Cronkite's First 'CBS Evening News' Broadcast

Photo of Noel Sheppard.
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In 1992, CBS "Up to the Minute" put together some clips of Walter Cronkite's first "CBS Evening News" broadcast on September 2, 1963 (h/t NBer Gary Hall, and don't miss hilarious Johnny Carson sketch about Cronkite in comments section):

Readers should notice a segment done by Dan Rather as well as one by Bernard Kalb.


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I love the sound of the old

I love the sound of the old typewriters in the background.  This almost reminds me of Airplane, I expect to see Johnny come out of the next room and shout "There's a sale at Penny's!".

Maideneer--

LOL! I love that movie and have it on DVD...thanks for the reminder.  :-)

Johnny Carson - playing Walter Cronkite, 1981!

I think Walter would have laughed at this as well. All in good fun.

Johnny Carson - playing Walter Cronkite, 1981!

..with respects to NB commenter Maideneer, who enjoys the clattering sounds in the background.

(;~> gary

Gary

Gary,

Oh, that's too good to hide in a link:

Thanks, Gary...and Johnny! ns

I Miss Johnny Carson

That was delightful and made me laugh. Johnny Carson was a class act.

As for the classless globalist Cronkite? Good Riddance!!

 

Isaiah 5:20a Woe unto them who call evil good, and good evil. . .  KJV

I'm still pretty new here. 

I'm still pretty new here.  But I thought this was kind of harsh.  I was no fan of Walter Cronkite either.  But, as a Christian, I would never have the thought of "good riddance" about the passing of any human being.  I don't care who it is. 

I hope I'm not alone in this.  

dumbanguish. Welcome to NewsBusters

I understand your sentiment, but I think the surviving family members of 2-3 million slaughtered Cambodians, not to mention 50k+ dead Americans, might not be so accommodating.

-Dave

"...stimulus plan is 'working exactly as we had anticipated.'" - PrezBO

Dave... Ditto. Doubling

Dave...

Ditto.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

Dave...

I hate to point this out, but doesn't all of this sound like exactly the sort of thing that we villified the commenters on Kos and Huff over after Tony Snow's death?  Am I the only one who sees this?

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein

and just for blonde.....

Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints. - Timothy H  

TH

TH,

Hear, hear!

Let's please not behave like folks on the left do when someone on the right dies. We have no high ground if we crawl in their mud.

No matter what you thought of Cronkite, now's not the time to speak ill of the dearly departed. Let's leave that to the Netroots and their ilk please.  ns

Thank you very much for

Thank you very much for saying that. I'm very glad to be at a site that has a conscience about this kind of thing. 

 

Noel & TH

Had I swerved in here and posted something like, "Yeah, I am glad the old geezer is dead," or something similar, I could understand getting jumped on.

All I was pointing out to our recently joined member was that many families were deeply affected by our cutting and running in Vietnam, and that includes my own. There are also the families of the 2-3 million  Cambodians who were slaughtered shortly after we pulled out.

I hardly think that rises to the level of derangement one routinely finds on Kos, DU, HuffPo & MoveOn.

-Dave

"...stimulus plan is 'working exactly as we had anticipated.'" - PrezBO

I understand that.  But in

I understand that.  But in that case we should have taken delight in the death of Richard Nixon because he ultimately pulled the troops out of Vietnam. 

But I don't want to get into a whole history debate.  Besides, your comment wasn't really the one that bothered me.  It was the "good riddance" thing that I found distressing to read less than 24 hours after the man died.  

Dave....

I don't doubt you, my friend.  But I am pointing out that a link was placed on this sight (gimme some time to find it and I will edit it in) pointing to a commentor on either the Kos or the Huff about how Tony Snow had contributed to the deaths in Iraq and good riddence.  How are we any better for posting the same after Cronkite's death.  Yes, worse has been posted.  But hypocricy is hypocricy, and while I understand your point and your anger (I think we have just about all been effected by the events of Vietnam (my own father served there and my brother's wife is hmong), I cannot condone statements like that immediately following a man's death.  I wouldn't want my family to go through reading things like that at the time of my demise, and I refuse to believe it is wise, or morally right, for us to do that here. 

