Obama: Cronkite Was A Reporter Who "Never Let Us Down"

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama praised broadcasting icon Walter Cronkite as a newsman who "never let us down." Cronkite got kind words from leading Democrats and Republicans after his death.

The 92-year-old retired CBS News anchorman died Friday night at his Manhattan home after a long illness. In a statement, Obama described Cronkite as a trusted voice who calmly guided America through wars and riots, marches and milestones.

"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," Obama said. "But Walter was always more than just an anchor. He was family. He invited us to believe in him, and he never let us down."

"Through it all, he never lost the integrity he gained growing up in the heartland," Obama said.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, on a diplomatic mission in India, said she and former President Bill Clinton became friends with Cronkite in the early 1990s and found him to be a man filled with "energy and life."

"It's a great time to look back and think about someone who played such a major role in explaining what was going on and did it in a calm, fact-based way without embellishments that too often get in the way of really understanding what's going on," she said.

Cronkite's death also brought praise from Washington lawmakers.

"I'm saddened to learn of the passing of Walter Cronkite, one of the most influential newsmen of our time," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. "I will never forget our memorable visit together to Hanoi on the 10th anniversary of the fall of Saigon."

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A CBS crew including Cronkite prepared a special telecast for that anniversary.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Cronkite "was the face and voice of American journalism for generations." The California Democrat said "he set the standard for news even today: fair and thorough."

"From the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, to the war in Vietnam, to the landing on the moon 40 years ago next week, Walter Cronkite delivered the news and provided trusted commentary on the events that shaped our history," she said.

Pelosi said Cronkite should be honored "by remembering the essential role that a free press plays in our democracy, and by protecting the right of journalists to report the news."

House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio said Cronkite "was a giant in his field and a welcome guest in American families' homes for decades."

"From the Kennedy assassination to the moon landing and beyond, he was always there to inform and educate us, with the high standards and rigorous commitment to the truth that Edward R. Murrow set at CBS News."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called Cronkite "One of the most iconic news reporters of the 20th century."

"He will be forever memorialized as a pioneer in broadcast news, and remembered fondly by legions of Americans as one of the most trusted men in America," he said.

Comments

[Brezzydee]

This isn't about MJ it's about Walter Cronkite, and President Obama did issue a statement. And he also wrote the Jackson Family a letter. I think that would and should be enough. Black or White it don't make a difference.

[clsmithj]

Defending Barry to the end I see. Since BO decided to be distant with MJ, I think from here out I'm going to be distant with him.

[Matt7]

Wonder what terms our grand-children will use to describe the impact on their lives by Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, Beck et. al.?

Will the terms "integrity," "fair," "gracious," "honest," "sincere," "courteous," "inspiring," "truthful" be among them? Or, will they curse their names as responsible for the turning of the tides?

Wonder how the good ol' boys, who remember Cronkite, justify and reconcile the afore-mentioned personalities with Cronkite? They're old enough to have seen the difference; and should be honest enough to acknowledge it.

The passing of men like this should allow them the rare opportunity to actually see how far they've fallen. Lord help 'em.

[shamanbart]

Great post -- I agree 100%. What a contrast!

[DONKEY-OH-TEE]

I loved Micheal. He could sing and dance but Cronkite effectively ended the Vietnam War. A little perspective here. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mypov123]

I'm not implying that Michael's contributions were more significant than Cronkite's, you're missing the point. I'm talking about the lack of meaningful acknowledgment from Obama about Michael when other heads of state throughout the world were releasing statements acknowledging his career and contributions, despite the controversies in his personal life. I understand there is a political risk for praising Michael Jackson, but he could have been a little more courageous in acknowledging him, that's what I'm saying. And I think you might be giving Walter Conkrite a little too much credit for ending Vietnam.

[aquarius64]

The foreign heads of state faced no risk because their electorate have no problem with MJ's scandals; they simply enjoy his music. Here in the US, a lot of people have a problem with Jackson's issues and they will take it out on politicans who praise by firing them via ballot box.

[MarsAmbassador]

Why is this not the Top Story??

