good evening from our CBS newsroom in New York on this the first broadcast of
New York on this the first broadcast of
New York on this the first broadcast of network televisions first daily
network televisions first daily
network televisions first daily half-hour news program and that’s the
half-hour news program and that’s the
half-hour news program and that’s the way it is welcome to watchmojo.com and
way it is welcome to watchmojo.com and
way it is welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down the top 10
today we’ll be counting down the top 10
today we’ll be counting down the top 10 most memorable TV news moments in the
most memorable TV news moments in the
most memorable TV news moments in the career of Walter Cronkite Oh what
career of Walter Cronkite Oh what
career of Walter Cronkite Oh what anchormen you see don’t fade away they
anchormen you see don’t fade away they
anchormen you see don’t fade away they just keep coming back for more
just keep coming back for more
just keep coming back for more Walter Cronkite was born November 4th
Walter Cronkite was born November 4th
Walter Cronkite was born November 4th 1916 in st. Joseph Missouri he gained
1916 in st. Joseph Missouri he gained
1916 in st. Joseph Missouri he gained prominence as a reporter during World
prominence as a reporter during World
prominence as a reporter during World War two I’m just back from the biggest
War two I’m just back from the biggest
War two I’m just back from the biggest assignment that any American reporter
assignment that any American reporter
assignment that any American reporter could have so far in this war and became
could have so far in this war and became
could have so far in this war and became the CBS Evening News anchor on April 16
the CBS Evening News anchor on April 16
the CBS Evening News anchor on April 16 1962 by 1970 this gentle authority
1962 by 1970 this gentle authority
1962 by 1970 this gentle authority figure was the top-rated news anchor and
figure was the top-rated news anchor and
figure was the top-rated news anchor and was the most trusted man in America due
was the most trusted man in America due
was the most trusted man in America due to his reliable reports on major
to his reliable reports on major
to his reliable reports on major twentieth-century events number 10 the
twentieth-century events number 10 the
twentieth-century events number 10 the Iran hostage crisis when a group of
Iran hostage crisis when a group of
Iran hostage crisis when a group of Americans was taken hostage in Iran by
Americans was taken hostage in Iran by
Americans was taken hostage in Iran by Islamist militants the country took
Islamist militants the country took
Islamist militants the country took notice
notice
notice months passed without resolution today
months passed without resolution today
months passed without resolution today is confusing events were compounded by
is confusing events were compounded by
is confusing events were compounded by conflicting reports from Tehran and this
conflicting reports from Tehran and this
conflicting reports from Tehran and this prompted Cronkite to add a countdown
prompted Cronkite to add a countdown
prompted Cronkite to add a countdown after his famous closing catchphrase to
after his famous closing catchphrase to
after his famous closing catchphrase to emphasize how long the crisis had been
emphasize how long the crisis had been
emphasize how long the crisis had been ongoing he kept this going until they
ongoing he kept this going until they
ongoing he kept this going until they were finally released over a year later
were finally released over a year later
were finally released over a year later and that’s the way it is Tuesday January
and that’s the way it is Tuesday January
and that’s the way it is Tuesday January 20th 1981 a day that began as the 440
20th 1981 a day that began as the 440
20th 1981 a day that began as the 440 fourth day of captivity and ended as the
fourth day of captivity and ended as the
fourth day of captivity and ended as the first day of freedom for the American
first day of freedom for the American
first day of freedom for the American hostages in Iraq number nine the Three
hostages in Iraq number nine the Three
hostages in Iraq number nine the Three Mile Island incident good evening the
Mile Island incident good evening the
Mile Island incident good evening the world has never known a day quite like
world has never known a day quite like
world has never known a day quite like today fear from the Cold War was still
today fear from the Cold War was still
today fear from the Cold War was still pervading the American consciousness as
pervading the American consciousness as
pervading the American consciousness as was the threat of nuclear war when the
was the threat of nuclear war when the
was the threat of nuclear war when the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant
Three Mile Island nuclear power plant
Three Mile Island nuclear power plant experienced a partial meltdown it was no
experienced a partial meltdown it was no
experienced a partial meltdown it was no wonder the masses were frightened as
wonder the masses were frightened as
wonder the masses were frightened as radioactive gas leaked into Pennsylvania
radioactive gas leaked into Pennsylvania
radioactive gas leaked into Pennsylvania cronkite offered his support to the
cronkite offered his support to the
cronkite offered his support to the nation in the form of a detailed and
nation in the form of a detailed and
nation in the form of a detailed and calm report we’ll have more on the
calm report we’ll have more on the
calm report we’ll have more on the nuclear power accident in a moment
nuclear power accident in a moment
nuclear power accident in a moment number 8 his retirement he had been the
number 8 his retirement he had been the
number 8 his retirement he had been the face of CBS for 20 years and had
face of CBS for 20 years and had
face of CBS for 20 years and had reported on the most significant events
reported on the most significant events
reported on the most significant events during that time however in 1981
