Today in television history: Cronkite breaks news of LBJ's death

(CBS News) Tuesday marks the 40th anniversary of former President Lyndon B. Johnson's death. The day also made television history when Walter Cronkite announced the news while talking to the former president's press secretary on the phone live on air.

On January 22, 1973, Cronkite held the phone receiver to his ear on the CBS "Evening News" and said he is talking to LBJ's top spokesman.

"Can you hold the line just a second?" Cronkite says into the receiver, before explaining that the former president died in an ambulance plane on his way to San Antonio, Texas.

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[CommanderUSN]

Not boring, an Independent here, but I miss Walter Cronkite and his team back then. Hey, arizona_spud, you need to take an English course and then read American History. They are not talking about JFK's assasination, it is about the death of LBJ. Wow, do you go to school? Did you ever go to school?

[antoniof123]

This was the greatest I remember when he would come in our home every night that is what earned him "The most trusted man in America."

I wish we had more like him now they are all only intrested in ratings.

[Arizona_Spud]

Doh! Apologies to CBS for my quick-draw faux pas!

[venusvegasvada]

That was back before the GOP removed the laws banning lying on radio and news broadcasts, which ushered in the era of Fox "news" and trash radio. That happened in 1987.

Kids today may not recognize what pure, unbiased news such as this looks like. Where the commentators where strictly concerned with getting the facts right and delivered professionally. No more. No less.

They left the interpretation, politics and analysis to the individual.

Those were the good old days and nobody did it better than Walter Cronkite.

[stupa5]

So! slow news day!