'And that's the way it is': Walter Cronkite's final sign off

From the CBS News archives, legendary anchorman Walter Cronkite signs off for the final time on the "CBS Evening News." Cronkite manned the anchor desk from April, 16, 1962 until March 6, 1981.

[pinedelgado]

"Old anchormen, you see, never die. They just keep coming back for more."

[thesummerwiind]

You can tell he just wants to cry but he doesn't.
What a man.
What a professional.

[estelleacocella]

I watched him back in the day. He was my favorite news anchor. I actually cried on the night of his last broadcast. I know silly kid. RIP Sir.

[jeffdwyer]

The last of the good (and honest) reporters of our time . He got a lot of practice talking on the HAM radio too, him and Barry Goldwater

[bogeysbaby]

When news was news. Goodnight, Uncle Walter.

[drogers]

I miss hearing his voice and listening to him. He was a great guy, and that's the way it is.

[brober]

When Walter said ' That's the way it is." That's the way it was.

[growleym]

The most trusted man in America. I loved that guy and America lost a true American Hero when he passed on in 2009. Never again will we learn to trust what we hear on TV or radio like we did when WC made CBS Evening News the most watched regularly scheduled news broadcast in the world. And that's the way it is.

[SaintForeverBlue]

Walter Cronkite was a trusted American in the homes of all of America.
I would not believe a president. I would not believe a senator. I would not believe a priest. And if mom said it, we'd have to verify it.
But if Uncle Walter said something we knew it came from the bottom of his heart and he had checked and re-checked it.
And we believed him.
I long for the next trusted person this national can believe in.

[signal]

When news was a 30-60 minute snapshot of the days events, not the 24 hour ongoing trilogy of stories that slowly morph into one another by the mundane butter heads that litter today's "news channels"

[floydpattersonii]

Damn this was powerful. 40 year old clip and it still brought a tear to my eye

[sydIRISH]

I like the way he did it, no sappy words, no tears. Just a very professional man, doing what he did best...being a great professional news anchor. It was before my time, but my dad said that he was one of the, if not the best news anchors of all time. After watching some of his archive footage, I have a hard time disagreeing with that. He always came across as very genuine and actually giving a damn about what happens in this country. These days? Eh, not so much.

[audreys]

He gave me the inspiration to go into journalism. Thank you Walter.

[magicbus]

The Best Newscaster Of All Time A Class Act! RIP Walter Cronkite!

[pattydehaan]

He reported the news. that is all he did. he didnt add his political leanings to it. he didnt whine or complain about it. he just did the news. i respect that. he was the last true journalist this country ever had. what has come since then is not news but entertainment, ideology, indoctrination and mostly unamerican.

[williamhenderson]

Before fake news. He would be appalled at the state of news today. God bless him. We need his ilk today.

[beccaboard]

Our whole family loved and trusted this man. Don't think anyone ever had a bad word to say about him. He is still missed.

[jefferygreening]

The most trusted name ever in broadcast news

[robbieunderwood]

Loved him, what an icon.

Long live the 60s and the 70s.

[s.brekke]

He kept America informed but in a way that was calming. collected ..professional ..had that voice that made you listen...a proud man...a caring soul...R I.P.