July 18, 2009 06:04 AM UTC

Walter Cronkite, 'The Most Trusted Man in America,' Dies at 92

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• by: RedGreen

(“Objective journalism and an opinion column are about as similar as the Bible and Playboy magazine.” –Walter Cronkite – promoted by ThillyWabbit)

It’s been decades since America gathered every evening to watch the day’s news, and for those younger than about 40, it might be hard to conceive what a constant, authoritative influence Walter Cronkite was for nearly two decades. That era is long gone and now, with Cronkite’s passing Friday evening, so is its last and greatest emblem.

From the CBS News story:

Known for his steady and straightforward delivery, his trim moustache, and his iconic sign-off line -“That’s the way it is” – Cronkite dominated the television news industry during one of the most volatile periods of American history. He broke the news of the Kennedy assassination, reported extensively on Vietnam and Civil Rights and Watergate, and seemed to be the very embodiment of TV journalism.

It was a 1972 poll that named Cronkite “the most trusted man in America,” a sentiment echoed by President Barack Obama in a statement:

“For decades, Walter Cronkite was the most trusted voice in America. His rich baritone reached millions of living rooms every night, and in an industry of icons, Walter set the standard by which all others have been judged.

“He was there through wars and riots, marches and milestones, calmly telling us what we needed to know. And through it all, he never lost the integrity he gained growing up in the heartland.

“But Walter was always more than just an anchor. He was someone we could trust to guide us through the most important issues of the day; a voice of certainty in an uncertain world. He was family. He invited us to believe in him, and he never let us down. This country has lost an icon and a dear friend, and he will be truly missed.”

Here’s Cronkite telling the nation Martin Luther King had been assassinated April 4, 1968:

Here’s Cronkite delivering his verdict on the Vietnam War.

Here’s the CBS page with stories, videos and photos.