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein 

Wow, Walter Cronkite killed

Wow, Walter Cronkite killed 3 million Cambodians?   j/k

But like I said, I could never take delight in the death of any human being.  Even Hitler himself.  

 

Dumbanguish

I'm not new here, but I agree.  Cronkite may not have been my idea of a truly great journalist, but being a Christian or not, I would think we could sound a little less like the Daily Kos and The Huff in our treatment of the dead.  Anybody remember the stink here over how they treated the passing of Tony Snow?  How is this different?  You can bet they will be posting comments like this as proof that we here are hypocrits.

Notice that you don't see the Editors and contributing writers displaying any of this type of tripe. 

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein

and just for blonde.....

Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints. - Timothy H  

That's kind of what I was

That's kind of what I was thinking.  Those are the kind of statements that Keith Olbermann would absolutely love to get his hands on and broadcast on his program.

 I thought it was loutish

 I thought it was loutish as well. Cronkite may have been many things, but he wasn't a shill, he was a pioneer. Putting the blame for the deaths in Cambodia on Cronkite is plain nutty. He was an icon in my life, and one would have to be on one demented train to paint him as malevolent (that's evil for Helm and the rest of those in Rio Linda).

 

Why not Jeb Bush?

I'm sure there are plenty

I'm sure there are plenty of people here who are refraining themselves from posting what they really felt/feel about Uncle Walt...or not posting at all.

I grew up with him too...when I was old enough to see him for what I would call a leftist shill, I could not stand him...he was not any icon for me.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

BT

He was no icon to me, either.  But to give him the "Snow Treatment"?  I would like to believe that we here are better than the Kossacks and Huffers.  The man died, for Christ's sake.    

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein

and just for blonde.....

Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints. - Timothy H  

So far everyone has been

So far everyone has been pretty polite that I have seen.

LL has been here a long time, she has always been polite from what I have ever seen posted...all she said was good riddance at the end of the post, I don't think it was meant to get a few of posters to be all upset here...she can speak for herself.

NBs is no way even comparable to HuffnPuff or Dkos....and never will be....when it came to Cheney and Tony, good riddance isn't even close to what all was said on the rabid leftist sites, not by a long shot.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

I just think about one of

I just think about one of Cronkite's loved ones somehow hearing that, upon their father's death, somebody voiced a reaction of "good riddance".  I just couldn't do that to somebody.

I will agree that certain other sites would likely revel in it if it were a conservative journalist.  And I would find it just as distressing.   

I didn't say I agree....all

I didn't say I agree....all I was trying to point out is LL has always been a polite poster...guess she didn't stop and think about being PC at the exact moment.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

I'm sorry.  I did not mean

I'm sorry.  I did not mean to put words in your mouth. 

And I wouldn't use the term "PC" in holding your tongue if you want to voice delight in someone's passing.  The term I would use is decency.   

That goes without saying

That goes without saying when it comes to decency.

Everyone sees things differently...most here know not to ever speak ill of the dead right after they have passed away, unless it's Michael Jackson, that was okay...I guess when someone expresses their own views with the words 'good riddance' to someone they have views on that were bad for this country in the long run, helped cause death and chaos in their own opinion during a time of war... she/he are bad.

I just think this is getting a big deal made out of it, that's all.

I'm leaving it at that...LL can speak for herself.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

That's cool.  I appreciate

That's cool.  I appreciate your honesty.  I hope I didn't offend you.  You were the first person I "talked" to when I joined this site :)

You didn't offend me at

You didn't offend me at all.

