Walter Cronkite

Walter Cronkite's death yesterday reminds me that for decades my maternal grandmother would watch his news report every night without fail. No matter where she was, she would stop whatever she was doing, shush everyone and turn the TV to him.

Each day as he said "And that's the way it is," giving the date, and signed off with "Good night," Nana Rena would arise from her chair, say "Good night, Walter," as if she were seeing him to the door, and click off the television.

We, her clueless grandchildren, might have snickered, but Cronkite was the most trusted man in America.