For many years , until a decade after he left his post as anchor , Cronkite was considered one of the most trusted figures in the United States . For most of his 19 years as anchor , he was the " predominant news voice in America . " Affectionately known as " Uncle Walter , " he covered many of the important news events of the era so effectively that his image and voice are closely associated with the Cuban Missile Crisis , the assassination of President John F. Kennedy , the Vietnam War , the Apollo 11 Moon landing , and the Watergate scandal . '' USA Today '' wrote that " few TV figures have ever had as much power as Cronkite did at his height . " Enjoying the cult of personality surrounding Cronkite in those years , CBS allowed some good-natured fun-poking at its star anchorman in some episodes of the network 's popular situation comedy '' All in the Family '' , during which the lead character Archie Bunker would sometimes complain about the newsman , calling him " Pinko Cronkite . " Cronkite trained himself to speak at a rate of 124 words per minute in his newscasts , so that viewers could clearly understand him . In contrast , Americans average about 165 words per minute , and fast , difficult-to-understand talkers speak close to 200 words per minute
assassination of President John F. Kennedy
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Walter Cronkite