Walter Cronkite announces the death of LBJ

Walter Cronkite announced the death of former President Lyndon B. Johnson after taking a phone call from the press secretary during a "CBS Evening News" broadcast on January 22, 1973.

[@ReneSchickbauer]

Takes a lot of guts and experience to let dead air run on live television to make sure you get the facts absolutely correct. This is real journalism, properly done.

[@eckesg2]

Cronkite was so trusted by Americans that they would wait for him to report. That's the reputation that he built up over the years

[@dougdanzeisen9608]

One of the things that one could trust about Cronkite was his getting the facts BEFORE reporting them. We did not mind the few second pause to "Get it right."

[@jeptioak]

It's not so bad to have dead air on TV, though, especially during breaking coverage.

[@JesseTheMindless]

I miss the sound of typewriters/teletype machines in newsrooms.

[@Am-Not-Jarvis]

Johnny Carson had a funny bit on it. "19 years of tickety-tickety-tickety!"

[@ADAMSIXTIES]

Don't you have any audio?

[@jenniferpruitt6534]

They're still there, they just got a digital upgrade.

[@LindaMerchant-pm8vn]

Those were the days when the news really was the news and we could rely on that days events in our world to be reported as eloquently as Mr. Cronkite Mr. Rather did

[@malcolmmceasy2252]

I like how he tells America "hang on, I'm on the phone"

[@jonshecket3010]

Same day as Roe V Wade decision came down

[@MJBYouTubeNetwork]

And this was also during the CBS Evening News too!

[@nsr60ster85]

@@jonshecket3010 And George Foreman won the heavyweight championship from Joe Frazier. It was quite a busy news day.

[@actownsend7288]

Me too!!! Smooth.

[@TitaniumTurbine]

@@jonshecket3010 And now Roe v Wade has been killed by the Supreme Court. My how our country has started rolling backwards.

[@audreys3910]

This was when journalism was a profession of honor. Thank you Mr. Cronkite.

[@muffs55mercury61]

Absolutely. Makes me want to cry that we don't seem to have it anymore. Today's media has become a political supporter more than anything else. I never thought I'd live to see the day that someone who calls herself a journalist accuses our citizens of being racist or similar accusations.

[@robertmoir5695]

I wish I could say the same Audrey S. It s just that Walter Cronkite us no longer with us but he was truly a great man and journalist

[@sirphineasluciusambercromb9114]

Cronkite never felt the need not to point out the correctness of left wing liberalism. These corporate schmucks who try to say there's no difference between Trump and Biden and "both sides are equally corrupt" are bumbling fools.

[@IncredulousIndividual]

Nice joke!

[@jubalcalif9100]

Indubitably. A true national treasure.

[@dharrell2000]

Amazed that Cronkite announced the deaths of both JFK and LBJ live on National TV

[@shahrulamar5358]

Like Kennedy, LBJ also died on the 22th day of the month. 😮😮😮

[@dennismclaurin1487]

Right!

[@jamesgreen8573]

@@shahrulamar5358 Adam’s and Jefferson died on the same day

[@pinedelgado4743]

Even Walter Cronkite, like the nation, went through too much during those years of tumult--yet, composed himself very well though it all and America saw him do it.

[@LindaMerchant-pm8vn]

How eerie

[@mackadoodless]

The good old days of journalism. The typing of the typewriters. The fact checking. This was the golden era of the news as we knew it, and Uncle Walt was our trusted man.

[@reggiehammonds5208]

This was real journalism

[@shahrulamar5358]

@sboudreaux27 Truman live longer than LBJ.

[@John-tr6of]

@Dodd Frank He couldn't give the news without talking to his SOURCE. You probably don't understand that there was NO internet back then.

[@Ryan-ed1lq]

@Dodd Frank Do you think he's chatting with a friend? He's listening to the source of the news. Modern broadcasters do the same thing with their earpieces, it's just less conspicuous.

[@jubalcalif9100]

You speak the truth, Kemo Sabe.

[@phill2034]

In a span of 10 years, the country lost 5 presidents: Kennedy, Hoover, Eisenhower, Truman, and then Johnson. Thus leaving Nixon as the loneliness man in the country at a time when 37 needed somebody at that level to speak with.

