I just commented on these two subjects at intell's blog. WC was a hero to a lot of people and the least CBS could do is dedicate a small fraction of the time he spent in front of their cameras to a suitable memorial.
I'm just an old enough fart to have listened and watched Uncle Walter throughout his entire career. Kennedy's assassination. Lunar landing. 60 Minutes did the whole hour on him this past Sunday. Something I didn't know about him was that he was a Deadhead. Apparently Uncle Walter made some derogatory remark about rock n roll and Mickey Hart invited him to a show. He showed up and stood the whole concert next to the mixing board. During a break Mickey asked how he liked it and his reply was, "When I first got here I could think of 300 reasons why I should leave. Now, I can't think of a single one." That's pretty much what happens to everyone who goes to a Dead concert. Apparently Walter and Mickey were lifelong friends after that. The last of the news anchors who wasn't an actor first, newsman second.
Mo---True. No consolation, but he lived longer than most...90 some odd years, and apparently still lucid. I'll take it.
JennyMac---I don't how one could say anything but respectful things about him. And thanks :-)
Kate---I didn't realize it, but it makes sense that Canadians knew about, and also respected him.
Punch---Yes, they do. Except...No, I am not going to get tacky on this one. Nevermind.
Mr. C---I love this anecdote. Thanks for sharing it. Being and ex-drummer myself, I was also delighted to find out that he had been a drummer, way back...so maybe there was an natural affinity there.
Oh, whatever are you talking about...our news anchors are actors? Shut my mouth.
ALL---This was a short morning post because I felt I had totally overlooked WC last week. And it seemed appropriate to post the moon landing report by him, since this is the anniversary of the landing. What I didn't say this morning was that I originally began watching him on the CBS Evening News because he bore a striking resemblance to my maternal grandfather. If you were to hold up a photo of the two, you would have thought they were brothers. And then the more I found out about Walter Cronkite, the more I respected him, and the grandfather thing became less important.
I think the difference between Walter Cronkite, and present day "newscasters" is that he was actually, and originally a newsman...a writer...a real reporter. And he was dedicated to finding out the facts and reporting them as accurately as he could.
I for one, will miss this man and what he stood for. We may never have this kind of integrity in the news again.
14 comments:
I just commented on these two subjects at intell's blog. WC was a hero to a lot of people and the least CBS could do is dedicate a small fraction of the time he spent in front of their cameras to a suitable memorial.
Doug---good point. I agree.
I'll second that memorial idea - especially if someone on national network TV will lament the difference between news coverage between then and now.
The other day, J, you mentioned that you sounded like an old geezer talking about the Good Ol' Days. Now it's my turn . . .
I've read of a number of great men passing away recently, sad though inevitable I guess.
I love a respectful post on a true great.
I was sad to hear this news.
All things must pass.
I'm just an old enough fart to have listened and watched Uncle Walter throughout his entire career. Kennedy's assassination. Lunar landing. 60 Minutes did the whole hour on him this past Sunday. Something I didn't know about him was that he was a Deadhead. Apparently Uncle Walter made some derogatory remark about rock n roll and Mickey Hart invited him to a show. He showed up and stood the whole concert next to the mixing board. During a break Mickey asked how he liked it and his reply was, "When I first got here I could think of 300 reasons why I should leave. Now, I can't think of a single one." That's pretty much what happens to everyone who goes to a Dead concert. Apparently Walter and Mickey were lifelong friends after that.
The last of the news anchors who wasn't an actor first, newsman second.
PE---You are so right...you old geez, you.
Mo---True. No consolation, but he lived longer than most...90 some odd years, and apparently still lucid. I'll take it.
JennyMac---I don't how one could say anything but respectful things about him. And thanks :-)
Kate---I didn't realize it, but it makes sense that Canadians knew about, and also respected him.
Punch---Yes, they do. Except...No, I am not going to get tacky on this one. Nevermind.
Mr. C---I love this anecdote. Thanks for sharing it. Being and ex-drummer myself, I was also delighted to find out that he had been a drummer, way back...so maybe there was an natural affinity there.
Oh, whatever are you talking about...our news anchors are actors? Shut my mouth.
ALL---This was a short morning post because I felt I had totally overlooked WC last week. And it seemed appropriate to post the moon landing report by him, since this is the anniversary of the landing. What I didn't say this morning was that I originally began watching him on the CBS Evening News because he bore a striking resemblance to my maternal grandfather. If you were to hold up a photo of the two, you would have thought they were brothers. And then the more I found out about Walter Cronkite, the more I respected him, and the grandfather thing became less important.
I think the difference between Walter Cronkite, and present day "newscasters" is that he was actually, and originally a newsman...a writer...a real reporter. And he was dedicated to finding out the facts and reporting them as accurately as he could.
I for one, will miss this man and what he stood for. We may never have this kind of integrity in the news again.
I wish we'd make more like him, even though lamenting for his passing is also quite appropriate.
Cronkite's style and moral compass should be a basis for a whole year of ethics and journalism style in today's schools of journalism.
Comrade---Maybe they are there and we simply don't know it. Nah.
wm---not a bad idea for all fields of study actually.
can't see this one... but i really liked the photos you'd chosen for your recent post... i needed the fun...
thanks dear friend for your visit and becoming a follower... i'm going to add you and become a follower too...
sure your window to the world brings lots of new things for the crow...
peace and love to you
human being---I meant what I said over at your place. Tain't necessary, but I am honored for sure.
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