CBS Evening News
Quick Summary
The CBS Evening News is an American television news program broadcast in the evening. It gained significant prominence and public trust during the tenure of Walter Cronkite, who served as its anchor from 1962 to 1981. Under Cronkite's leadership, the broadcast expanded to become the first half-hour nightly news show on American network television.12
Cronkite's reporting covered major historical events of the 20th century, including the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the Apollo 11 Moon landing. His commentary on the Vietnam War was particularly influential, with President Lyndon B. Johnson reportedly stating, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America". Cronkite's sign-off, "And that's the way it is," became iconic, and a 1972 poll named him "the most trusted man in America".2
Following Cronkite, other anchors have helmed the program, including Katie Couric, whose debut attracted a large audience, though the program later faced rating challenges.3
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