[@brackenalexander1163]

P Hill Wow. Never thought about it that way. Can’t imagine how Nixon must have felt in that position at such a tumultuous point in time.

[@truelightningstriker5803]

@@brackenalexander1163 Just like Hoover after Coolidge died.

[@Bentom86]

Even if you added Washington & Lincoln to that list, Nixon would’ve rejected counsel from any of them, especially the man who defeated in 1960. And nearly 50 years later, here we go again with another devious, power-hungry, & corrupt ego-maniac.

[@kennethsoshi03]

oohhh that's why he had paranoia that led to watergate. he don't have any past presidents to talk with to ask an opinion. so sad 🥺

[@anonUK]

@ Psychosis and total paranoia are only two of Trump's problems.

[@duranddavis7710]

I like how Mr Cronkite holds his finger for us to wait.

[@sambradley2975]

I remember this, this was when anchors acted responsibly, & fact checked. What a difference from today's 30 second sound bites.

[@jubalcalif9100]

You got that right !

[@lydiabittner9061]

Voice of America 🇺🇸 his caring demeanor and calm voice I remember as a child

[@effend446]

Looking back to 1968, LBJ made a smart move to withdraw his reelection bid. Nevermind his eroding approval rating at the time, that's beside the point. There was also concern within his immediate family that he would not survive another term as president. His wife was also pressing for his retirement from politics. Sure enough, he died just 2 days after what would've been the end of his 2nd full term.

[@rwboa22]

I think had he been reelected in 1968, LBJ would not have survived the completion of his full second term, probably dying of heart disease most likely after the mid-terms elections in 1970. Humphrey would have more or less a "Caretaker President" until 1973.

[@DavidSmith-ss1cg]

His family had a history of heart troubles; his father died from it. HE was quite worried himself. He decided not to run soon after the Tet Offensive happened in Vietnam, and he knew that the US election campaign would be vicious and quite demanding. His wife was right to demand for him to not run again after the 1964 campaign, which was the opposite of stressful; he flew around in Air Force One and appeared to cheering crowds wherever he went; and he won by the biggest majority ever, until Reagan's re-election in 1984 - which is different. This adulation is why the Vietnam War protests affected him so much; the protesters yells from the street could be heard from the Oval Office; the streets surrounding the White House weren't blocked off the way that they are now.

[@dongf5628]

@@DavidSmith-ss1cg Johnson won bigger than Reagan. His popular vote was far better only in the electoral college was Reagan superior

[@Anglovox]

@@dongf5628 Popular vote, outside any other context, means ZERO in U.S. presidential elections. Electoral College is the sole mechanism for picking the Chief Executive...and THANK GOD for that.

[@dongf5628]

@@Anglovox yeah what’s your point. Popular vote still means a lot especially back then.

[@logan32086]

Real journalists, real news, facts and not opinions. Miss you Uncle Walter and Mr. Brinkley.

[@pinedelgado4743]

AND Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Jennings!!

[@timothyleon558]

Brinkley was horrible

[@jubalcalif9100]

For sure !

[@RogerLockridge]

Cronkite was the only person able to tell the country to hold on a minute live on television.

[@stevebenton9193]

I am stunned by this. Absolutely stunned. The former president of the United States just died, and rather than announce it by calling one of the wire services, such as the Associated Press, LBJ's press secretary says, We better call Cronkite right away to get the word out. Truly Amazing. And Cronkite holds up his finger as if to say, "Hold on a second, America, I'm on the phone," during a live broadcast.

[@donkeeton7897]

Walter Cronkite covered many historical and lifechanging events during his time at CBS everything from Vietnam to the Apollo space program and everything in between .

[@justinmay3451]

I have this great DVD set called "Cronkite Remembers" in which he looks back at his life/career and all the important events that he covered over the years. Remarkable man!

[@justinmay3451]

50 years ago today. Great reporting by "the most trusted man in America."

[@canaanite23]

60 ...

[@justinmay3451]

@@canaanite23 LBJ was 1973, so 51 years ago now. (10 years after JFK)

[@AmyZygoptera]

@@canaanite23 1973 better not be 60 years ago, or else I am much older than I thought!

[@songbyrd5]

typewriters clicking in the background...don't hear that anymore!

