Join The Pacifican Staff! Heres how: Call (209) 946-2115 or e-mail us! Positions available: staff writer/reporter, copy editor.
If The Pacifican Online doesn't appear properly, switching to Firefox will solve the problem.
Walter Cronkite Visits Pacific
By: Andrew Mitchell - News Editor
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Former CBS anchor gets interviewed by President DeRosa
Walter Cronkite, the legendary newsman who wielded great influence in American policy and events for twenty years, visited University of the Pacific at the invitation of President Donald DeRosa. The event Monday drew hundreds of people including students, faculty, community members, and admirers.
Cronkite, who turned 90 November 4, participated in an interview by DeRosa which included questions students and faculty wrote and audience inquiries.
Cronkite received a standing ovation when he appeared onstage, taking the time to wave and bow. DeRosa asked Cronkite a wide range of questions encompassing his early career, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the Vietnam War, former President Nixon, and current politics.
“You are a marvelous interviewer of people,” DeRosa said, leading to his first question. “You’ve interviewed thousands of people. Who was the most interesting person you have interviewed?”
“I must preface this by saying that one of my preferences for politicians and business people is they must have courage,” Cronkite replied. “It takes a politician courage to admit how things are going when they aren’t so well.”
Cronkite said one of his favorite interviews was with former Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat. It was during that 1977 interview that Sadat agreed to visit Israel, becoming the only Arab leader at the time to acknowledge Israel’s existence.
Cronkite said he was bored with the interview with Sadat to the brink of nodding off. Sadat was just outlining his plans for Egypt.
“It was the dullest couple of hours in my life,” Cronkite said. Cronkite’s attention perked when Sadat basically said, “And I shall go to Israel.” Cronkite interrupted Sadat.
“Excuse me. Did you say you were going to visit Israel?” Cronkite said, recalling the conversation between the two.
Sadat replied, “Yes! Yes, Walter.”
Cronkite then asked, “When will you go to Israel?”
“When there is peace,” Sadat said.
Cronkite, explaining to DeRosa, said, “Well I didn’t have a story at all.” Cronkite remembered Sadat clarifying his answer. “If I were invited, I would go.”
Cronkite realized that he had a big development. He followed up by contacting Menachem Begin, the Prime Minister of Israel. Cronkite explained the invitation and Sadat’s remark. Begin then told Cronkite that Sadat was officially invited to visit.
Sadat flew to Jerusalem to meet Begin. That visit began the historic talks between the two sides and President Jimmy Carter which led to the Camp David Accords.
The topic turned to former President Richard Nixon.
“He was one of the most complicated men I interviewed,” Cronkite said. “I actually feel Nixon had a little problem. I think he had a little screw loose. There were occasions where he could be quite pleasant.”
Cronkite was then asked to choose any historical figure he’d like to interview.
“I might shock you. I might even shock myself. Adolf Hitler,” Cronkite said. “The reason is I’d like to hear how that man could possibly condemn millions of people to death. It is impossibly today to think that any man could do such a thing. I can hardly express it. It seems so unreal to me.”
Cronkite was asked about the current Democrat party. DeRosa wondered if the Democrats have done any better at defining themselves.
“I’m afraid it hasn’t improved,” Cronkite replied. “It should have. They should have spent some time as a party enunciating what they stand for, their platform.
“They really needed to have a platform,” Cronkite said referring to the 2002 and 2004 national elections in which Democrats lost many important races. Cronkite suggested that Democrats hold a convention not to choose a candidate, but to get a platform of ideas.
Cronkite was asked to speculate on what the most reliable source of news is. “It’s a difficult question,” he said. “It’s hard to say. There are so many sources of news today.” Cronkite vouched for the New York Times, saying that it was the best in daily news on most days. Some days, Cronkite said the Times would lose the audience on some convoluted story.
“The fact is all media I know, including print and broadcast, I don’t think any of them are failsafe,” he said. Cronkite opined on the state of broadcast news today. Though never mentioning her by name, Cronkite said Katie Couric is doing a fine job. However, he’d like to see more news. The new format at CBS includes more feature stories in its daily broadcast news.
Cronkite explained his belief that the greatest threat to the United States and the world was “the slow deterioration of the air we breathe and the water we drink.” Cronkite said countries are not doing enough to counteract the negative effects. He cited experts who say the 21st century would be the last one for humans.
The United State is lagging, he said. He believes that when the U.S. turned down the international policy, the Kyoto Protocols, it was a terrible blow to our prestige and our future. Cronkite was asked to list some of the hardest things about being a reporter.
