25 Walter Cronkite Quotes That Are Truly Inspiring

By Norbert Juma

Master quote curator and editor on a mission to inspire

Published May 13, 2023

If you are a fan of Walter Cronkite’s journalism, this collection of Walter Cronkite quotes is a treat for you.

Apart from the quotes section, we have also talked about the early life, career, and legacy of Walter Cronkite.

So, without any further ado, let’s dive in!

Introduction and Early Life

Walter Cronkite was a famous news anchor and an American journalist.

He was referred to as the “most trusted man in America.”

Cronkite was born in Missouri in 1916.

He started his career as a newspaper reporter in the 1940s.

Cronkite worked for various news organizations, such as CBS News and United Press International.

As a person, Cronkite was a loving and dedicated person.

He also loved sailing and devoted his time and effort to environmental conservation.

This is why he always served as a passionate advocate for protecting marine life.

Cronkite’s Contributions to Journalism

As a journalist, Cronkite was considered a sign of impartiality and integrity.

He covered various significant events and happenings of the 20th century, including:

World War II
John F. Kennedy’s assassination
Vietnam War

His Tet Offensive coverage in 1968 and the reporting on the Vietnam War were two of the most acknowledged credentials of his journalistic career.

Cronkite’s influence used to extend beyond his reporting on significant events.

He was also recognized for his extensive editorial commentary.

As a result, he was usually criticized by government officials.

He also covered the Watergate scandal and helped bring down the Nixon administration.

This further enhanced his reputation as a fearless and brave journalist.

When on air, Cronkite used to be authoritative and calm.

He was known for his signature deep voice, which later became his trademark.

Cronkite’s Legacy

His legacy is distinguished due to his commitment to journalism.

He considered journalism as a public service.

Cronkite believed that the key role of a journalist is to inform the public about whatever is happening around them.

His integrity and impartiality earned him the title of the “Most trusted figure in America.”

In 1981, he retired from CBS News.

He is known as a milestone in American broadcasting history.

He died on July 17, 2009, in New York.

With his departure, the era of trust and authoritative reporting also ended.

At present, journalists around the world seek inspiration from Cronkite and cite him as a role model.

You will also enjoy our article on Yuri Bezmenov quotes.

Top 5 Walter Cronkite Quotes

Top Walter Cronkite quotes are as follows.

1. “And that’s the way it is.” — Walter Cronkite

2. “I wouldn’t give up on the U.N. yet.” — Walter Cronkite

3. “The civil rights fight was a very important fight.” — Walter Cronkite

4. “The successful landing on the moon, very probably, is the best story.” — Walter Cronkite

5. “America’s health care system is neither healthy, caring nor a system.” — Walter Cronkite

Walter Cronkite Quotes With Valuable Suggestions

These Walter Cronkite quotes include some valuable suggestions. And you would like to read these quotes as well.

6. “In seeking truth, you have to get both sides of a story.” — Walter Cronkite

7. “It’s always hard after you’ve been in command, to take a lesser role.” — Walter Cronkite

8. “Perhaps if all the peoples of the world understand what war really means, we would eliminate it.” — Walter Cronkite

9. “When you’re bringing in a fairly unknown candidate challenging a sitting president, the population needs a lot more information than reduced coverage provides.” — Walter Cronkite

10. “If every small nation with a border dispute believes they can go ahead and launch a pre-emptive war and that it will be approved by the greatest power, that is a very dangerous thing.” — Walter Cronkite

Walter Cronkite Quotes Based on Personal Experiences

These Walter Cronkite quotes reflect his personal experience; you can learn from them.

11. “I looked at the world with the humaneness, I think, which is one of the hallmarks of being liberal in my mind.” — Walter Cronkite

12. “I record it here today to establish my early predisposition to editorial work – to be both pontifical and wrong.” — Walter Cronkite

13. “I simply told people what I thought about the state of the war in Vietnam, and it was that we better get out of this.” — Walter Cronkite

14. “I write pretty quickly. Write pretty fast. I was an old press serviceman. That was part of the necessity of that occupation.” — Walter Cronkite

15. “I covered the Vietnam War. I remember the lies that were told, the lives that were lost – and the shock when, twenty years after the war ended, former Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara admitted he knew it was a mistake all along.” — Walter Cronkite

Walter Cronkite Quotes About Journalism

Walter Cronkite was very much known in the field of journalism. These quotes are related to his work.

16. “Journalism is what we need to make democracy work.” — Walter Cronkite

17. “Objective journalism and an opinion column are about as similar as the Bible and Playboy magazine.” — Walter Cronkite

18. “A journalist covering politics, most of us are aware of the necessity to try to be sure we’re unbiased in our reporting. That’s one of the fundamentals of good journalism.” — Walter Cronkite

19. “In journalism, we recognize a kind of hierarchy of fame among the famous. We measure it in two ways: by the length of an obituary and by how far in advance it is prepared. Presidents, former presidents, and certain heads of state are at the top of the chain.” — Walter Cronkite

20. “We all have our likes and our dislikes. But… when we’re doing the news – when we’re doing the front-page news, not the back page, not the op-ed pages, but when we’re doing the daily news, covering politics – it is our duty to be sure that we do not permit our prejudices to show. That is simply basic journalism.” — Walter Cronkite

News Related Walter Cronkite Quotes

Explore the world of journalism with the following Walter Cronkite’s quotes on news, media, and the role of a journalist in society.

21. “I worry that we’re not getting enough of the news that we need to make informed judgments as citizens.” — Walter Cronkite

22. “I am a news presenter, a news broadcaster, an anchorman, a managing editor – not a commentator or analyst.” — Walter Cronkite

23. “When I stepped down from the evening news at the age of 65, in ‘81, things were still going well. Immediately after that, the whole tenor of the CBS News Department changed.” — Walter Cronkite

24. “Give news a little more time, and don’t request that they also, in their news time, entertain. We’re not entertainers. We’re journalists. And we need more time to do our job well.” — Walter Cronkite

25. “As anchorman of the CBS Evening News, I signed off my nightly broadcasts for nearly two decades with a simple statement: ‘And that’s the way it is.’ To me, that encapsulates the newsman’s highest ideal: to report the facts as he sees them, without regard for the consequences or controversy that may ensue.” — Walter Cronkite