cronkite's voice was heard over a blank screen. He said, "Bulletin . . . In Dallas, Texas, three shots were fired at President Kennedy's motorcade. The first reports say the President was seriously wounded, that he slumped over in Mrs. Kennedy's lap, she cried out, 'Oh, no!' and the motorcade went on . . . The wounds perhaps could be fatal . . ." For three and a half days, there were no fun shows or commercials, just news about the event.
Cronkite's reporting on the Vietnam War was very important. He reported on the events every evening. But after the Tet Offensive, he traveled to Vietnam to see the situation himself. What he saw made him very sad. On February 27, 1968, Cronkite reported that the war in Vietnam could not be won. This was a big change from his usual objective reporting. He was sharing his own opinion on national television. Many people believe Cronkite's report made many Americans turn against the war. It may have also played a part in Lyndon B. Johnson's decision not to run for another term as President. After watching Cronkite's report, President Johnson said, "If I have lost Walter Cronkite, I’ve lost Middle America."
Personal Life
Walter Cronkite was married for almost 65 years to Mary Elizabeth 'Betsy' Maxwell Cronkite. They were married from March 30, 1940, until her death in 2005. They had three children: Nancy, Mary Kathleen (Kathy), and Walter Leland (Chip) Cronkite III. His grandson, Walter Cronkite IV, now works at CBS.
Cronkite loved sailing and enjoyed sailing along the coasts of the United States. He was also a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. In the 1950s, he enjoyed sports car racing and even raced in the 1959 12 Hours of Sebring. He was also a fan of the board game Diplomacy.
Later Years and Passing
In June 2009, it was reported that Cronkite was very sick. He passed away on July 17, 2009, at his home in New York City. He was 92 years old. It is believed he died from a brain-related illness.
Cronkite's funeral was held on July 23, 2009, in New York City. Many famous journalists attended, including Tom Brokaw, Katie Couric, Dan Rather, and Barbara Walters. His friends at the funeral talked about his love for music, including drumming. He was cremated, and his remains were buried next to his wife, Betsy, in Kansas City, Missouri.
Images for kids
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Cronkite reported on location during the Vietnam War.
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Cronkite meets with President Ronald Reagan at the White House, 1981
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Walter Cronkite speaks at a NASA ceremony in February 2004
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Walter Cronkite in 1996
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The namesake Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University
See also
In Spanish: Walter Cronkite para niños
