1968 King Assassination Report (CBS News)

Walter Cronkite had almost finished broadcasting the "CBS Evening News" when he received word of Martin Luther King's assassination. His report detailed the shooting and the nation's reaction to the tragedy. (CBSNews.com)

[@sketchbook8706]

Walter spent the sixties announcing the deaths of good men.

[@kylegoppy6072]

sketchbook so true

[@travisthecancerpill3403]

Not his fault

[@michaeljdonoughjr9558]

I agree with you

[@vernpascal1531]

Yes and he thought Lee Harvey Oswald and James Earl Ray acted alone. Not much of a profile in courage, more like a profile in cowardice.

[@Mikecoatl]

And now David Muir reports on the antics of charlatans.

[@ginnymiller2448]

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

[@thomashallman5436]

agreed ginny there ain t no room in this country we call the u.s. of a states for any form of hate when will it ever end ginny

[@ineffablebeing4276]

Why is it that men of peace tend to meet violent ends? One of the cruel ironies of life I suppose.

[@GhoulishGrinMedia]

Mordecai Goldblatt They're the ones brave enough to call for change for future generations and risk their lives to do so.

[@kingicicle]

Mordecai Goldblatt Please remove your profile picture and change your username. I think Dr. King would appreciate that.

[@stevencoardvenice]

America is a violent angry racist armed society

[@yoloswaggins1579]

Because peace opposes violence, and so the violent will oppose it.

[@2000Betelgeuse]

He was a hipocrite, having multiple affairs while being a preacher, he was fucking one gal at this very hotel the day of the shooting

[@BigKev0019]

is it me or was america alot more serious back then

[@FreshPrincex4]

yes..now it's a joke & I'm only 17

[@Mryrhodesian]

Absolutely.

[@Ryguy-lg2xz]

Different generarion

[@Zerta788]

Or they just didnt care about his death.

[@lakers8054]

Yes it was, it's sad what the world has come to and it's only getting worse

[@socalpimp1974]

They read the news as if the medium was radio, interesting how now the visual is more important than the news itself

[@selfexplanitory]

+John Walsh True and the news back then was more accurate than it is today with all this technology

[@joshuarodriguez6795]

+selfexplanitory how?

[@Eazz34]

+Joshua Rodriguez Because everything on tv is dumbed down today and in society in general. The tv is not and never was a source for education.

[@selfexplanitory]

Thank you Frank

[@kevinzhang3313]

It was always heading this way, that's only cuz it was in its infancy

[@christopherparrisjr.3146]

Poor Cronkite. He had to tell America about all of these killings, riots, and the war in Virtnam.

[@elifoust7664]

Christopher Parris, Jr. Vietnam too

[@Art--Deco]

Ya, almost as poor as the people who actually got shot.....

[@tron.44]

No wonder he had a coke habit

[@user-vc1oz9rv6v]

​@@tron.44Wait, Cronk had a COKE habit??? Seriously? No wonder he was high as a KITE during his live announcements.

[@lisascorp]

​@tron.44 Really? I've never heard that. I vaguely remember him I was pretty young when he was on. But they say he was the most trusted man in America. I can't see him. Now Dan Rather ...I could see that possibility.

[@bronxbreed27]

MLK knew his time was coming and he was not scared he knew his soul was going to god. Same for Malcolm X. That brotha smiled at his assassins. God's children never fear death.

[@marykershner8726]

bronxbreed27 MLK was a man of peace.R.I.P. Malcom x turned muslim. And, they killed him.

[@kevinzhang3313]

Malcolm X was murdered by his own people who thought he got too peaceful lmao

[@mrjones29]

I like this what you say. Very true.

[@orlandoblooom]

Kevin Zhang what? Get outta here

[@gentlemangaz3651]

@@orlandoblooom he was killed by his own people

[@allen-7335]

Rest in peace Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

[@tim19962]

Purpl3 h4ze a great one

[@allen-7335]

AnthonyNicGaming RBLX ?

[@Gocubs2345]

@@allen-7335 O Wow

[@Gocubs2345]

@@tim19962 o wow

[@annettewilcox5413]

MLK said “I may not get there with you”. He knew they were out to get him.

[@fuzzywzhe]

Ah, back in the day you could actually get news on the television.

[@isiahsloan8747]

Nowadays its news when a celebrity gets a puppy

[@CesarGA12]

Because people aren't getting assinated?

