Oh yes. And I'll never forget him coming on the air in his shirtsleeves (that simply wasn't done at the time) to announce that Pres. Kennedy had been assassinated.
He represents everything thats wrong with the pre-internet media. That and he was a really bitter guy at the end complaining that the media doesn't control public opinion like it did before the internet. Because back in his day ABC/CBS/NBC were the only reality.
He was, in a way, America's security blanket. Even if the news was bad, we had a sense that all would be well, and Walter Cronkite would assure us " ...and that's the way it is ." The news would be on right at suppertime, we would eat supper in about 5 minutes and go listen because we knew we would be asked questions by our teachers the next day about 'current events' and where these events were happening=geography and current events lessons all rolled into one.
I didn't care much for him either. When he stopped reporting the news and try to become the news, things went down hill fast. By the end of his tenure he was just sanctimonious windbag. I did agree with him on one thing though. He detested Katie Couric and so do I.
Yes he was a major player when it came to mental anomalies and awareness of them. What's the word I'm looking for............................. And he was also an anchor for CBS.
Remember him well. Loved the space race but was a stone cold liberal who went out of his way not to show it when reporting on the news or questioning someone. His reputation was made as WW2 reporter.
Pres. Kennedy's assasination-- I remember everybody was crying except for the Principals, and the Librarian. When we arrived home--a 1.8 mile walk--we turned on the TV and watched--guess who? Walter Cronkite.
"and that's the way it is"
"Good night David". "Good night Chet".