Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. (November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009) was an American broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19years (1962–1981). During the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after being so named in an opinion poll. In that role, and as something of a pin up boy for Cora's generation and obviously as a journalist as Mindy aspired to be, he came in for numerous references from Mork (and occasionally Mindy and others)
About Walter Cronkite[]
Cronkite became one of the top American reporters in World War II, covering battles in North Africa and Europe. After the war, he covered the Nuremberg trials and served as the United Press main reporter in Moscow from 1946 to 1948.
In 1950, Cronkite joined CBS News in its young and growing television division, again recruited by the legendary Edward R. Murrow. And his long career covered a vast variety of seismic and iconic moments. He was the lead broadcaster of the network's coverage of the 1960 Winter Olympics, the first-ever time such an event was televised in the United States. On April 16, 1962, Cronkite succeeded Douglas Edwards as anchorman of the CBS's nightly feature newscast Cronkite is vividly remembered for breaking the news of the assassination of John F. Kennedy on Friday, November 22, 1963.
In mid-February 1968, on the urging of his executive producer Ernest Leiser, Cronkite and Leiser journeyed to Vietnam to cover the aftermath of the Tet Offensive. They were invited to dine with General Creighton Abrams, the commander of all forces in Vietnam, whom Cronkite knew from World War II. According to Leiser, Abrams told Cronkite, "we cannot win this Goddamned war, and we ought to find a dignified way out."
Upon return, Cronkite and Leiser wrote separate editorial reports based on that trip. Cronkite, an excellent writer, preferred Leiser's text over his own. On February 27, 1968, Cronkite closed "Report from Vietnam: Who, What, When, Where, Why?" with that editorial report, damning the U.S. participation in the war, and the spin being put on it by Washington. Following Cronkite's editorial report, President Lyndon Johnson is claimed by some to have said, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America."
In 1969, during the Apollo 11 (with co-host and former astronaut Wally Schirra) and Apollo 13 Moon missions, Cronkite received the best ratings and made CBS the most-watched television network for the missions. Cronkite is also remembered for his at times was visibly enthusiastic coverage, rubbing his hands together on camera with a smile and uttering, "Whew...boy" on July 20, 1969, when the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission put the first men on the Moon.
His credibility and status is credited by many with pushing the Watergate story to the forefront with the American public, ultimately resulting in the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon on August 9, 1974. Cronkite had anchored the CBS coverage of Nixon's address, announcing his impending resignation, the night before.
One of Cronkite's trademarks was ending the CBS Evening News with the phrase "...And that's the way it is," followed by the date.
Mork Multiple References[]
- To Tell the Truth - Mork signs off with Orson doing Cronkite's signature sign off.
- Mork in Wonderland, Part 1 - Exidor informs Mindy that Walter Cronkite said the entire nation was suffering from inflation, so it wasn't Mork getting smaller, they were all getting bigger.
- Hold That Mork - Mork signs off doing an impersonation of Walter Cronkite
- Gunfight at the Mork-kay Corral - Mork's report to Orson contains another Cronkite impersonation.
- Mork's New Look - Mindy cites Cronkite as one of her 'standby' Perfect 10s alongside Paul Newman and Robert Redford
- Mindy Gets Her Job - When helping Mindy on air, Mork introduces himself as "Walter Morkite"
- I Heard It Through The Morkvine - Mork cite's Cronkite's "Who, What, When, Where, Why?" when giving his 'scandalized' version of Mindy's innocent story.
- Old Muggable Mork - Mork tells Cora that Walter Cronkite has been put out to stud, so she'd better watch out.