[@ryanabbeyseon]

Because technology

[@beccaboard]

THIS was news AS it happened. It will never be this good again.

[@JB-xu1pm]

I remember that day. I was getting in car to go home afterwork. I turned on the news upon entering the car and learned of this. It was a very cold day, wet and with light ice. Almost like yesterday.

[@darrylevans4401]

One of the greatest newsman ever the late and great Walker Cronkite one the phone on air live with Tom Johnson Lyndon Johnson press secretary great interview what a newsman the late and great Walter Cronkite was RIP

[@robertellis4938]

I remember this live. The only time the phone rang during The CBS Evening News.

[@hudsony777]

Honey, I'm doing the news, I'll you back. Yes, I'll pick up the chicken.

[@jogman262]

The nations flags had just been risen back to full staff following Harry Truman's death a month before.

[@truelightningstriker5803]

That was quite the time for America.

[@davesresorts]

Harry Truman did not die until the 1970s

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@davesresorts Harry Truman died after Christmas 1972. One day later Canada lost Prime Minister Lester Pearson.

[@rwboa22]

@@frankdenardo8684 Truman passed on December 26, 1972 and LBJ less than a month later (January 22, 1973). Protocol calls for the U.S. Flag to fly at half-staff for 30 calendar days from the date of a President's or former President's death. Thus the U.S. Flag was still legally flown at half-staff until January 25, 1973. LBJ's death would keep the U.S. Flag at half-staff until February 20, 1973.

[@shahrulamar5358]

@@rwboa22 LBJ death was on 22th of the month. Similar to Kennedy. 😮😮😮

[@LTDANMAN44]

listen to the typewriters snapping away in the background

[@marcfoster715]

Ambient sound to fall asleep...

[@frankenz66]

They used teletypes which would just go off on their own with any news worthy update.

[@rwboa22]

@@marcfoster715 where I live, the local radio news station (KYW 1060 AM) uses the teletype sound effect in the background.

[@paulsonj72]

You may have heard the wire service tickers sending out the news of Johnson’s death. Everybody(networks and wire services) got the news about the same time. Tom Johnston called everybody pretty much right away when he was allowed to release the news.

[@chrishinman6143]

Just facts from a journalism professional!! No opinions..Newspeople are tearing this country apart today

[@Camop-iz9kt]

I remember watching this as it happened, our family was eating dinner. We always had the news on in the background.

[@johnnytheyoungmaestro]

I love how professional and serious he is about something as major as this. We need news people like Mr. Cronkite more nowadays. Current news anchors and talkshow hosts are just making casual jokes, even about the most serious things. On another note, President LBJ was known to have taken up the presidency during one of America's most horrific events, and that makes LBJ such a good man, I think. I heard that he was very nervous about it all, but that comes naturally.

[@LindaMerchant-pm8vn]

With don lemon Tucker Carlson even Dan rather fired

[@collegeman1988]

The news format was very different a half century ago than it is now. Today, all news formats, including local TV stations, have news nonstop, morning, in the day, and at nighttime, so to fill up dead air and compel viewers to keep watching, commentators who are not really reporters in the way Walter Cronkite was a reporter, jibber jabber incessantly and make endless speculations on what might be happening when they really don’t have all the facts at the time. With the death of a former President of the United States as it happened in 1973 with LBJ, CBS would temporarily interrupt programming to issue a special report, Walter Cronkite tell viewers what happened, and then normal programming would resume. Then, later in the day, Walter Cronkite would have 30 minutes to tell viewers any additional information about LBJ’s death and that would be it until the following day.

[@999manman]

I was 8 years old and watching this as it occurred. Remember it vividly. Probably hoping a cartoon would come on.

[@sid2112]

CBS, how far you've fallen.

[@125jonah]

How is reporting news other than by Fox, somehow low brow and false?

[@muffdiver240]

@@125jonah Genuine newscasters are all but gone, replaced by political commentators. Objectivity is a thing of the past - including among newspapers.

[@ekop1778]

all THE NEWS CHANNELS ARE LIKE THAT! SO MUCH FOR THE OLD DAYS! NOW ITS ALL RACIST CHANNELS WITH THE SAME NEWS GARBAGE EVERY NIGHT!

