And that's the way it is. Friday, March 6th, 1981.
Those who have made anything of this departure, I'm afraid, have made too much. This is but a transition, a passing of the baton. A great broadcaster and gentleman, Doug Edwards, preceded me in this job and another, Dan Rather, will follow.
And the person who sits here is but the most conspicuous member of a superb team of journalists, writers, reporters, editors, producers. And none of that will change. - Walter Cronkite
All class.
It was much more than the passing of the baton. We didn't know it then, but it was the beginning of the degradation of trust in media and institutions.
And while Walter had to stride a wide middle path, delivering news to as many as 30% of US television households, today, social media micro segmentation pulls people into rabbit holes.
Walter was a journalist, with journalistic standards. Today, fact checking's not allowed because why let the facts get in the way. Somewhat Ironic that his next assignment was a new science program called Universe. When people were interested in science.
And at the top of his game, still a gentlemen, still giving credit to others, past and future hosts, the production team behind the scenes. Gracious, considerate. A true Gentlemen. A far cry from the constant bombastic, blustery, self aggrandizing, bravado, bullying, constantly blaming others behaviors we see today in too too many high places.
And that's the way it is. Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
"And that's the way it is": Walter Cronkite's final sign off
CBS Evening News YouTube Channel
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