WALTER CRONKITE DIES @ 92!

Walter Cronkite, the legendary newsman dubbed "The Most Trusted Man in America" died Friday night after a long illness, with his family at his side. He was 92.
Cronkite spent 19 years as the anchor of the "CBS Evening News" and was the biggest name in TV news for years.

Nearly three decades after giving up the anchor seat, he remained an icon in the journalism world and a familiar name to most viewers.

"It is impossible to imagine CBS News, journalism or indeed America without Walter Cronkite," said Sean McManus, president of CBS News.

"More than just the best and most trusted anchor in history, he guided America through our crises, tragedies and also our victories and greatest moments."

When CBS relaunched "Evening News" with Katie Couric in the seat, they brought in Cronkite to do the voiceover introduction that starts each newscast.

"When I think of Walter Cronkite, I think of his high journalism standards, integrity - but most of all his humanity," Couric said last night.

"I think he was so trusted because he exhibited a sense of purpose and compassion, night after night."

Cronkite's authoritative manner and everyman look helped him win legions of followers as the anchor of "Evening News" from 1962 to 1981.

His name and image were synonymous with CBS. And for viewers, in a period long before 24-hour cable news channels and the Internet, he was the common thread through turbulent times and milestones in the world.

Millions were watching in 1963 when CBS broke into "As the World Turns" to hear Cronkite break the news that President John F. Kennedy had been shot in Dallas.

He spent 27 hours on the air during the 30 hours of coverage of astronauts landing on the moon, and he was there during the Vietnam War.

His reporting from Vietnam at the end of the Tet Offensive in 1968 reportedly led to President Lyndon Johnson's decision to negotiate with Hanoi and ditch reelection plans.

"If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost America," Johnson was quoted as saying.

Cronkite had a hand in crafting what TV news is today.

In 1952 he reported from the Republican National Convention in Chicago and became the "anchorman" of the team, holding that spot every four years until 1980.

He took over the anchor seat of the "CBS Evening News" in 1962, then just a 15-minute newscast helmed by Douglas Edwards.

A year later, the show became the first half-hour weeknight newscast in the nation.

It was then that he came up with the tag line that stuck with him for the rest of his life: "And That's The Way It Is."