AND THAT'S THE WAY IT IS....

Some one called him "the most trusted man in America" and it stuck.

For my generation everything was just rumor until Walter Cronkite confirmed it. He first sat in the Anchorman's chair in 1962 reporting the day's news at six O'clock. He was with us in Dallas when Jack Kennedy died and Lyndon Johnson was sworn in. He led us through the 1964 campaign and showed us the Daisy Ad that was aired only once. He went again to war and his report tipped the balance of public support for that conflict. President Johnson is alleged to have said, "If I've lost Cronkite - I've lost America." President Johnson was right. We believed in Walter to give it to us straight when our own government was twisting the facts.

He was there for us when 40 years ago as America sent an expedition to the Moon. Caught up in the moment he let his icy reserve slip and shouted "GO, BABY, GO" as the Apollo climbed into the sky. He was there as Watergate unraveled - Woodward and Bernstein may have broken the story but it was Walter that made us believe it. Walter Cronkite was our eyes, our ears, and our voice.

Well, tonight Walter Cronkite is on assignment and Katie Couric is sitting in.

And That's the Way it is, July 17, 2009.