April 16th, 1962 - March 6, 1981

On April 16th, 1962, Walter Cronkite made his debut as the anchor of the CBS Evening News replacing Douglas Edwards. He was not only the anchorman for the network newscast, but also served as its "managing editor." the dual position gave him considerable latitude in the selection, timing and arrangement of the day's news stories. It was during  Cronkite's early says at anchor that the nightly broadcasts expanded from fifteen to thirty minutes. The first half-hour show aired September 2, 1963, a week ahead of NBC's Huntley-Brinkley first expanded newscast and featured a special interview with President John F. Kennedy.

Color broadcasts of the evening news began early in 1966, about two months after NBC's. During this year most Network television transitioned from Black And White to Color.  

From the late 1960's until his retirement in 1977, Eric Sevareid commentated on The CBS Evening News. 

NOTE:
Moving images of Walter Cronkite reading the news in his studio every night for six years (1962–August 2, 1968) are mostly gone and not extant in any broadcast form. Exceptions are his coverage of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 and the November 1963 events in Dallas, Texas: the JFK assassination, the shootings of police officer J. D. Tippit and Lee Oswald and all three funerals, as well as his introduction of the Beatles and his criticism of the Vietnam War.
Douglas Edwards anchored the live five-minute segment The CBS Afternoon News five afternoons a week between 1962 and 1966. He started the segment immediately after the twenty-five minute broadcast of the Goodson-Todman game show To Tell The Truth. Not one second from four years' worth of The CBS Afternoon News was preserved in any way.
Archival Television Audio original off the air sound recordings of network and local television news broadcasts, pre-1968, are extremely rare and not preserved at The Library of Congress, Paley Center for Media or UCLA Film & TV Archive.


Communist push deepens into Laos, the Senate led by Senator Thomas Dodd investigates sex and violence in TV programs such as the CBS drama, "Route 66," stock market reversal for the sixth day in a row, future planetary vehicles discussed by space expert.


CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite (1962–1981)

ANCHOR:
Walter Cronkite	 1962-1981 

EMINENT CORRESPONDENTS INCLUDE:
Roger Mudd 1963-1980 

Eric Sevareid 1963-1977 

Bill Plant 1968-1980 

Robert Pierpoint 1963-1980

Charles Kuralt  1968-1975 

Bob Schieffer 1975-1980 

Dan Rather 1963-1980 

Richard Threlkeld  1968-1977 

Bruce Morton 1968-1980 

Lesley Stahl   1974-1980
 
Harold Dow 1974-1980 

Marvin Kalb 1963-1979
 
George Herman 1963-1975 

Nelson Benton 1963-1968 

Bob Gregory 1968 

Harry Reasoner 1963-1980 

Bernard Kalb 1963-1979 

Terry Drinkwater 1974-1975

Bob McNamara 1977-1980 

Ed Bradley 1978-1980  
                                                                              

Walter Cronkite, who began anchoring the CBS Evening News only three and a half months prior to this newscast, reports on the death of Marilyn Monroe. By closed circuit television, he also discusses the tragic death with Kim Novak and signs off the air with his familiar "And That's The Way It Is Aug. 6th 1962."    

Partial Transcript:

 Walter Cronkite: "Good Evening from the CBS News Headquarters in New York."  

Announcer: "This is the Evening News Edition of CBS News with Walter Cronkite. Brought to you by Dristan.

WC: " Capturing the world attention caused by her death. Even the Russians today sat in judgement calling her a victim of Hollywood. In Hollywood today a team of doctors and psychiatrists were still trying to determine exactly what she was a victim of. Her own hand or an accident? But the coroners inquest can only tell us how Marilyn Monroe died, and not why? Why with everything to live for with fame and fortune in their grasp are so many of our movie queens desperately unhappy. 

By closed circuit television  I asked that question  to Miss Kim Novak in Hollywood this afternoon.

Kim Novak responds and discusses her insight with Walter Cronkite in a four minute segment. 






    

British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan meets President Kennedy in the Bahamas to discuss Skybolt, the Congo, the European Common Market, James Donovan is in the last stages of negotiations to free 1200 invasion prisoners from Castro's Cuba, the US will pay $62 million dollars in ransom (in form of medicines and food), Attorney General Robert Kennedy returns from Brazilian trip. 

Anchor: Walter Cronkite.                                        

Alabama Governor George Wallace blocks three students in Birmingham, Alabama, Eric Sevareid speaks about Barry Goldwater.
           

Actor Adolphe Menjou dies at age 73.


Walter Cronkite reports.

   

       

President Kennedy is in Philadelphia to speak at a fund raising event.

Host: Walter Cronkite.

Coup in Saigon, President Kennedy in Philadelphia, comment from President Kennedy, Barry Goldwater comments, JFK comments he would like Lyndon Johnson to be his vice-presidential running mate again in 1964, President Kennedy comments on the space race.

Includes commercials.            

Highlights: Pro Castro Commandos in Venezuela, Philip Scheffler reports, Vietnam: bomb a day in South Vietnam, Richard C. Hottelet reports, George Herman reports on the TFX controversy, new disasters in Haiti, bombings at the University of Alabama, 100 year commemoration of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address speech, New York Stock Exchange, Harry Reasoner reports.

Includes commercials 

Hosted by Walter Cronkite                           

Highlights: Cambodia elections, Iraq students take over embassy, report of Congo unrest, Khrushchev gets a rocking chair, In Rome, Pope Paul VI favors increased Bishop powers, Winston Burdett reports. Absolution of all Jews for death of Christ, person who arrested Anne Frank revealed as Austrian police officer Karl Silberbauer following two year hunt.        