during that time however in 1981
during that time however in 1981 Cronkite announced
Cronkite announced
Cronkite announced his retirement this is my last broadcast
his retirement this is my last broadcast
his retirement this is my last broadcast as the anchorman the CBS Evening News
as the anchorman the CBS Evening News
as the anchorman the CBS Evening News this father figure vacated his anchor
this father figure vacated his anchor
this father figure vacated his anchor chair in favor of Dan Rather but not
chair in favor of Dan Rather but not
chair in favor of Dan Rather but not before he gave audiences one last
before he gave audiences one last
before he gave audiences one last memorable sign-off and that’s the way it
memorable sign-off and that’s the way it
memorable sign-off and that’s the way it is Friday March 6 1981 I’ll be away on
is Friday March 6 1981 I’ll be away on
is Friday March 6 1981 I’ll be away on assignment and Dan Rather will be
assignment and Dan Rather will be
assignment and Dan Rather will be sitting in here for the next few years
sitting in here for the next few years
sitting in here for the next few years good night
good night
good night number 7 Watergate report though the
number 7 Watergate report though the
number 7 Watergate report though the Washington Post had already broken the
Washington Post had already broken the
Washington Post had already broken the Watergate story Cronkite and his CBS
Watergate story Cronkite and his CBS
Watergate story Cronkite and his CBS News team compiled a comprehensive
News team compiled a comprehensive
News team compiled a comprehensive report for an even wider segment of the
report for an even wider segment of the
report for an even wider segment of the American public five men apparently
American public five men apparently
American public five men apparently caught in the act of burglarizing and
caught in the act of burglarizing and
caught in the act of burglarizing and bugging Democratic headquarters in
bugging Democratic headquarters in
bugging Democratic headquarters in Washington Cronkite made the Watergate
Washington Cronkite made the Watergate
Washington Cronkite made the Watergate caper
caper
caper a national news story right before the
a national news story right before the
a national news story right before the 1972 presidential election and lent
1972 presidential election and lent
1972 presidential election and lent credibility to the shocking allegations
credibility to the shocking allegations
credibility to the shocking allegations number six MLK’s death Martin Luther
number six MLK’s death Martin Luther
number six MLK’s death Martin Luther King jr. was known as one of the best
King jr. was known as one of the best
King jr. was known as one of the best orders of all time and it was only
orders of all time and it was only
orders of all time and it was only fitting that his death was announced by
fitting that his death was announced by
fitting that his death was announced by another talented speaker Cronkite got
another talented speaker Cronkite got
another talented speaker Cronkite got straight to the point when recounting
straight to the point when recounting
straight to the point when recounting this assassination and spared no details
this assassination and spared no details
this assassination and spared no details good evening dr. Martin Luther King the
good evening dr. Martin Luther King the
good evening dr. Martin Luther King the apostle of non-violence in the civil
apostle of non-violence in the civil
apostle of non-violence in the civil rights movement has been shot to death
rights movement has been shot to death
rights movement has been shot to death in Memphis Tennessee though a few of his
in Memphis Tennessee though a few of his
in Memphis Tennessee though a few of his word choices were dated this report went
word choices were dated this report went
word choices were dated this report went down in history as one of the best
down in history as one of the best
down in history as one of the best number-5 LBJ’s death in the years before
number-5 LBJ’s death in the years before
number-5 LBJ’s death in the years before flashy breaking news graphics all
flashy breaking news graphics all
flashy breaking news graphics all Cronkite needed was a hand gesture to
Cronkite needed was a hand gesture to
Cronkite needed was a hand gesture to suggest something important it happened
suggest something important it happened
suggest something important it happened he was first to receive word that former
he was first to receive word that former
he was first to receive word that former President Lyndon Johnson had died and
President Lyndon Johnson had died and
President Lyndon Johnson had died and was already in the middle of a newscast
was already in the middle of a newscast
was already in the middle of a newscast when he did I’m talking to Tom Johnston
when he did I’m talking to Tom Johnston
when he did I’m talking to Tom Johnston the press secretary for Lyndon Johnson
the press secretary for Lyndon Johnson
the press secretary for Lyndon Johnson who was reported that the 36th president
who was reported that the 36th president
who was reported that the 36th president the United States died this afternoon
the United States died this afternoon
the United States died this afternoon Cronkite had the guts to let dead air
Cronkite had the guts to let dead air
Cronkite had the guts to let dead air run while he got the whole story number
run while he got the whole story number
run while he got the whole story number 4 1968 Democratic National Convention
4 1968 Democratic National Convention
4 1968 Democratic National Convention the witness to that Hilton violence that
the witness to that Hilton violence that
the witness to that Hilton violence that it seemed to be
it seemed to be
it seemed to be revolt on the part of the demonstrators
revolt on the part of the demonstrators
revolt on the part of the demonstrators that year’s Democratic National
that year’s Democratic National
that year’s Democratic National Convention came at a time when the
Convention came at a time when the
