Saturday, July 18, 2009

"Go Baby Go"

He shouted on as the spaceship with Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edward Aldrin on board took off for the moon. His tears on air as he announced the assasination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. "Those Thugs" he said of those disrupting a Democratic National Convention. He covered the World War II battle of the Atlantic. He lands in 1944 with the Allied troops in North Africa and takes part in the Normandy invasion. He drops with the 101st Airborne division in Holland as part of the Third Army at The Battle of The Bulge. He was the chief corresondent of the Nuremburg Trials. He covers the first televised political convention. After he visited Vietnam in 1965 his criticism of the war helped turn public opinion against it. He covered Watergate. Once voted the most trusted man in America. Still voted the most trusted newsman even after retirement. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Jimmy Carter. The first non-astronaut to receive NASA's Ambassador Of Exploration Award. He resides in The Televison Hall of Fame. If there is a heaven he resides there now.

His words are etched in the history of almost every major event in the last sixty years. Here are just a few examples of his historic words(from the Oregonian at Oregonlive.com):

On The Vietnam War:

"We have been to often disappointed by the optimism of the American Leaders, both in Vietnam and Washington, to have faith any longer in the silver linings they find in the darkest clouds. It seems more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate. It is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out, then, will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy and did it the best they could."

On Man's first landing on the moon:

"Whew boy ---- There he is, there's a foot coming down the stairs---- Armstrong is on the moon - Neil Armstrong, 38 year-old American standing on the surface of the moon, on this July 20, Nineteen-Hundred and Sixty-nine."

Covering the funeral of JFK:

"It is said that the human mind has a greater capacity for remembering the pleasant than the unpleasant. But today was a date that will live in memory and in grief. Only history can write the importance of this day. That's the way it is, Monday, Nov. 25, 1963. This is Walter Conkite, good night."

Good night, Walter.

4 comments:

Lady DR said...

He was a wonderful man and a journalist like few others. I was so sad to hear of his passing. When one goes back and compares his coverage for what passes for journalism and investigative reporting and media today... I'm afraid our current crop falls very short of the mark. I'm also sad that we're losing so many of our honest, ethical individuals, who showed integritiy and we have so few -- it sometimes seems no one -- to take their places. Goodnight, Walter. Goodnight, Dave, Goodnight Chet...

William J. said...

Hi DR

And don't forget about Edward R. Murrow.

The thing about Walter is if anyone wanted to know about events in American History all they would have to do his read his bio.

Bill

Pat said...

Lovely tribute, Bill. I thank you and I'm sure Walter does, too.

William J. said...

Hi Pat

If only we had more ethical newsmen like during the W adiministration!

Bill