Breaking News: Friday, July 17
Walter Cronkite Has Died

The New York Times reported Mr, Cronkite’s son’s announcement of his death, shortly before 8 p.m. Friday. The network for which he anchored the evening news from 1962 to 1981, immediately interrupted its prime time programming to show an obituary.

During his tenure as CBS news anchor, Mr. Cronkite became known as the most trusted man in America.

Among the big issues of his time in the chair were the civil rights movement, the Kennedy assassination, the race to the moon, the impeachment of Richard Nixon and the Viet Nam War.

Such was the weight of his editorial viewpoint with the public, that after he delivered judgment that Viet Nam was a lost cause and that America should negotiate a withdrawal, President Johnson was quoted as saying: "If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost middle America."

Five weeks later, the President announced he would not run for reelection.

Mr. Cronkite, a keen sailor, had a seasonal relationship with Martha’s Vineyard that endured far longer even than his tenure in the most influential media job in the country – some 40 years. "I don’t know of any place quite like it, and I’ve traveled a great deal around the world and this nation of ours. This is unique," he said.

In one of his final interviews, with the Gazette at his Edgartown harborfront home in June 2007, he affected complaint that his enduring celebrity status interfered with his sailing.

But in truth he maintained a close and opinionated view of public events. In that last Gazette interview he pronounced identical judgement on the Iraq war as he had on Viet Nam.

He wished his opinions were still widely broadcast.

"I would like to be doing more of what I did before," he said. "I've retired from . . . the best job that a man could have. But if somebody said, ‘We know you're getting to be an old man, but we could use you. Would you like to come into the evening news as an editor?' My God, I'd be there before I could get a taxi."

Mr. Cronkite passed away at his New York home after a long illness, surrounded by family.

A full obituary will appear in Tuesday’s Gazette.

Related: 2007 Gazette interview with Mr. Cronkite
Last updated on Monday, July 20, 2009

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Saturday, July 18, 2009 2:33am

Walter Cronkite was an icon and a great news-man, and I am sure he would be a little disappointed to see the story about his death in his beloved Martha's Vineyard newspaper containing typos. ("I don't know of any place QUIT like it") Just a thought.

- Steve M , Yarmouth

Saturday, July 18, 2009 9:52am

Mike, you should provide a link to the 2007 interview in your story. Also, there's a typo in Mr. Cronkit's quote about the Vineyard: "quit" should be "quite".

http://www.mvgazette.com/article.php?4309

Good article.

- Tom Lyons , Natick

Saturday, July 18, 2009 10:14am

My family watched Walter Cronkite every night in our New Rochelle apartment back in the 60s-70s. My grandmother loved him and my mom. I would sit on the living room rug and we would all listen to what he had to say. He was infinitely respected in our family.
When I had children in the 80s-90s I became a summer vacationer on the Vineyard. I had the delight to see him in person at an eyeglass store in Edgartown. He turned at me and I smiled then I left him alone out of respect.
Needless to say my Nanny and Mom were probably thrilled from heaven.

- Stephanie Young , Temple NH

Saturday, July 18, 2009 12:08pm

In the summer of 1986, Walter and I were interviewed by his daughter Kathy for NPR at his home on the harbor. As Executive Director of the Preservation Trust, we were raising funds to purchase the Flying Horses to keep it on the island. I will always remember that day: Betsy opening the door and leading me upstairs to Walter's study where we sat and chatted. He told us how his 3 kids loved the carousel and couldn't imagine losing it to off-island antique dealers or another museum. His folksy manner made the interview charming, as did his conversation with Kathy - father and daughter reminiscing about trying for the brass ring. In my book, Walter was always the brass ring -- the real prize.

- Jane Chittick , Edgartown

Saturday, July 18, 2009 1:59pm

Two years ago, our son had the honor to meet Mr. Cronkite. It was his 18TH birthday, and he was becoming an Eagle Scout. Mr. Cronkite specifically came out to meet our son, and congratulate him on his Eagle Scout, and birthday. He said it was one of his biggest regrets not finishing his Eagle Project. He told my son it was an honor to meet him. Mr. Cronkite, and all of his family, the honor was truly our son's and our family's. God be with all of you. May you rest in peace with your beautiful wife.

- Dawn , Oak Bluffs

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