[@treefiddytwoo]

Bum Face i know you joking 😂

[@sid2112]

@@treefiddytwoo he certainly ranks way up there.

[@seductionoftheinnocent4348]

Now THAT's some power, to be able to hold a nation's attention while talking on the phone by just holding up his finger asking for just a moment.

[@saraschneider6781]

Well that's because he was actually signaling to the crew behind the camera.

[@ebonykaleidoscope]

None of this modern age CNN, MSNBC and FOX News nonsense. So refreshing...even though the news was all too often sad during that time period.

[@TexasMan77]

From Jan 22, 1973 to August 9,1974 there were no living former presidents. Nixon was all alone.

[@brandonchabner6006]

nobody does the news like Walter Cronkite... then or now...

[@muffs55mercury61]

Now days they would just cut to commercials until he got the whole story. Journalism was at it's best and all three networks had great newscasters. It must really be something to be able to calmly do what Walter and the others did on TV in front of 100 million or so viewers. These old clips are the best and I'll take watching every one I can find.

[@LindaMerchant-bq2hp]

I was in kindergarten at that time and just barely remember seeing walter cronkite in that news scene reporting of johnsons passing on

[@DISCODAN1]

Where have you gone Walter Cronkite!! Man could we ever use you these days! You are still the measuring stick that the American viewers measure against even today! You were a master and so well respected!

[@RLutin]

Walter Cronkite : repeats what he has just been told you guys : wow

[@josephgeorge7385]

We need to go back in time get rid of all the cable news and get men like Cronkite back real Journalists, newsmen.

[@genx7417]

We'll never see a newscaster take a phone call like that again!! 😊😂😎🙃

[@johnq.public4252]

If we had Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley, David Brinkley, Eric Serverid and others of that era of news broadcasting with today's technology, the news industry would be much more respected.

[@StevenOBrien]

"Johnson recorded an hour-long television interview with newsman Walter Cronkite at his ranch on January 12, 1973, in which he discussed his legacy, particularly about the civil rights movement. He was still smoking heavily at the time, and told Cronkite that it was better for his heart "to smoke than to be nervous". Ten days later, at approximately 3:39 p.m. Central Time on January 22, 1973, Johnson suffered his third and final heart attack in his bedroom."

[@michaelhatcher5264]

And that's the way it is

[@barbiec323]

I remember this very well. I was pregnant with my daughter….she just turned 50.

[@gypsyjengypsydogs9320]

That man had to make so many awful announcements from JFK to LBJ. I love him as much if not more than Barbara Walters.

[@patrickroden4481]

Truman and LBJ died just 27 days apart. Who knows what the odds are of that

[@earthball2024]

Actually surprisingly likely. Here are some interesting ones: John Adams And Thomas Jefferson died on the same day. Which happened to be the 50th anniversary of the declaration of independence. James Monroe Died exactly 5 years later. They wanted James Madison To die On July 4th 1836 but he died on June 27th 1836 instead. Herbert Hoover also died on the same Day Kamala Harris Was born.

[@007kosty]

The Great Society Designer died of Heart Ailments which today might be treatable. His Medicare and Medicade Prpgrams plus his support of landmark Civil Rights Legislation were overshadowed by his esculation of the Vietnam conflict. Johnson's records of accomplishment in US History can not be denied

[@tarasbulba3190]

Tunnel ,NY Lite RIGHT...HE EXECUTED THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT ALRIGHT!

[@iamtman1]

His war on poverty was a disaster!

[@fredfredkins6096]

@@tarasbulba3190 he executed jfk or was in on it

[@shahrulamar5358]

@@fredfredkins6096 Conspiracy theory.

[@person3070]

@@iamtman1 how so

[@slyfoxxsr.941]

I wonder what he said to JFK in the afterlife.

[@xxEzraBxxx]

If it’s real.

[@xxEzraBxxx]

DESOX Prove it

[@steveprestegard5151]

@@xxEzraBxxx Prove it isn't.

[@michalbarcik]

"Oswald did it alone".

[@marthaindahouse1010]

"hey dude" "hi"

[@kkachi]

Can you imagine someone doing this today? The producers would be screaming about dead air and they'd switch to someone at another desk who would repeat what you had just heard.

