Douglas Brinkley, Author, "Cronkite" 

Cronkite came along just when television was taking-off, the medium miracle of the modern-age. Somehow, I think, the events of the time matched the man, during the 60's primarily. In retrospect & memory, it's Cronkite most of us now associate with the big events of that decade, though Huntley-Brinkley on NBC originally had the ratings edge & possessed greater household names & fame over Cronkite. ABC remained in 3rd-place for a long time, none of its anchors gaining much traction in those years. I, in fact, though a mere child/kid was oblivious to them. Of course, as noted below, my town carried only NBC & CBS. The technology used now seems rather primitive but, of course, cutting-edge in its day, especially the advent of color-coverage, a huge selling-point for watching back then. Newspapers & newsmagazines still were huge but television news gradually grew in importance & came to dominate, the visual over print. Not only was TV a new, magical phenomenon in American society but the age itself was full of wonder as well as worry. In terms of news, it allowed a nation to see & hear the same things at the same time in their own homes. Most towns & cities only had 1 or 2 networks available. The anchormen inevitably became famous, each newscast striving for ratings dominance, something to which Brinkley alludes.

For we younger viewers...the first question would and should be, “ Are you related to ‘Huntley-Brinkley’ ??!!

When I worked at a small TV station, I saw Cronkite throw a fit during the Gemini 6 & 7 mission. His mike was dead. His hair was shaking. Then, I heard a voice say,"Walter". Cronkite straightened up, got professional, and started back up.

I knew the Vietnam war was going to end when Walter Cronkite grew sideburns

Mr. Brinkley makes it sound like St. Joseph, Missouri is a suburb of Kansas City. This is simply not true. St. Joseph is 50 miles north of K.C. and the distance between them is virtually all farmland.

This isn't history. It's a long love letter. How do you know you're getting the truth when you buy a book like this?