We all have our varying opinions....and spoke them  ;-)

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

BT

Buddy, I'm not saying that LL or anyone else is a bad poster.  I am simply saying that it was posted in bad taste anbd that this sort of thing WILL be used to show how hypocritical we can be.  We all know that Kossacks roam this sight looking for this sort of thing to undermine our credibility.  It was just given to them on a platter.  

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein

Of course we know they are

Of course we know they are among us...they are right now as far as I am concerned, I understand all of this.

It's just not comparable to anything that is posted at Dkos or Huff...that's all I meant...it wouldn't even be a pea on their platter.

I understand full well we want no peas on that platter....I was just speaking up for LL since I don't think she meant to cause any problems here etc. and she's not here right now.

Everyone here does not think the same and express themselves the way everyone wants them to or thinks they should...I just don't think she meant any harm...that is all.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

BT..

Still searching on the link, but it IS comparble in that some of the this (i.e. "good riddence" and "contributed to deaths") were almost exactly the same comments that were linked to right here after Snow's death.

I don't think she meant any harm, either.  And she has the right to post as she wishes.  But those rights do not free anyone here from criticism.  And I was sickened by the comments (not just her's).  So I responded. 

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein

I saw a heck of a lot of

I saw a heck of a lot of the comments at Dkos and HuffnPuff...I don't need the links...maybe others want to go back in time...tons of them were outrageous...always are too.

edit-by the way Tim did you feel the same way about some of the comments here about Michael Jackson after he died?

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

BT....

Yep.  I sure do, though I wasn't on that week, so I didn't see them.  But I think that class applies in all situation.  I wasn't a Jackson fan, but that doesn't change a thing.  When Ted Kennedy goes, I'll feel the same way, too.  And if there was ever an american figure that I couldn't stand, he's it.  But I still will give him the same respect upon his death.

BTW,  I don't disagree that worse has been said.  But some of the exact same things have been said, and then linked to here as examples of bad behavior. I do however agree with everything you are saying about the Kos and Huff.

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein

Well heck, we agree for the

Well heck, we agree for the most part.   ;-)

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

BT....

As usual, lol.  

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein

This thread has been pretty polite,

but as I mentioned yesterday the comments on the JFK Jr. threads are vile and yes, are worse than what I've seen on Huffpo. All life is sacred no matter how you feel about a person's ideals.

Cheers,

 Chuck

Well he was an icon for me

That doesn't mean I agree with everything he did or said, but he did establish what a news anchor should be. I can still remember the Mary Tyler Moore episode where he met Ted Baxter! Like him or not, he was an icon. When he took off his glasses and announced Kennedy's death, I think it was honest emotion. I don't for a second think it was a drama queen moment. When he announced the the Viet Nam war was lost, I think it was a-political, but very much a social commentary. IMO this is far different than Harry Reid's remarks about the Iraq war which I found strictly political.I don't think Cronkite's remark was meant to be manipulative. I do think Reid's and his parrots' remarks were meant to be manipulative.

But most of all, Cronkite on the evening news reminds me of being a kid and young adult, and I do miss that sometimes.

Why not Jeb Bush?

But most of all, Cronkite

But most of all, Cronkite on the evening news reminds me of being a kid and young adult, and I do miss that sometimes.

So do I!

I watched the episode on MTM show with good ol' Ted Baxter too...it was hilarious...then again Ted always cracked me up.

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

I'm waiting for

the punch line.  " When he announced the the Viet Nam war was lost, I think it was a-political, but very much a social commentary".  His comment was totally political, and that comment instructed generations of newsreaders on how to influence events.  Walter did it to end the war, not because it was a social thing, but because it was a political thing to do. 

UN... I agree. Just in

UN...

I agree.

Just in case you haven't seen my other posts regarding Cronkite.  ;-)

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

I think you're dead wrong

Well I think you're absolutely wrong. Other than clairvoyance,  what do you base you absolute assurance of his motives?  I'm basing mine on the fact that the country had turned against the war for a full 2 years before he delivered his editorial. In 1966 the support of the war has slipped below 50% and war protest had become common place. If its was for political purposes it was awfully late in impotent, coming in 1968. Ali was a conscientious objector in 1966. At least 100,00 had already marched on the capital in protest of the war by 1967. Lyndon Johnson didn't even see Cronkite's move as political, but as losing the support of middle America.