“Keeping your sanity,” he said first off. “Getting the facts and writing them correctly under a deadline.”
The trick when doing instant news, he said, was to include disclaimers.
“You do the disclaimer as you tell the story.” The phrases ‘what we know now’ or ‘according to’ are some examples he stated.
One of the most emotionally shocking events Cronkite had to cover was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963.
“It was a hard day in getting information together,” he said. “That day was tough.”
At the first flash of news on the press wire, Cronkite went on the air, interrupting television shows. When the bulletin came to Cronkite, he told the nation that the president’s motorcade was on the way to the hospital in Dallas. Several minutes passed before Cronkite again went on the air.
“We do not know who in the parade had been affected,” he said. Another few moments passed. The next wire report mentioned that the president may have been involved. Cronkite said that leaks came from interns telling some of the news to the press. They were unauthorized leaks of information and their validity could not be verified. One report said the president was hit and it was pretty bad.
In another few minutes, a wire came announcing the death of the 35th president.
“I had tears in my eyes, certainly,” Cronkite said, remembering the tragic day. “It was not just the death of a president but the death of a youthful president. He really brought civil rights back. We had been robbed of this young man. It was a terrible thing to know he was gone.”
Cronkite was unapologetic about his reaction on air. Cronkite had some trouble maintaining his composure upon relaying the news. Cronkite believes that had JFK not been assassinated, the U.S. would not have been as involved in the Vietnam War.
“This president was looking differently at Vietnam,” he said.
DeRosa then asked Cronkite about his views on FOX News. He asked if FOX was as fair and balanced as it says it is.
“Admittedly so,” Cronkite joked, triggering laughter from the audience. Cronkite replied more seriously by saying, “They are a conservative news source.”
DeRosa asked if Cronkite sees parallels between Vietnam and the current war in Iraq.
“Right down the line,” he replied instantly. The response was followed by applause from the audience.
“We should get the devil out of there. We should have done so a long time ago. We should terminate this foolhardy operation.”
Cronkite’s final question related to his age. He mentioned that he’s still going and has some goals he’d like to see.
“I’m still hoping to get back on the tennis courts,” he said.
Cronkite and DeRosa interviewed on a set that gave a homely appearance, complete with leather armchairs, a coffee table, lamps, a rug, and plants. The living room-type setting included Pacific logos draped over the backs of the chairs.
Addressing DeRosa, Cronkite complimented him.
“You’re one of the better interviewers,” he said. Then added, “And I’m not just saying that to get a free dinner,” to audience laughter and applause.
Views: 631
Comments (3)
1. 06:02PM 11-08-2006
Walter Cronkite Visits Pacific
Good job with your story.
Guest
2. 06:46PM 11-08-2006
Where's the invite
Hey Alumni Office - Where's the invite to alumni for events like this???
Don't try to keep me connected to the campus so I'll give up some of my hard heard $$$ or anything.
Guest
3. 02:30PM 11-12-2006
Cronkite as President would serve this n
If we think we are not getting good results from our Presidential selection process, we could take a more active role in choosing the candidates.
Clearly, Cronkite believes we should do this. He put out a survey many years ago asking prominent Americans who they thought might make a good President:
"Besides those who appear to be running, who do you think might make a good President?"
He got back some interesting responses. His name was on the list of possible good Presidents.
If we elect Cronkite, (which COULD happen if just a few Electors to the President put national interest ahead of party intrest), we will do so with a keen interest in the question of who would be the Vice-President. As well we should.
And what better way to rebuild America's standing in the world than to elect someone who saw the invasion of Iraq as a huge blunder even before it was launched.
We need principled and courageous leadership. We need to communicate to the world that we regret our egregious error. What we need requires our active participation and seeking. To continue to choose leadership from among those who promote themselves will not serve us well.
Let us speak up for what we want and leave off of this tradition of voting the less bad choice. For our own sake, for the sake of the world, for the sake of future generations.
Who would you choose if you could ask anyone to be President?
http://gaiabrain.blogspot.com
Guest
Write Comment
Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article.
Personal verbal attacks will be deleted.
Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed.
Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button.
Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code.
Send to:
NOTICE
Next week's issue (Volume 100 issue 14) will be Pacifican's last issue for the Fall 2008 Semester!
Thank you for reading and have a wonderful holiday season.
News 
Former CBS anchor gets interviewed by President DeRosa