[@fuzzywzhe]

Cesar Galvez *"Because people aren't getting assinated?"* Because when people are assassinated, it isn't reported as an assassination. For example, Gary Webb. You know, the guy that demonstrated a link between the CIA and inner city drug trafficking, who was fired from his job at the San Jose Mercury News, sued them for an undisclosed amount, won the lawsuit, was blacklisted from the industry and "committed suicide" by shooting himself in the head. Twice. Ever hear about that? No? What passes for "media" today, is nothing more than government propaganda. Find those weapons of mass destruction in Iraq yet? No? Well, I expect at least who was responsible for that "mistake" was rooted out of government and removed from power due to their sheer incompetence. No? Gee, I wonder why...

[@isiahsloan8747]

fuzzywzhe I'm normally one to reject conspiracy theories but after doing a bit of research on Gary Webb. It's hard to deny there's more to the story. Thank you.

[@fuzzywzhe]

Isiah Sloan *"I'm normally one to reject conspiracy theories"* First, anything that isn't Official Policy of your government (TM) is a "conspiracy theory". But there's plenty of false conspiracy theories. For example: Pizzagate: That's obviously false. You know how that can be spotted? In the emails leaked to wikileaks everybody in them talks OPENLY about criminal acts. Selling Ambassadorships to the highest bidder, colluding with the corporate media,, getting debate questions in advance, stiffing the vote for Sanders - but then it's all supposedly this weird keywords for child abuse. But here's a "conspiracy theory", Operation Ajax, Operation PBSuccess, Operation MKUltra. All these were "Conspiracy theories" when I was a kid. But all of them happened. Gary Webb maybe DID shoot himself twice in the head. It's *possible*. Don't draw conclusion either way. Doesn't really matter if he killed himself or not, the question that matters is - is the CIA running drugs? The answer is YES. Iran Contra proved that. You can see also by the massive increase in Opium production in Afghanistan since 2000. It was almost NOTHING back in 2000, now it's 80%+ of the world's supply. Taleban was certainly a terrible government, but they actually were anti opium, and they shut it down nearly completely.

[@cultured33]

I remember that report like yesterday...5 years of age.

[@RJ-uu3ph]

i remember as well. i was 32

[@Endsomniac]

So you're 80 years old Raymond J?

[@RJ-uu3ph]

yes that is correct

[@FreshPrincex4]

damn..god bless you for being able to use technology sir

[@anonUK]

Qosomo Between them, the SJWs, BLM, Trump and the "alt-right" have coaxed some really nasty POS out of the woodwork recently. It's one thing to fear Islam or see yourself as part of a white community, but there are some people out there saying stuff that shouldn't even be whispered on the fringes.

[@queenluci6664]

such a beautiful, charismatic, powerful voice. He is still missed to this day.

[@newchapters5831]

I'm not gonna lie I literally just graduated out of HS and every time this is brought up I'm very emotional. God bless him for his courage for our country no matter if your white, black, arabic, Chinese anything we may be different in race but we are one united and together. Rest in Peace, not to forget Happy Birthday.

[@thomashallman5436]

agreed i wish these racist bastards saw it our way man i truly apologize for my profanity but not for my extreme anger towards hateful jerks

[@CaptainDesiderio]

Rest In Peace Walter. I feel a true sense of loss.

[@michaeljdonoughjr9558]

R.i.p Martin Luther King Jr. 1929-1968

[@rickjames8916]

Thank you for everything you did for Americans and the world Dr. Martin Luther King jr. Rest In Peace.

[@musicilya6674]

Kennedy + Lincoln and others too bro

[@wpsnick]

@@musicilya6674 shut up dh. This video is about MLK. Not Kennedy or Lincoln. Be gone !

[@floydpattersonii4996]

Walter Cronkite took us thru some of the most violent and shocking events throughout his career. The Most Trusted Man in America

[@Sheri451]

Dr King was a peace maker. It was a shame what happened to him. That happened forty-seven years ago today.

[@markpedroza7294]

Sheri451 I'm watching this and it's been 50 years ago..

[@gregorywheeler1980]

Too bad he really wasn't a peace maker he was talker and the dream failed

[@thelonestarpelican9343]

@@gregorywheeler1980 Wasn't entirely in vain. My generation (6 mths old during his assassination) grew up knowing in principle it's wrong do diss people because of skin color. It DID take hold. Even by the mid 70s (early elem sch yrs) I knew right well that you couldn't call for "Segregation now! Segregation Forever" without getting your ass handed back to you. Driving racism into the corners is far from ideal, true. But it was a HUGE boost. Unfortunately, this stuff takes at minimum a generation to totally marginalize. It'll probably be my lifetime before race is an irrelevancy (if it ever does become it) - and probably past my lifetime more likely if late 2010s events are a harbinger of things to come over the next 20 or 30 years. It's just time for every currently living generation to gear up and fight this resurgence - lead by example and call out racism when you see it.