[@adamnonex6001]

I can easily imagine someone doing this today, yes, with the exception that the call would have been audible on both sides, so naturally the anchor would just ask the person what happened rather than having to repeat it. But more likely is that 10 outlets would have the news at the same time, and the audience for any one of them would be far smaller. That’s the real difference.

[@frederickrapp5396]

I was watching this broadcast with my parents live on CBS on Monday January 22, 1973. It was a big news day. Roe vs. Wade, the end of the Vietnam Nam War, the death of LBJ, and “down goes Frazier, down goes Frazier!”

[@shahrulamar5358]

LBJ death was on 22th day of the month. Similar to Kennedy. 😮😮😮

[@whatacrazyride1658]

Damn that is some newsday.

[@saraschneider6781]

LBJ died over 2 years before the war in Nam ended.

[@saraschneider6781]

​@@shahrulamar5358so? It was a 1/31 chance.

[@shahrulamar5358]

@@saraschneider6781 Yes.

[@dougfisher1813]

Unrelated, but this is the same day my pickup truck was purchased new from the dealership. Found the documents in the glove box.

[@kevincorcoran6493]

That's neat. You probably might not remember it as well had LBJ not died that day

[@jimmycarter9861]

@Doug Fisher I love all the comments mentioning Roe v Wade and you mention it being the day you bought your pick up 😂😄

[@arebolar]

LBJ was unable to enjoy all his ill-gotten money for very long. He was only 64

[@JamesMcCown-yf3qf]

I remember this as if it were yesterday. JMc

[@LindaMerchant-dw1sw]

You dont see newsmen on phones on the air anymore or on typewriters in background now on laptops. And social media websites

[@bobs.381]

The most trusted man in America!

[@nickcurran3105]

LBJ was only 64? Man, he looked a lot older than that when he died.

[@bjr43]

Ambulance plane? First time I've ever heard of those.

[@YouTubeisZionistTool]

bjr43 it's there. Me too surprised at first

[@jensmom604]

Are you morons or something?

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@KZbinisZionistTool my former girlfriend was a flight nurse on one of those. She served in the United States Army.

[@thedaveanddaveshowlive3765]

Where have you been? They’ve been in service for years. As both a nurse and paramedic I’ve flown on one.

[@brianrunyon266]

@@thedaveanddaveshowlive3765 I'm sure they have, but, this report is the first I've heard about them being used.

[@richgg2]

My father always referred to Cronkite as America's favorite teddy bear that you couldn't help but love and watch on TV every night.

[@jason19801980]

I was in 5th grade and I still remember the teacher crying

[@harryputang5352]

Ironic...the President who sent American troops to fight in Vietnam..died of a heart attack without any bullet holes🤔

[@Einstein852]

60 yrs ago today 😢

[@TheTyphoon365]

Absolutely loved it. Modern news is over produced and full of schmucks.

[@StephenLuke]

RIP Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973)

[@michaelcrook]

Karma, given that he forced his oath to be taken on the plane, right in front of Mrs. Kennedy, who still had her husband's blood on her.

[@snelled]

My question, is that a Royal typewriter in the background? I love the sound of REAL JOURNALISM

[@justindemoude520]

Back in the day...when News Mattered!

[@shahrulamar5358]

L.B. JOHNSON. The first US president to visit Malaysia. One of palm oil growers settlement in our country was name in his honour. 🇲🇾 🇲🇾 🇲🇾

[@gaguy1967]

9 years, 2 months to the day

[@TnseWlms]

LBJ's death, Nixon's reinauguration and Roe vs. Wade all in one week.

[@t.p.mckenna]

Kronkite, the consummate reporter omits that he had conducted a long interview with LBJ just ten days previously. He keeps himself out of the story because the lead facts are what count.

[@FarhanAmin1994]

My god! Any other journo today would have made 500 references to the meeting :0 What a man, Kronkite!!!

[@Farrah300]

I like that about Walter Cronkite. It was about the facts at hand.

[@wynder15]

I remember watching this as it happened.

[@cdbutler1204]

I can’t help but think about how awful it would be if this call instead came from a Captain Janx type from The Howard Stern Show.

