Walter Cronkite and Don Carleton. Conversations with Cronkite.
Austin, Texas: Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin: 2010
as reviewed by Ted Odenwald
Walter Cronkite, arguably the most respected, renowned, trusted, and influential newscasters in the twentieth century, reflects on his career in this edited collection of interviews. When Cronkite published his memoir, A Reporter’s Life, in 1996, he owed a great debt to oral historian Dan Carleton. Dr. Carleton, the Executive Director of the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas in Austin, helped Cronkite put together his thoughts by analyzing and organizing the nearly three hundred linear feet of records which Cronkite had donated to the Center. For three years, the two conferred for about three days every three months. In each get-together Carleton questioned Cronkite regarding pertinent topics, hoping to stir the latter’s memory: his work as a correspondent during World War II, the Korean War, and the Viet Nam War; his relationships with fellow correspondents; his experiences as an anchorman covering such significant topics as the space program, the assassination of JFK; the violent Democratic Convention of 1968 in Chicago; and his interviews with several American Presidents as well as world leaders including Anwar Sadat, Golda Meir, Marshal Tito, and Fidel Castro.
Conversations is an appropriate title for this work because it is clear from the in-depth but informal give-and-take recorded by Carleton that the two men were working to piece together a full picture of Cronkite’s career. Carleton’s questions probed many issues-some controversial and some rather unflattering-that had appeared in Cronkite’s expansive records. The interviews dissected critiques of Cronkite’s professional work; the critiques had been published in books by political professionals such as John Erlichman, journalists such as Gary Gates, media critics such as Barbara Matusow, and historians such as David Halberstam. Cronkite, in his late 70’s at the times of the interviews, responded candidly to criticism as well as to praise-accepting blame, admitting missteps and personal shortcomings, but also taking pride in the professionalism he demonstrated throughout his career, being obsessively concerned about accuracy, fairness, and clarity. Especially fulfilling to him was his being named America’s most trusted person.
Cronkite’s first major reporting assignment came as a correspondent for United Press-an assignment that lasted the duration of WWII, extending into the Nuremberg Trials and post-war Moscow. An active reporter, he flew several bombing missions with the Eighth Air Force; he covered allied landings in Normandy on D-Day, witnessed Buzz Bomb attacks in London, and was caught up in the action of the Battle of the Bulge. He reported the war criminal trials in Nuremberg, including the trial of Hermann Goering. In later years he traveled to Israel to report the trial of Adolf Eichman.
Following a two-year, censorship-filled assignment to Moscow, Cronkite accepted a position with CBS, where he quickly moved into the position of news anchorman. In this section of the interviews, Cronkite reveals much about his working relationships with several of his peers including Edward R. Murrow, Robert Trout, and Charles Collingwood-relationships that were at times strained because of individual work habits. Cronkite also had been given the opportunity to exploit his fame as anchorman in the building of You Are There, a series of historical reenactments using a newscast format. Cronkite describes the difficulties involved in presenting the show as management began shifting schedules and formats, ostensibly to improve ratings, but in the long run, strangling the program with cost-cutting strategies.
Cronkite gives interesting views of many American politicians, including Adlai Stevenson (exceptionally bright but hopelessly disorganized); Eisenhower (brighter and more presidential than usually credited, but possessing a short temper); JFK (charismatic, but temperamental and vindictive when things didn’t go his way).Though he always attempted to be fair and objective, Cronkite could become aggressive in the pursuit of facts, especially when he felt that the public was being deceived. So compelling were his reports concerning the Viet Nam War that President Nixon believed that the war effort was doomed, for Cronkite had declared that the war could not be won-and the American public was bound to support that opinion.
This book reveals a great deal about the workings of a news department. Cronkite discusses the extent to which producers and directors attempted to manage the preparation and presentation of the news-some allowing the newscasters free rein in selection of stories and depth of coverage-some attempting to limit their freedom of expression because of outside pressures. Cronkite discusses the strengths and weaknesses of his colleagues-with particular annoyance with Roger Mudd and Dan Rather. Even in retirement, he felt victimized by office politics; he believes he was squeezed out of special broadcasts (even though he had been asked to participate).
Moving smoothly from topic to topic, Carleton’s questioning is superb , as he understands from his research which topics are important for revealing the true nature of the newscaster. Cronkite is direct and sharp in his responses-especially poignant when admitting several shortcomings in the face of published criticism. He expresses few regrets-the strongest seeming to be his failure to protest when CBS management was using him for public relations purposes in events that often made his contributions to news productions sub-par.
Combined with Cronkite’s memoir, this book presents excellent insights into the work ethic, the professional pride, the journalistic honesty of one of our greatest newsmen. The two books provide Cronkite’s assessment of the effectiveness of the news media. The books also offer incisive evaluations of key events and personalities in the latter half of the twentieth century. These books deserve places of honor on the shelves of the history of journalism.
Ted Odenwald and his wife, Shirley have lived in Oakland for 40 years. He taught HS English at Glen Rock High School for all of those years plus one more. Now he is enjoying time spent with his family, singing in the North Jersey Chorus and quenching his wanderlust. Ted is also the Worship Leader at the Ramapo Valley Baptist Church in Oakland.