[@AndrewSmith-ek4nc]

I think that Martin Luther King was a wonderful man

[@Kitneu23]

anybody in their right mind would agree

[@TS-qq7vr]

No frigging shit.

[@ItzSonic69]

Think? He WAS a wonderful man.

[@mikeanderson5772]

I think nice people are nice.

[@eazyj2888]

Andrew Smith You Think?

[@bbenjoe]

He truly made a difference, not just in North-America, but also in Europe by bravely speaking out.

[@EricEbac22]

James Earl Ray died in January of 1998 while serving a life sentence.

[@jewdidnaziitthrumping4410]

EricEbac22 true patriot

[@missbleach8767]

good.

[@PaoloJeromeFernandez100899]

50 years later, the event still exists. And a legend is still alive.

[@stevemandl5140]

walter Cronkite is dead dude,where hav you been

[@mmarie294]

I so remember watching the one TV we had at home, mom started crying...there was an overwhelming silence and we knew not to talk. Dad just shook his head and I knew something real big had happened. April 4, 1968 RIP Dr. King

[@stevemandl5140]

why would anyone cry over this? if people knew the real truth about MLK no one would care.MLK cheated on his wife,typical black man behavior.he plagiarized one of his speeches.theres probably other things too we don't know about MLK that aren't good.

[@agob4924]

@@stevemandl5140 was not expecting to find an unionic fucking racist in this comment section. God damn

[@holtridge7337]

Tomorrow it will have been 56 years. RIP Doctor King. You are never forgotten.

[@52298Beebop2]

I remember that day, I was in school and my teacher was in the hall-way talking to the principal of what has happened. My teacher said, "Class Dr. Martin Luther King Died". I was dismissed from school and everyone was in the streets running and crying mostly looting and Rioting. I was only eight at the time so I really didn't know why people were going crazy.

[@greg.pridgen85]

I can only imagine what your thoughts and feelings were as a kid growing up in the 60s, not understanding truly what was going on.

[@vernonpayne8869]

Was that the same day it happened or the next day?

[@vastshade4548]

Holy crap it has beast quality for that time

[@koolsteins]

Thank magnetic tape for that. :)

[@ceilingsandfloors]

The colour reproduction is good but TV cameras and professional videotape were never that good even in the 1960s (still better than VHS though) compared to film, it was just a much cheaper alternative when it came to editing and archiving in Television. I urge you to watch some of the restored clips of the Beatles on youtube. Or scenes from the blueray release of "The Prisoner". Or any blueray release of a sixties movie. Film was always great quality, just most of it was never preserved properly over the years and most people never payed attention to how high definition it was until HD video and LCD screens came in.

[@poughkeepsiejohn1]

My God, I miss Walter Cronkite. He had such a great presence and a clear understanding of stories that affected all of us. Why can't reporters be like this today?

[@vintagegoldenage]

agree

[@maxr5799]

Walter Cronkite was literally and figuratively an anchor. Every weeknight you saw him and heard him no matter what happened during the day. He was a constant in the lives of millions of Americans from 1962 to 1981.

[@bryanjensen2614]

One only wonders what great things he could have accomplished had he lived for 30-40 more years.

[@npatil85]

And jfk and jim morrison

[@RockSmithStudio]

one of the greatest man who ever lived. His death inspired/ still inspires millions.

[@dewlove]

Hey CBS....how can you think it is anywhere near appropriate to embed a link to "watch your favorite CSI episode" in this video!?!??!

[@TheRenard10]

50 years yet, his dream still dreams on. 🛌💤💤

[@vh7637]

Tom Harvy sad

[@Aviation380]

Tom Harvy who hurt you?

[@giantqtipz8117]

Tom Harvy lol you feel victimized dont you? maybe you need to be breastfed some more. blaming others for your own goddamn problems like a big baby.

[@markhelton6128]

He was a racist, communist, womanizer who got what he deserved.

[@weefishy9129]

His dreams of socialism and reparations? Yes, they do.

[@jonbhoffman]

Really? You put an ad for CSI over this video? Shame CBS

[@Delaware84]

I can't imagine what my grandmother could have thought or felt when this happened....every time I think about it it makes me want to cry

[@gugga56]

Walter Cronkite will always be "my" news broadcaster. No one since has come close to his ability, tact, and compassion. A truly wonderful man whose death saddens me very deeply. I grew up with him giving the news every evening. He was like part of our family.

[@strafrag1]

RIP Dr.King. You did so much for everyone. Thank you.

[@user-vc1oz9rv6v]

Funny calling someone a doctor when they never earned a PhD or MD.

