And that's the way it is

Today I'm celebrating one of the most trusted men in America

On this date in 1981, Walter Cronkite signed off of the CBS Evening News for the last time after 19 years as anchorman. In opinion polls of the 1970s and 1980s, Walter Cronkite was often cited as the most trusted man in America, through his coverage of such important news events like the Cuban missile crisis, the assassination of President John F Kennedy, the Vietnam War, the Apollo 11 Moon landing, and the Watergate scandal. He can watch his coverage and reaction to the Apollo moon landing on YouTube, one of the few times when Cronkite was admittedly speechless.

Before joining CBS, Cronkite worked for the United Press, becoming a top reporter in World War II, covering the Nuremberg trials, and serving in Moscow for two years. In his early years at CBS he covered the first nationally-televised convention coverage. In 1962 he became anchorman of the CBS Evening News. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter in 1981. His trademark phrase "And that's the way it is..." closed each newscast.

I can recall watching Walter Cronkite each evening. I fondly remembered those times tonight as I watched the evening news.

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