Uncle Walter Was "The Voice Of A Generation"

Many of you are probably too young to remember Walter Cronkite, but for almost 20 years America tuned in to the CBS Evening News for a half-hour helping of daily news and information.

The legendary news man died on Friday at the grand old age of 92. He died just three days before the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing, a defining moment in history that is forever linked with his reporting.

For generations of TV viewers, he was an honorary part of their family in good times and bad, in triumph and tragedy. Growing up, we were familiar with his name but not his actual broadcasts. We just thought "Uncle Walter" was some distant family member who just couldn't make it to the annual holiday shindigs.

Though he was long retired by the time we were old enough to know that there was more on TV than just cartoons, his name is, and always will be, synonymous with television news. There were no fluff pieces, no celebrity interviews, no spray tans or big Chiclet teeth - just the news, the whole news, and nothing but the news.

Often referred to as the "most trusted man in America," the news veteran covered events during a tumultuous era that included the assassination of President John F Kennedy, the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal and the Iranian hostage crisis.

George Clooney, Hollywood's unofficial spokesman for everything, was among the first celebrities to pay tribute to the voice of a generation.

"He was the most important voice in our lives for thirty years," said the Oscar winner, who studied the legendary news man while directing and starring in Good Night and Good Luck.

"And that voice made people reach for the stars. I hate the world without Walter Cronkite. "

Cronkite was the top newsman during the peak era for the networks, with as many as 18 million households tuning in to his broadcast each evening. Ron Burgundy aside, the term "anchorman" was first coined in Cronkite's honor.

In this age of 24-hour information and Twitter feeds, Cronkite's authoritative and reassuring delivery of no-nonsense news as everyone gathered around the dinner table for meatloaf and mashed potatoes seems quaint, but that's how
it was, and how we sometimes wish it could still be.

We doubt we'll be waxing poetic about any of the FOX "news" babes or CNN's Rick Sanchez.

By Paige Muller

Paige Muller, Gossip & Hollywood Hijinx
		About the author:
		Paige Muller is a gossip gal with an appreciation – some would say obsession – for Hollywood hijinx, celebrity style and the latest fashion trends.  From who hooked up, who's knocked up and "WTF are they wearing?", Paige offers all the dish, with a side of snark. When not pondering Jennifer Aniston's perplexing post-breakup PR strategy, Paige is a published writer and communications professional who has worked with brands like Dove, L'Oreal, More magazine, Gap and WE: Woman's Entertainment.
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