[@stonedkhalifa5940]

Who remembers our friend martin?

[@10TVMan]

For those who never were fortunate enough to get their news from Walter Cronkite, you missed an era of television news and news gathering in general that we will likely never see again. It was pure, honest, meaningful. Unlike the so-called newscasts of today, if you missed Cronkite's newscast, you really did miss the news of the day.

[@raymondhopwood9393]

He wasn't called "the Most Trusted Man in America" for nothing. RIP Walter.

[@pauldavis7310]

Since I grew up in a town that was an NBC affiliate we always watched NBC News.

[@RealTime88]

A good man. A great news anchor. Never missed a beat and always told it the weay it was. I will never forget him. Thank you Uncle Walter. RIP!!!

[@clippedbykenny5309]

Rest easy Mr Dr Martin Luther King ❤❤😢😢

[@Toral3533]

Cronkite was the best. He was always first and foremost, a reporter. He has a bias, and never tried to hide it - -- he was liberal. But, he said, he always tried to be fair. Late in life, he had a short-lived column where he acknowledged the MSM's liberal bias, offered some explanations for it (e.g., reporters often start out covering horrible situations where big government seems to be the only answer), and suggested that the bias wasn't so important with the multiplicity of news sources we now have. He never tried to deny, as dolts like Rather did, that the MSM was liberal.

[@djmixwell]

From JFK - MLK , Cronkite has reported the worst tragedies America has ever seen

[@kascnef]

50 years later we still remember what happened and we were saddened. He was only 39 when the unthinkable happened. It inspired u2 to write what happened in their hit song pride in the name of love.

[@Barnstormer1969]

It's really cool to see vintage programming like this one. Not only does it shows what television programming is like in those days, but what life was like.

[@StevenDFenrich]

Thanks Tiffany for posting this, but you made the final cut at a very bad time ("Maybe he was trying to prove something") Completing Cronkite's sentence were the resolute words "Well maybe he DID"...

[@LadyArgento]

RIP Mr. Cronkite. RIP Dr. King. The world is a better place because we had such men in it.

[@yourboycam2698]

May his legacy live on forever

[@yettimannettii2039]

that legacy isn't doing so well is it...

[@barnesbarnes994]

This was a Great Man with an awesome message.. Peace... who really wants this anymore? I Do.

[@brianchristopher3816]

I love how he pulled out his earpiece. I wonder if at some point he was going to go off script. I hope so.

[@DiscipleOfHeavyMeta1]

I love Cronkite's tone. His voice is so soothing.

[@curtisjones400]

"Somewhere I Read" -We lost a great man

[@jessegibson7734]

Every time I see those sound byte clips of the previous night I tear up for what could have been and shake my head 😭🤧

[@nashshaffer6235]

“The Bullet exploded in his face”….Jesus 😢 Lord Have Mercy

[@TheDJMessenger]

A beautiful, precious spirit; a triumphant, yet humble, leader of change. Never Forget!

[@TheTerryE]

This was the BEGINNING of the news report, not near the end ...

[@DC-ho8oe]

When the news was reported on and not speculated about and with no hyperbole. I miss those days.

[@Trund27]

Absolutely. Well said

[@Airsoftcleaner]

RIP Walter Cronkite,You will be greatly missed.

[@BianicEpicVideos]

Not MLK huh?

[@DubieDuwop-tk8mm]

​@@BianicEpicVideosthat's what I'm saying like that's all you got from this

[@omegusalpha7233]

Rest in Peace Dr. King

[@morisadatumoridiva5394]

RIP MARTIN LUTHER KING. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU ADVICE.

[@user-ut8ls7qp1j]

i am a italian american a I LOVED MARTIN LUTHER KING ,he was a great man ,GOD BLESS MARTIN LUTHER KING

[@simonecostasp]

Descanse em paz Walter. Você assistiu a História de camarote e a transmitiu com excelência.

[@jjft2d]

May God bless you and fill your heart and spirit with love and kindness for your fellow man. Being in law enforcement, I am truly sick of seeing the attrocities we do to each other.

[@multifandomvideos3275]

Cant believe this was 50 years ago

[@brycelandon6387]

Dang, the footage of Walter Cronkite is so crisp and clear that it looks like it could have been aired yesterday!

[@doslion]

50 yrs ago today.

[@Tuxicat62]

I remember when this happened. I was in my room listening to the radio, when AM was king, and the report came on. I remember watching "Uncle Walter" (as we called Walter Cronkite) reporting and then LBJ talking. RIP Martin Luther King, Jr.

[@harleylawdude]

After this assassination my father was seen crying - the only time in his adult life he was ever known to cry.

