Friday, August 10, 2012

"CRONKITE" Audio Edition




In this day of computers, iPhones and iPads for news gathering, can anyone imagine a nation tuned in to one man for its daily dose of current events.  Such was the case when Walter Cronkite, the iconic CBS news anchor, ruled the air waves.  He was thought of as “the most trusted man in America.”  He was also one of the most competitive as we learn in this assiduously researched text by historian Douglas Brinkley and brought to life by accomplished voice performer George Guidall.

    Brinkley has spared no resource in painting Cronkite’s portrait - school records in the Missouri and depression ridden Texas of his subject’s childhood.  He even scanned Cronkhite’s school newspaper articles, his wire copy for the United Press, his World War II experiences and the countless hours of television and radio broadcasts recorded at CBS.  Among the most memorable for this listener is probably Cronkite’s reporting of the Kennedy assassination.  Plus Brinkley went through Cronkite’s collected writings and did some 100 original interviews.

Thus, we are fortunate to have a total picture of a newsman who guided Americans through not only some of its darkest hours and its greatest triumphs.  “Cronkite”  is a boon not only for those remembering the iconic figure but also for scholars and students.  Truly, it is the definitive biography of Walter Cronkite.

Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke

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