The passing of Walter Cronkite

CNN:

Walter Cronkite, the CBS anchorman known as "Uncle Walter" for his easygoing, measured delivery and "the most trusted man in America" for his rectitude and gravitas, died Friday night in his New York home, CBS reported.

Cronkite was 92.

"Walter was always more than just an anchor. He was someone we could trust to guide us through the most important issues of the day; a voice of certainty in an uncertain world," President Obama said in a statement Friday.

"He was family. He invited us to believe in him, and he never let us down. This country has lost an icon and a dear friend, and he will be truly missed."

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At his height of influence as CBS anchorman, Cronkite's judgment was believed so important it could affect even presidents. In early 1968, after the Tet Offensive, Cronkite traveled to Vietnam and gave a critical editorial calling the Vietnam War "mired in stalemate." Watch an overview of Cronkite's life »

Noting Cronkite's commentary, President Lyndon Johnson reportedly said, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America." Johnson announced he would not seek re-election less than two months later.

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His statements about Vietnam were probably the biggest mistake of his career. It was part of a massive failure by the news reporters of the time. The Tet offensive was an abject failure militarily, but bad reporting by people like Cronkite led the administration to decide on a retreat in a war we were clearly winning. CBS held stubbornly to this point of view even after the war at a time when even the communist admitted their offensive was a disaster.

Cronkite probably was part of the high water mark for liberal bias during the latter part of his career. He was in the chair at a time when television news usually reflected the front page of the New York Times. I suppose it is appropriate that the Times honor his with a front page obit.