Jul 18 2009
THAT’S THE WAY IT WAS
Walter Cronkite dead at the age of 92. At one point in his career he was noted to be the most trusted person in America with a rating of 78%. That is remarkable when you realize it was during the turbulant 60’s and 70’s era that he held a country in the palm of his hand. Why and how could one man command so much respect. Walter Cronkite knew more than anyone how to KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid).
Unlike the crap we are fed today by the major networks and cable feeds he did not editorialize while reporting the news. He was professional and did not interrupt anyone in order to override what they were saying with his own views. He was not antagonistic. He was objective. He didn’t have, nor need, a panel of experts to refer to and stretch out a story. He didn’t beat a dead horse. We was not left wing nor was he on the right. He was there, in the center of our television set simply reporting the news.
Americans by the millions would religiously watch his evening news broadcast. It was live, no replays, no mind numbing continuous video loops. No questioning why this happened, will this happen, what was the purpose of this and that. He presented the news and ended his broadcasts with the memorable “and that’s the way it is.” He, to the best of my knowledge, did not do drugs, was never in rehab, didn’t have any major controversy in his life, lived a clean life, did his job with dignity and respect and left us a heritage we may never again see in broadcast journalism.
In March of 1981 I recall the angst I personally felt. At that time there were three major networks. The days of fierce competition for tabloid type reporting had not quite yet soaked into the airways. We did not have anchors or hosts attempting to become the number one, push their just released book or pump constant controversy into our heads every program. He simply stated information. No banners clouded the screen flashing just in; breaking news; developing now and all the trash that is used today had yet to be dreamed up in the pea brain of some marketing moron.
Walter Cronkite will be remembered in the media for a few days and shortly after being laid to his final rest he will be gone from the airways for good. Those abusing drugs, committing murder and otherwise disrupting life will long be talked about. Even today following the story of Mr. Cronkite, the media is talking about a person that died forty years ago and asking if it was suicide or murder.
I am glad we had Walter Cronkite and appreciative I was able to enjoy and learn from what he shared with us. Thank you Walter for the KISS.