[mypov123]

"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," Obama said. "But Walter was always more than just an anchor. He was family. He invited us to believe in him, and he never let us down."

Wow, it's nice to see how eager Obama was to express such an outpouring of love and respect for Walter Cronkite's career and contributions. Too bad he couldn't do the same for Michael Jackson.

[MarcusT]

OMG!

[richie42]

Yeah as if MJ actually changed the public's opinion on a war now.

[mypov123]

Wow, don't you think you're giving him just a little too much credit??

[clsmithj]

I'll debate you that he done much more so through his music and music videos that have reached a greater audience than Cronkite.

[aquarius64]

I figured some people would come out p.o. about the different response times by the president regarding two public figures. Both were in the news-Cronkite reported the news, Jackson was in the news in a very negative way, a lot. Politicians have to weigh their words carefully because words have consequences. When Elvis died, even Jimmy Carter had to be careful in his statements regarding him. For Obama, as a black man, he would be judged more harsely if he heaped praise on Jackson without acknowleging the not-so-pretty episodes in his life. Congressional Black Caucus members can do so without impunity; they represent districts where the voters have, for the most part, an unconditional love for Jackson. CBC members have nothing to lose on Election Day. Dems in conservative districts, I believe, are not willing to go to the political scaffold for MJ. I'm not judging; I'm just saying it is what it is.

[mypov123]

He was ACCUSED, not convicted, of child molestation. As an entertainer, he accomplished things that even Elvis or John Lennon were unable to accomplish in their careers. He had the most diverse fanbase of any entertainer, period. Through his music, he was able to bring people from virtually all walks of life together. No other entertainer has been able to do that on the level of Michael Jackson, and no one will probably ever be able to match or surpass him.

[aquarius64]

True, acquitted. But some voters will not take that into account. Acquitted to them means I'm guilty as sin but I am able get top-shelf lawyers to convince 12 men and women not to send me to jail. In that convincing, my lawyers used every legal trick in the book. Remember, after the trial MJ became a pariah in the US; you couldn't pay anyone to buy his CD's because the court of public opinion at the time thought he benefited from limousine justice. ( He left the country, came back to the US for while, but his final tour was in the UK, not the US, which means there may have been some resistance in booking him here.) I'm simply saying that Michael Jackson's new legacy, though unfair, is political liability.

[PalmG]

I'm glad the president decided to issue a statement on Cronkite's passing right away. This flies in the face of those who said he had "too much on his plate" to make a statement on someone's passing. So his reluctance to speak on the passing of Michael Jackson is still without merit. No good reason at all for him to dis MJ like that. I hope the apologists with their "he was to busy for that" spiel are paying attention. People make time for what they want to make time for.

[citizensrus]

I feel the same way. Michael Jackson was falsely accused. This is why we have a justice system. President Obama not only dissed Michael Jackson by not making a statement, he dissed our system of justice. I guess the acquittal wasn't good enough for him? Sorry, this hurts.

[exhale09]

The media rightfully pays tribute to their colleges when they pass away.

Recently we have listened to their tributes with the passing of Tim Russert and now Walter Cronkite and others.
With both of them the media has opined about their honesty, integrity, and devotion to REAL journalism.

Yet, most of the media does nothing to change their own reporting SHOWS in a way to bring back the HONEST INTEGRITY in their own reporting that they say they admired about Russert and Cronkite.

Instead it's all about which outlet can have the best bells and whistles to compete with each other to dazzle us for their ratings, and which ones can sensationalize Partisan trivia the most to entertain us.

Modern journalism has become nothing more then putting shimmer lipstick on pigs and oinking louder the the other guys, and passing that off as REAL informative news.

What we get from the Cable media, with just a couple exceptions, is nothing more then self absorbed competition between "themselves" as their first priority...obsessed with spending their time continuously critiquing each other, reporting on EACH OTHERS reporting, instead of telling us the FACTS about what is going on with our Country.

Sorry if I sound like I am sick and tire of it always being about THEM.

[mypov123]

It's colleagues, not colleges :)