Saturday, July 18, 2009
US TV newsreader Walter Cronkite dead at 92
The legendary US television anchorman Walter Cronkite has died today at the age of 92.
Walter Cronkite was very much an American icon. I remember commenting about him once (after watching a clip of Walter Cronkite reading the news in a movie we were watching) to my English husband and he looked blank. Of course, he had never heard of Walter Cronkite! I remember being shocked that he didn't know who Walter Cronkite was. And then I felt silly because of course he wouldn't know about an American newsreader just as Americans don't know about British newsreaders.
Walter Cronkite had a reputation as "the most trusted man in America", and I think in so many ways he was. His distinctive voice and his sense of authority always gave weight to his words and it was always comforting to hear him end his reports by saying, "and that's the way it is".
President Barack Obama called him the "voice of certainty in an uncertain world". That's exactly how I felt when I listened to him. He was one of a kind.
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I'm surprised about the lack of recognition, Cronkite was not just any old news reader. I would have thought he would have been more of a household name regardless of location.
ReplyDeleteBut he was a household name in the USA, not the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteHe certainly had an illustrious, and notable, career! xx
ReplyDeleteYes indeed he did, Flighty!
ReplyDeleteI hadnt heard this until now (sometimes this blog is my only source of news--I dont like watching the news usually!!) and I am both sad and inspired. Sad only because of the sentimental nature in me, but inspired because--wow! I hope I could live as long and have half such a life!
ReplyDeleteI understand exactly what you mean Michelloui. I'm also sad that he died but as you say he's inspiring because he did live a long and productive life.
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