[@johnchristiancanda3320]

Walter Cronkite is to CBS (US) what Harry Gasser is to RPN (Philippines).

[@shahrulamar5358]

Vietnam War killed his political career. 😟😟😟

[@100texan2]

Real news reporting not like today’s jokers.

[@BoltPin_05]

I swear to god, as soon as he said “he was stricken at 3:40 PM, Central Time”, it was the same time for me as well (I also live in Texas)

[@TnseWlms]

I was in first grade and our teacher planned to take us on a field trip to a bakery. But after LBJ died, the schools closed on the day of our planned trip. So to this day I never got to see the bakery. 😞

[@saraschneider6781]

What a waste.

[@davesresorts]

I remember watching this live 57 years ago

[@daveradcliff3716]

You are wrong. 46 yesrs ago, NOT 57.

[@spb7883]

All the “dead air”: NEVER would happen today, and not just because the technology has changed. It’s because ratings are king. The news department is part of the entertainment department. Has been for some time.

[@spclanghorne4494]

This same day, Roe V Wade was ruled. I found it interesting that a newspaper near me had LBJ’s death as the top headline, and only mentioned the abortion decision on the 4th page.

[@PlayingTyme]

No satanists were running around in those days foaming at the mouth and demanding abortions, unlike 2024. So it was put on page 4. Now in 2024 all the Dems have is being pro infanticide.

[@creoleperez6971]

Johnson and Nixon were good friends for years ..from the days of the Eisenhower administration when Nixin was Vice President and Johnson being a veteran Senator and Senate Majority Leader ..those days our leaders were GIANTS ..larger than life ..and guts of steel ..

[@chrissystewart6268]

Wow 36th President Lyndon B. Johson died on Jan. 22nd 1973 My Grandmother was pregnant with my Uncle @ the time

[@mainantagonist]

Ah, the days when news-gathering was slow and calm, and we knew nothing different. This news was one of my first ever memories.

[@joseluissalguero6478]

Un gran presidente hizo una gran labor social y se encontró la guerra de vietnan

[@thomasmartin4281]

If he ran again and won his retirement would’ve been 2 days, though he likely would’ve died much sooner

[@tarasbulba3190]

"We've been trying to reach you regarding your cars expired manufacturers warranty."

[@maxmulsanne7054]

🤣 lol

[@stw2323]

I love how he's on the phone while he's on live TV and holds his one finger up telling his viewers 'hold on one minute'. Only Cronkite could get away with that

[@iantucker2310]

9 years & 2 months to the day

[@LegoPostPresidency]

Johnson's Last Word's Were "Send Mike Immediately"

[@sambradley1968]

48 years ago today. 🇺🇸

[@edmund184]

Was it the stress of Vietnam that took him off early?

[@nguyendailam6703]

Thank you for everything you tried to do for my country Mr President.

[@BigWilt2000]

LBJ died one month after Truman’s death and two days after Nixon’s inauguration

[@_mason_3962]

Harry Truman had died 28 days earlier.

[@Lees706]

Simpler times. Better times. Honest Press.

[@dougrogers956]

Back when the News was Honest and not political.

[@GoLongAmerica]

Back when news was facts, and not entertainment, speculation, or opinions.

[@danielisfearless288]

Walter was a true reporter

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

For a brief period between the death of LBJ in 1973 and Ford assuming office in 1974, Nixon was the only living US President In December 2022, we have Carter, Clinton, Bush 43, Obama, Trump and Biden In the UK, we have 8 living Premiers - more than any other time - Major, Blair, Brown, Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak

[@alkohalak8199]

And at some point in the future, it could possibly happen again with whomever the office holder is at the time. Interesting piece of trivia overlooked in history.

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

@@alkohalak8199 true

[@shahrulamar5358]

Cronkite is only 7 years younger than LBJ but he lived until Obama era.

[@carldagroundskeeper]

I think LBJ was one of the last casualties of Vietnam.

[@catsincredulous9998]

LOL, probably not even anyone on the end of the other line. People believe anything they are told.

[@GarfieldEnjoyer1878]

Wow so smart. A real intellectual right here

[@MJBYouTubeNetwork]

This was a busy day for our Uncle Walter... LBJ's death and that Supreme Court abortion ruling.