RIP Uncle Walter
Walter Cronkite, who pioneered and then mastered the role of television news anchorman with such plain-spoken grace that he was called the most trusted man in America, died Friday, his family said. He was 92.
Regular readers already know that Walter Cronkite is a hero to me, and that I had met him several times, the most recently being at a First Freedom First event here in San Jose, a year or so ago. I think the first time I met him was probably in the early 1980s, and I was both star struck and thunder struck. And he was always very nice.
I would not go so far as to say that he was a friend of my father’s, but after he retired from broadcast journalism, any time he came to the bay area to sail (he was an avid sailor), they would have drinks together, and we would hear about it. And when I was old enough, Dad brought me and I had drinks with him, too. He was doing the narration for Copeland’s Lincoln Suite. It was amazing.
That uncle who imparts the wisdom that your parents or grandparents cannot. Someone who has an indefinable wisdom in their mere voiceable presence.
Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be many journalists of Mr. Cronkite’s calibre in the business today.
You were indeed fortunate to have made his acquaintance.
An old-school gentleman.
Thankfully, there are still a few around.
But each one lost means there are fewer left, and they aren’t exactly pumping them out on the Ford assembly lines, are they?
Nice that you had a personal connection to him through your dad.
There is no one who can match his integrity. I am grateful to know he touched your life ,and he you. You had a drink with him. Regards to you, TG.
I remember him on the day JFK was killed. I remember watching him on the day of the moon walk (no, not Michael). He was an integral part of early life. Thank you.
[...] event in San Jose, which provided an opportunity for me to also meet my good friend Tengrain from Mock, Paper, Scissors for the first [...]
best walter cronkite
the day they landed on the moon when he had to stop in the middle of his report because he was overcome with joy
and then apologized
when i first started at CBS as a young pup at age 24 – who gave me the tour of the newsroom – Walter Cronkite -
Commies drinking booze, this explains so many of Murka’s problems.
We still have David Gregory, backup dancer to Karl Rove, who thinks exposing government lies in the runup to Iraq wasn’t his job.
Bruce388: July 18th, 2009 at 9:28 am
We still have David Gregory, backup dancer to Karl Rove, who thinks exposing government lies in the runup to Iraq wasn’t his job.
I have a sick suggestion for a tribute to Mr. Cronkite. Maybe, just maybe some one could arrange to feed Walters last BM to David Gregory for dinner at the next press club soiree.
Great post, Tengrain. You are a lucky guy. They don’t make them like Cronkite anymore. Sadly.
And you are a lucky guy too, DCap.