Cronkite, Walter (1916–)

Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. spent nearly 19 years as anchor of CBS Evening News and became known as “the most trusted man in America.” Over the years, he won numerous journalism awards.

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Cronkite grew up in Houston, Texas. He attended the University of Texas in Austin, though he did not graduate. After working for several small newspapers and radio stations, he joined United Press in 1937. For them he reported on World War II in Europe and North Africa, covered the Nuremberg Trials, and spent 2 years reporting in Moscow.

In 1950, Cronkite joined CBS News after being recruited by Edward R. Murrow. Two years later, Cronkite reported for CBS at the Democratic and Republican presidential conventions where the term anchorman was ...