Walter Cronkite

Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. (born November 4, 1916) is an American journalist, best known for his work as a television news anchorman. During his tenure at CBS Evening News he was often cited in viewer opinion polls as "the most trusted man in America," due to his experienced background and professional demeanor.

Retirement

The announcement of his retirement plans February 14, 1980 became a national event. Dan Rather succeeded him as anchor of the CBS Evening News.

Related Topics:
February 14 - 1980

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cronkite currently writes a syndicated opinion column for King Features Syndicate. He has continued to broadcast occasionally as a special correspondent for CBS, CNN, and NPR into the 21st century; one such occasion was Cronkite anchoring the second space flight by John Glenn in 1998 as he had Glenn's first in 1962.

Related Topics:
Syndicated - King Features Syndicate - CBS - CNN - NPR - 21st century - John Glenn - 1998 - 1962

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His other projects since his retirement have included voicing a character based on Benjamin Franklin in the educational television cartoon Liberty's Kids and, as Amateur Radio operator KB2GSD, narrating a documentary about Amateur Radio in the public service for the American Radio Relay League.

Related Topics:
Benjamin Franklin - Liberty's Kids - Amateur Radio - American Radio Relay League

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication is part of Arizona State University.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Since retiring, Cronkite has become outspoken on a number of political issues. In his column, he has repeatedly condemned President George W. Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq. In 1998, he befriended President Bill Clinton during his impeachment trial. He has also been a proponent of world government, penning fundraising letters for the World Federalist Association (now Citizens for Global Solutions). In accepting the 1999 Norman Cousins Global Governance Award at the ceremony at the United Nations, Cronkite saidhttp://www.ikosmos.com/wisdomeditions/essays/mw/cronkite01.htm:

Related Topics:
George W. Bush - Bill Clinton - Impeachment - World government - Citizens for Global Solutions - 1999 - United Nations

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:It seems to many of us that if we are to avoid the eventual catastrophic world conflict we must strengthen the United Nations as a first step toward a world government patterned after our own government with a legislature, executive and judiciary, and police to enforce its international laws and keep the peace. To do that, of course, we Americans will have to yield up some of our sovereignty. That would be a bitter pill. It would take a lot of courage, a lot of faith in the new order. But the American colonies did it once and brought forth one of the most nearly perfect unions the world has ever seen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Before 2004, he could also be seen in the opening movie in the Walt Disney World attraction, The Magic of Disney Animation, interviewing Robin Williams as if he's still on the CBS news channel, ending his on camera time with his famous catchphrase. He also was shown inviting Disney guests and tourists to the Disney Classics Theater.

Related Topics:
Walt Disney World - The Magic of Disney Animation - Robin Williams - CBS

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On February 15, 2005, he went into the studio at CBS to record narration for the documentary WCC Chatham Radio, a documentary about Guglielmo Marconi and his Chatham station, which became the busiest ship to shore wireless station in North America from 1914 to 1994. The documentary was released by Mooncusser Films and the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center in April of 2005.

Related Topics:
February 15 - 2005 - Guglielmo Marconi

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On March 15, 2005, Cronkite's wife of 65 years, the former Betsy Maxwell, died at the age of 89 following a battle with cancer; she is survived by their 3 children.

Related Topics:
March 15 - 2005

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Since May, 2005 he has been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~