Host: Walter Cronkite. Joined in progress.                       

Highlights: a report on the TFX Fighter Plane, Roger Mudd reports, Jimmy Hoffa news update, Eric Sevareid commentary on organized crime, one billion trading stamps shipped to housewives in the United Kingdom. 

Host: Walter Cronkite.                 

  Updates on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.          

   CBS TV news of the days events with Walter Cronkite anchoring form 6:30pm to 7:00pm. Latest on the JFK assassination.  

NOTE: In a rare departure from concluding his broadcast stating just the date within the iconic phrase "And that's the way it is," Walter Cronkite ends this CBS EVENING NEWS broadcast stating:

"And that's the way it is, or perhaps that's the way we hope it will be, November 27, 1963. This is Walter Cronkite. Good night."                      

The Warren Commission begins its investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.            

This newscast is joined in progress.

Host: Walter Cronkite.              

Charles Kuralt reports on the release of Frank Sinatra Jr. Patrolman who found him comments.        

Host: Walter Cronkite.      

News events of the day are reported.             

Capital Records signs right of first refusal agreement with the Beatles.           

A fire on the Greek ship Laconia kills 128 people.             

Greeks and Turks riot in Cyprus.             

Walt Disney's "The Sword In The Stone" is released.             

"Double Dublin" opens at the Little Theatre in New York City for four performances, one of the most famous wrestlers of his time George ("Gorgeous George") Wagner dies.                    

This news broadcast is joined in progress.            

Snowstorm in New York City with 40 MPH wind gusts.

Host: Walter Cronkite 

Host: Walter Cronkite. 

Joined in progress, brief excerpt only.          

American Jazz trombonist and vocalist Jack Teagarden dies from bronchial pneumonia at age 58.     

Host: Walter Cronkite.     

17.6 mile long Chesapeake Bay Bridge opens, considered the world's largest bridge-tunnel complex.          

At Dartmouth University, the first basic program runs on a computer.   

An interview with General Edwin Walker.             

Lal Bahadur Sjastri elected premier of India. California primary election, comments and returns.                      

The presidential political campaign warms up and gets dirtier, comments by President Johnson, services for former President Hoover, Charles Kuralt reports.   

Host: Walter Cronkite.            

Coverage of yesterday's raid in North Vietnam, third suspect arrested in death of Malcolm X, Bill Plante reports from Selma, Alabama on murder of Jimmie Lee Jackson two weeks ago, Reverand Ralph Abernathy gives eulogy.
Other news: Red China's hold on Africa getting larger
In East Berlin: underground nuclear tests, approval of disarmament bill, Roger Mudd reports on Robert Kennedy's investigation of Jimmy Hoffa which is called "unfair", Neil Strausser interview with RFK, military pay raise, study on dangers of pesticides, Dave Duggan story on antiquated Atlas missiles, Elizabeth Taylor's chauffer, Gaston Sanz, strikes and kills 78-year-old woman while driving her from Dublin airport. Taylor issues statement to police. Report on minute man missiles, latest on Billy Sol Estes, 
Walter Cronkite sign off "and that's the way it is, March 3rd, 1965." 

Host: Walter Cronkite

Commercials included. Marlboro commercial with music included.                                                                                      

The United States officially enters the Vietnam war.

Host: Walter Cronkite.    

Gemini 3 launched, first US two-man space flight, Gus Grissom and John Young aboard. President Johnson talks to astronauts.                      

Peace in Santo Domingo.

Includes commercials.

Host: Walter Cronkite.            

Eric Sevareid subbing for Walter Cronkite.           

Included in this CBS news broadcast with Walter Cronkite are segments of NBC News with David Brinkley and John Chancellor.           

News events of the day. Walter Cronkite reporting.              

Charles Collingwood reports on the European reaction to the Watts rioting.            

Congress looking into Ku Klux Klan activities, Klan interviews, Vietnam report: Moley Safer reports from Vietnam  regarding 48 civilians killed by friendly fire of United States Air Force 1 sky raiders, editorial by Eric Sevareid on China and current  view of country and policy.    

Host: Walter Cronkite. Includes commercials.             

Eighty-six US troops killed in Vietnam fighting, Morley Safer reports on an amphibian assault by US Marines against the Viet Cong, continuous Vietnam fighting.               

Morley Safer reports from Vietnam. Second anniversary of death of President John F. Kennedy. Commentary by Eric Sevareid.      

244 US soldiers killed in action in Vietnam war during first four years, 1961-1964 of US involvement. Last week 240 US soldiers killed in action in Vietnam. 1335 dead, 6131 wounded thus far in Vietnam war. General William Westmoreland claims military victory "is not in sight."   
Wife of soldier interviewed. Reads last letter received from him before his death.                 

Critics of Vietnam war will demonstrate in Washington, DC tomorrow, 20,000 expected. Two 14th century manuscripts stolen from Vatican library, Pope Paul VI speaks on birth control. Robert F. Kennedy tours South America, report on job core. An editorial from Eric Sevareid on the job core and today's chronic poverty and hard-core unemployment.

Commercials included.   

Host: Walter Cronkite 
                                  

US contemplates cease fire with North Vietnam. Interspersed with Huntley-Brinkley Report on NBC.             

The US officially enters the Vietnam war following the Gulf of Tonkin incident.            

Latest news on New York City transit strike.             

The latest news with Walter Cronkite. Includes commercials.