Walter Cronkite Biography

Walter Cronkite was called “the most trusted man in America” during his two decades as anchor of The CBS Evening News.

Walter Cronkite was a correspondent for United Press International during World War II, then joined CBS television in 1950 as a reporter. He became the evening news anchor in 1962 and held that post until his retirement in 1981, ending each broadcast with “…and that’s the way it is,” his television signature. He was America’s most famous news anchor at a time when the country had only three broadcast networks and when television was taking over from newspapers as the dominant force in the news business.

Unflappable and avuncular onscreen, Walter Cronkite was also called “Old Ironpants” for his long stints onscreen during political conventions and moon launches. He was replaced in 1981 by Dan Rather, who remained in the post until 2005. Cronkite’s autobiography, A Reporter’s Life, was released in 1997, and he also hosted a series for the Discovery Channel, Walter Cronkite Remembers.