Cronkite did create a bad president in injecting editorials into journalism. But for you to vacuously claim it was politically motivated, rather than socially motivated, is ridiculous. But hell if you say it loud enough, it might fly.

Why not Jeb Bush?

Noel

Yea.. thanks. I thought you'd see it that way. (;~> g

Gary and Noel... Thank

Gary and Noel...

Thank you both so much....I'm still laughing here.

Classic from Carson, passing this on to quite a few people who will just love this also.

This has helped make my afternoon a happy one.   ;-)

Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart

That's great.  Thanks!

That's great.  Thanks!

Douglas Edwards

Walter Cronkite replaced Douglas Edwards on the 15 minute "CBS-TV News" on 16 April 1962.

It was broadcast from 6:15-6:30 PM in south Florida.

Ralph Rennick did the local CBS news from 6:00-6:15 PM. 

Douglas Edwards was one of my few non-sports heroes, and I clearly recall that day as one of shock and anger.

I wrote multiple letters to CBS trying to convince them to bring Edwards back, and multple letters to other networks pleading that they hire Edwards.

David Brinkley actually wrote back to me and said, "This guy sounds good.  I'll give him a call."

47 years later, and I still think of Walter Cronkite as "That Usurper."

Ralph Rennick

Wow...talk about a blast from the past.

Thanks.

I hope he fails, too.

 

 

September 1963, the end of innocence in the USA.

If my memory still serves me the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I have a dream" speech from the Lincoln Memorial was just the month before in August 1963.  I watched it on a portable TV at my family's summer cabin on Centerton Lake.  I had forgotten how bad race relations were then and how much they occupied the news.

The brutal Vietnamese dictator Ngo Deim had not yet been assassinated and Buddhist monks were still immolating themselves on the streets of Saigon in protest.

The Lying Bastard Johnson ‘I won’t send American boys to fight an Asian boys’ war’ was still only the Vice President.

School was about to start and I was headed for the 9th grade and JV Football.

CT--

Not to make you feel old, but in Sept. 1963 I was all of 4 months old.   I was blissfully unaware of much of the turmoil of the '60s during my childhood.

Not to make you feel old,

Not to make you feel old, but in Sept. 1963 I was all of 4 months old.

1963?  Never heard of it.   :-)

First Half Hour Network TV Newscast

Marty Davis chickaboomer.com

This was network TV's first half hour newscast. Prior to that Walter anchored 15 minute evening newscasts.
http://www.chickaboo...

Rather in LA

I was struck by the use of the word 'negroes' by Rather in his report from Plaquemine, La. (5:12). It sounds so out of place now. Just a reminder of how politically-correct labels change over the years. I wonder what we will have to call blacks in the next iteration.

The set is also kind of a shock. It looks no more elaborate than the set of The Honeymooners

           I was 5

 

I was 5 when that was broadcast and I grew up with "Uncle Walter" and the race riots and the war in "Indo-China"...very nostalgic

 

 

"I LOVE DEAD KENNEDY'S"

Martin Luther King

MLK used the word "Negro" routinely, including in a speech he gave the night before his death in 1968.

In my lifetime I have gone from "Colored People" (NAACP), to "Negro" (MLK), to "Black" (H. Rap Brown and Stokley Carmichael), to "African American" (after Johnny Cochran insisted everyone use that term at the OJ Simpson trial in 1994). 

Fortunately, people have called me the same thing for more than 60 years:

Dumb*ss.  

ChickaBOOMer -- Walter Cronkite: From Here To Eternity

ChickaBOOMer -- Walter Cronkite: From Here To Eternity
http://chickaboomer.blogspot.com/2009/07/walter-cronkite-from-here-to-eternity.html