That's the way it is

News was in last night that the News Legend Walter Cronkite (picture left) died at the age of 92. That's a long life.

Cronkite was called "the most trusted man in America". That's an honourable life.

How did he earn that title, "the most trusted man in America"? I gathered some facts from the news wire, Reuters -

Cronkite joined CBS as a television correspondent in 1950. He anchored the "CBS Evening News" from 1962 to 1981,

His stirring reports on everything from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy to the Apollo space program and the Vietnam war often had as much impact as the events themselves.

Every night for nearly 20 years, millions of Americans tuned in to hear the day's major events as reported by Cronkite, whose avuncular manner and deep voice made his show the top-rated news program from 1969 until he retired in 1981.

He became so influential in the role that when he began to question the US war in Vietnam, President Lyndon B. Johnson said, 'If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost middle America.'

Cronkite's demeanor inspired the nickname "Uncle Walter" and when he signed off his newscasts by saying, "And that's the way it is," few doubted him.

He could be as "human" as we all could be. In an April 2006 interview with CNN, Cronkite admitted he was a bit jealous that Katie Couric was getting about US$15 million per year to take his old CBS anchor job. Cronkite said he made less than US$1 million a year in the job but that it was a 'very satisfactory salary' at the time.

What a life! That's the way it is!