Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. (1916-2009)Cronkite was born in Missouri, grew up in Texas, and attended college at the University of Texas (but dropped out after getting a newspaper reporting job). He reported on World War 2 battles in North Africa and Europe. He was recruited in 1950 by Edward R. Murrow to join CBS. He was the first anchor to break the news on television that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. "Following Cronkite's editorial report during the Tet Offensive that the war in Vietnam was unwinnable, president Lyndon Johnson said 'If I've lost Walter Cronkite, I've lost Middle America.' Soon after Cronkite's report, Johnson dropped out of the 1968 presidential race." [Wikipedia]
During the height of his popularity, he was known as "the most trusted man in America." Since retiring from an official anchor position, he has remained prominent in journalism and has lent his voice to many and various causes.
And so it goes...
UPDATE: Mr. Cronkite passed away on July 17, 2009 of cerebrovascular disease.
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