[@TheGladmueth]

Nice to see a true news journalist giving... THE NEWS... not coloring it with his own viewpoints/ opinions.

[@NinerCupcakes]

God bless MLK.

[@BenNCM]

What an amazing human being Dr King was. RIP

[@capriass227]

it's still sad to this day

[@StephenLuke]

RIP Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

[@manhbx96]

43 years ago its still ringing in our heads lets honor Martin Luther King and Walter Cronkite for their contributions to American society

[@EntertaningAmerica]

I have always felt that Hoover and his FBI had something to do with the assassination.

[@hoss73ford]

+Entertaining America I wouldn't put it past him. Hoover was evil to say the least.

[@damonrichardson3607]

Well investigations concluded that the Govt had him killed

[@madmanbob6744]

JustTrynaGraduate maybe

[@TS-qq7vr]

Your feelings should be registered into the police evidence locker.

[@TS-qq7vr]

James Pickle Puffer Way to talk about being hateful...

[@staggmovie]

What time was his news broadcast on this day, as the time recorded that he was shot at 6:01 and then dead at St, Joseph's Hospital at 7:05.

[@flyboy513]

Sad..

[@Mat7920H]

Who's watching on 4 April 2018?

[@tonyajohnson1059]

I remember the news report..I was 6. It really frightened me..He was a good man..He only wanted equal rights for all..He was a brave man..

[@64bitmad42]

Straight to the point.

[@PC-lu3zf]

Classic these were the days of great journalism.

[@chrissystewart6268]

April 4th 2022 the 54th Anniversary of MLK's Assassination. I thank MLK for what He did for America. If MLK was still living I would say Dr. King you're one of my heroes in History I thank you for what you did .

[@Chrisiant]

God bless Dr.King, may his memory be eternal. And may the memory of what he did, the dignity and integrity of a Christian man who did as he believed still resonate on this earth, and inspire others.

[@jessyleppert2]

52 years later on April 4th, 2020 my dad died

[@jerryross6898]

Here today, 2024. Just thinking how much we need you here now I’m lost for words

[@jalonglover5913]

Thank you MLK Jr.

[@Kemaca1979]

Im white but I like martin Luther King Jr

[@buddybarlow9604]

Give the fuck off of youtube.

[@kicksonfire5105]

James Barlow learn how to fucking spell

[@GothamCityWrestling713]

Good for you.

[@Kemaca1979]

Dazy Kid Im not saying that i dont like black people

[@Kemaca1979]

no

[@bufnyfan1]

this must be the CBS West Coast broadcast--Cronkite would not been able to announce Dr. King's shooting in the Eastern Time Zone as it happened after the CBS East Coast broadcast would have been over

[@plasteredbastard]

"But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop … I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land" MLK Jr's final speech

[@stonedkhalifa5940]

Why are white peoples ears so big? 👂🏻

[@rickjames8916]

Stoned Khalifa When you figure that one out let us know.

[@maximalia44]

Black people's nose though

[@kylegoppy6072]

Thomzd true

[@zavex4512]

Your ears and nose never stop growing, so in theory when you're old you'd have big-ass ears

[@WombatLoveAffair]

Why are black people lips so huge?

[@aubreemiokiyolinn]

I never got a chance to thank him for all he has done 😩😍 live on baby

[@duranddavis7710]

First the sound is excellent, second no teleprompters.

[@reilgs]

Dear Steve: The greatest thing he did for me was to make me realize that all of this worlds truly great minds and souls have all express that peace and brotherhood are the way to live one's life .Thank you my friend

[@williamlambert7928]

I was born 20 days after this happened.

[@imal25]

April 4,1968 50 Years ago Today!

[@jakubwidlarz]

To think he was five whole years younger than my dad when he died of stomach cancer.

[@timothywalters2614]

I was 10 , I remember like it was an hour ago . Awful ! R.I.P. Dr. King .

[@kellyoxo2818]

When journalism was respectable.

[@valmid5069]

"In honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.’s memory we also acknowledge non-violence as a truly powerful weapon to achieve equality and liberation--in fact, the only weapon that Christians who struggle for social change can claim as their own...,Examine history. Who gets killed in the case of violent revolution? The poor, the workers. The people of the land are the ones who give their bodies and don’t really gain that much for it. We believe it is too big a price to pay for not getting anything. Those who espouse violence exploit people. To call men to arms with many promises, to ask them to give up their lives for a cause and then not produce for them afterwards, is the most vicious type of oppression" ---Cesar Chavez, He Showed Us The Way

[@okrkyokrky]

The Greatest News Anchor/Journalist of all time.

[@youarerightboss]

Sad.