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“Cronkite” author Douglas Brinkley gives behind-the-scenes stories of Walter Cronkite’s career.
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You didn't write this and -- but this is what -- that after reading this that.
Here's what differentiated.
-- from some of these other characters I mentioned that the top.
He wasn't really a jerk I mean he was a decent human being and he was he worked -- tiny off.
Bomb -- I'm not saying that forgives all Syrians or transgressions.
But.
He had back to fall back on and I think.
Somebody stars keep government comes a -- some of these -- they -- when they misbehave.
They don't have any good well the full.
You know -- are there some truth to that you know and also -- a lot of conservative watchers -- was great friends with that with individual conservatives his best friend that you T.
Was a very -- to really a right wing herds -- conference stayed friends with him forever.
He circulated Ronald Reagan -- on him George Herbert Walker Bush -- to give you a list of republic what does -- Republicans who like ten.
We're generally announcing universally.
Not thin skinned.
Exactly like Richard Nixon -- not -- much they would get to one -- -- one anecdote told interestingly after -- -- -- -- and Watergate and they we're gonna get Cronkite later.
On to Nixon's.
In Cronkite -- surprised they went to Mubarak's funeral.
In Nixon had a love fest with Walter Cronkite -- -- -- to remember when we went on the river in the mile in the fifties and even Nixon and Johnson forgave Walter Cronkite when he went after them -- I was surprised in that record Lady Bird Johnson here.
Here punk like really killed -- -- her husband's administration on Vietnam.
And then lady bird still loves wall turned she used to then go vacation in Martha's Vineyard within.
He was a very good circulated -- Cronkite and he'd never had personal animosities lady any.
But generally the stuff that we didn't know notwithstanding.
Goodwill and -- good image to CBS -- step which is what you want you want someone who.
Reinforces.
-- builds the goodness of the -- He sort of like -- well you know we are -- he had a brand he has brand never really got tarnished through any work dot.
He weren't going to district court even with the wind and -- of that that was a shocker it -- -- humanize.
Him to people when they found out you he would literally do a Gypsy Rose Lee.
-- do do do do it yet it here's the stiff Walter Cronkite.
Being you mean he he deals we didn't know -- a nation a nation didn't know enough but you have a people inside like you would now I mean Erica would have a grace we -- right it's just weird you know wife Betsy who never -- it was okay with the strip clubs and well she just knew we had -- -- to.
He really yes she did now because he would -- teller and he would -- the tenderloin district doing research at.
It.
If you he -- -- yeah.
But you know -- beta bitter -- -- decided night in the but he had great like Ronald Reagan the great ability would jokes you know memorized jokes -- he could tell want.
And it would it crack up whoever was around so.
It's important I think in your business not to get too big ahead to make sure you're not what -- -- presumably have -- -- could well that's different that's different but.
You know -- where I interviewed cameraman and the people that were script writers felt like working with.
Him -- I think that says a lot.
Some of these that a person has -- -- They did not I think technical crews -- salt of the earth guys and I think -- also good judges of character.
And they know -- when they -- I couldn't agree you know and you're right those guys are the ones who have stood by Walter like -- got very annoyed.
When the Dan rather thing happening bullish on Alston bachus who so nice to them in the -- damn thing happened why because he's 81 well -- was gonna retire -- with 65 and was a choice between Roger -- -- -- -- -- -- It comes at a picture unless he shop and -- ABC he was going to go jumped the gun for ABC Barbara Walters just got a million.
When Barbara Walters got a million and ABC -- was -- 600000.
So she was like that this started change and we must have been gaining -- what -- knows all they had I I interviewed Barbara Walters for my book in her line that I love which seasonal right out of the gate.
Uncle -- was never on Kohl's turned me I think effect that are -- -- -- -- reason right yeah and -- like this Barbara Walters and Cronkite butted heads -- but in the end.
They became friends after he quit because same mired his competitiveness he did not wanna lose an interview to Barbara Walter and then what is a -- -- here in what you -- despite the controversy above generated.
And he worked hard.
We don't make is that you top yet you don't do well and you were anybody you don't become number one of the business without putting -- my television just -- -- an element nobody here I'm comfortable in your own skin and I -- -- a lot of candidates.
It's the book is Cronkite it's a lot of pages it's a great read.
And has interpreter was before when I -- -- I like to read every ought to spoken -- c'mon -- love.
His work -- -- -- -- my god it's it's ridiculous this was an anchor and it's like 50000 pages.
Phenomenal it's not to 2050 it -- 667.
But -- notes it's closer to 800.
Slate on the verifiable sounded like -- I'd say there not -- in many clips.
Thank you very much -- -- -- nicely doesn't look good devoted soaring --