Convention came at a time when the Vietnam War raged the civil rights
Vietnam War raged the civil rights
Vietnam War raged the civil rights movement was at full steam and numerous
movement was at full steam and numerous
movement was at full steam and numerous important leaders had been assassinated
important leaders had been assassinated
important leaders had been assassinated the result was violence in Chicago where
the result was violence in Chicago where
the result was violence in Chicago where police clashed with anti-war protesters
police clashed with anti-war protesters
police clashed with anti-war protesters and security sparred with young
and security sparred with young
and security sparred with young reporters like dan Rather I didn’t do
reporters like dan Rather I didn’t do
reporters like dan Rather I didn’t do very well I think we’ve got a bunch of
very well I think we’ve got a bunch of
very well I think we’ve got a bunch of thugs here damn though Cronkite later
thugs here damn though Cronkite later
thugs here damn though Cronkite later said he regretted showing his anger it
said he regretted showing his anger it
said he regretted showing his anger it was nice to see his human side number
was nice to see his human side number
was nice to see his human side number three the moon landing another one of
three the moon landing another one of
three the moon landing another one of history’s most significant moments is
history’s most significant moments is
history’s most significant moments is forever linked with this veteran newsman
forever linked with this veteran newsman
forever linked with this veteran newsman a 38 year old American standing on the
a 38 year old American standing on the
a 38 year old American standing on the surface of the Moon the Apollo 11 moon
surface of the Moon the Apollo 11 moon
surface of the Moon the Apollo 11 moon landing was not only a giant leap for
landing was not only a giant leap for
landing was not only a giant leap for mankind it was also a highlight in
mankind it was also a highlight in
mankind it was also a highlight in Cronkite’s career due to his love of the
Cronkite’s career due to his love of the
Cronkite’s career due to his love of the space program unlike anchors who
space program unlike anchors who
space program unlike anchors who preceded him Cronkite showed his
preceded him Cronkite showed his
preceded him Cronkite showed his excitement on the news that day he was
excitement on the news that day he was
excitement on the news that day he was so in awe of the event even he was
so in awe of the event even he was
so in awe of the event even he was unable to speak boy number 2 the Vietnam
unable to speak boy number 2 the Vietnam
unable to speak boy number 2 the Vietnam War 1968 was a year of Appeal in the
War 1968 was a year of Appeal in the
War 1968 was a year of Appeal in the United States and one of the most
United States and one of the most
United States and one of the most divisive issues was the Vietnam War
divisive issues was the Vietnam War
divisive issues was the Vietnam War Cronkite visited the war-torn country to
Cronkite visited the war-torn country to
Cronkite visited the war-torn country to witness the consequences of the Tet
witness the consequences of the Tet
witness the consequences of the Tet Offensive firsthand and what he found
Offensive firsthand and what he found
Offensive firsthand and what he found was an unwinnable war for it seems now
was an unwinnable war for it seems now
was an unwinnable war for it seems now more certain than ever that the bloody
more certain than ever that the bloody
more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a
experience of Vietnam is to end in a
experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate Cronkite’s unprecedented
stalemate Cronkite’s unprecedented
stalemate Cronkite’s unprecedented commentary turned public opinion against
commentary turned public opinion against
commentary turned public opinion against the war and weeks later President
the war and weeks later President
the war and weeks later President Johnson announced he would not seek a
Johnson announced he would not seek a
Johnson announced he would not seek a second term number one JFK’s death
second term number one JFK’s death
second term number one JFK’s death taking the top spot on our list is a
taking the top spot on our list is a
taking the top spot on our list is a moment that United the entire nation in
moment that United the entire nation in
moment that United the entire nation in grief TV news was in its infancy and
grief TV news was in its infancy and
grief TV news was in its infancy and Cronkite delivered the news of President
Cronkite delivered the news of President
Cronkite delivered the news of President Kennedy’s shooting and eventual death
Kennedy’s shooting and eventual death
Kennedy’s shooting and eventual death with characteristic poise restraint and
with characteristic poise restraint and
with characteristic poise restraint and controlled emotion from Dallas Texas the
controlled emotion from Dallas Texas the
controlled emotion from Dallas Texas the flash apparently official President
flash apparently official President
flash apparently official President Kennedy died at 1:00 p.m. Central
Kennedy died at 1:00 p.m. Central
Kennedy died at 1:00 p.m. Central Standard Time the figure of uncle Walter
Standard Time the figure of uncle Walter
Standard Time the figure of uncle Walter removing his glasses to break the news
removing his glasses to break the news
removing his glasses to break the news became one of many defining images from
became one of many defining images from
became one of many defining images from that day the sobota Cronkite good night
that day the sobota Cronkite good night
that day the sobota Cronkite good night direct from our newsroom in New York
direct from our newsroom in New York
direct from our newsroom in New York this has been the CBS Evening News with
this has been the CBS Evening News with
this has been the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite
”
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