| 1 | Name: | Mr. Walter Cronkite | |
| Institution: | CBS News | ||
| Year Elected: | 1994 | ||
| Class: | 5. The Arts, Professions, and Leaders in Public & Private Affairs | ||
| Subdivision: | 503. Administrators, Bankers and Opinion Leaders from the Public or Private Sectors | ||
| Residency: | Resident | ||
| Living? : | Deceased | ||
| Birth Date: | 1916 | ||
| Death Date: | July 17, 2009 | ||
In a career spanning more than 60 years, Walter Cronkite has been perhaps the best known and most highly respected television news anchor in broadcast journalism. He earned that recognition in a career in which he covered virutally every major news event of his time and complied special reports on vital topics, including the Vietnam War, Watergate, the Middle East, the environment and the United States space program. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for reporting and commenting on events "with a skill and insight which stands out in the news world, in a way which has made the news of the world stand out for us." He has received numerous broadcasting awards, including the Peabody and several Emmy Awards, and Harvard, Michigan and Duke Universities are among the many institutions that have recognized him with honorary doctorates. In 1966, Time magazine described Mr. Cronkite as "the single most convincing and authoritative figure in the television news," and he was the only journalist voted among the top 10 "most influential decision makers in America" in leadership surveys conducted by U.S. News and World Report from 1975 through 1978 and again in 1980. He became a special correspondent for CBS News in 1981 when he stepped down after 19 years as anchorman and managing editor of the CBS Evening News. Affectionately nicknamed "Old Iron Pants" for his unflappability under pressure, Mr. Cronkite is a man of extraordinary breadth who has shared useful knowledge with millions while promoting an understanding of important aspects of life. | |||