Alter Leland Cronkite Jr Biography, Age, Parents, Wife, Kids, Education, Career and Net worth

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Alter Leland Cronkite Jr Biography

Alter Leland Cronkite Jr was an American .Journalist, TV Anchor, Radio personality, Voice Actor and Television Producer. He served  as anchorman for nineteen years, that is from 1962-1981 for the CBS evening News. Alter was once named in an opinion poll as the ‘Most trusted Man in America’ in 1960s and 1970s.

Alter Leland Cronkite Jr

From 1937 to 1981,he reported many events like the ‘World war 11′.He is so much known for his extensive coverage of the U.S. space program, from Project Mercury, to the Moon landings, to The Space Shuttle, Alter Leland was the only non-NASA recipient of an Ambassador of Exploration Award.

Alter Leland Cronkite Age

Cronkite was born on November 4, 1916 in Saint Joseph Missouri. He as 93 years at the time of his death in the year 2009.

Alter Leland Cronkite parents 

Alter is the son of Helen Lena and Dr. Walter Leland Cronkite, a dentist.

Alter Leland Cronkite Height 

He had a height of 5 ft 11- 1.8 m

Alter Leland Education

He attended elementary school at Woodrow Wilson Elementary school, went to Houston, Texas Junior High school then later to San Jacinto High school where he edited the high school newspaper. He was a member of the Boy Scouts.

Alter then attended college at the University of Texas at Austin [ UT ] entering in the Fall term of 1933, where he worked on the  Daily Texan and became a member of the Nu chapter of the Chi Chi Fraternity. He was also a member of the Houston chapter of  DeMolay a Masonic fraternal organization for boys.

While still attending UT, Alter had his first taste of performance, appearing in a play with fellow student Eli Wallach .He dropped out in 1935, so he didn’t return for the Fall  term so as to concentrate on journalism.

Alter Leland wife

Leland was happily married to Mary Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Maxwell Cronkite for around  65 years until she went to be with the Lord on March 25,2005 due to cancer.

Alter Leland Kids

The couple had three children together namely;

  • Nancy Cronkite
  • Mary Kathleen Cronkite [ Kathy]
  • Walter Leland Cronkite III [ Chip]

Alter Leland and Joanna Simon

Alter dated Joanna who was single from 2005 to 2009.

Alter Leland Cronkite Career

He entered broadcasting as a radio announcer for  WKY in Oklahoma city, Oklahoma. In Kansas City Missouri, he joined the United Press International ,in 1937. He became one of the top American reporters in World War 11 covering battles in North Africa and Europe.

With his name now established, he received a job offer from Edward R. Murrow at CBS News to join Murrow Boys  team of war correspondents, relieving Bill Downs as the head of the Moscow bureau.

Cronkite is vividly remembered for breaking the news of the Assassination of John F. Kennedy on Friday, November 22, 1963.Cronkite had been standing at the United Press International wire machine in the CBS newsroom as the bulletin of the President’s shooting broke and he clamored to get on the air  so as to break the news,  he wanted CBS to be the first network to do so.

Alter Leland Cronkite Programs 

  •  Up To the Minute
  • What’s My Line?
  • You Are There-1953-1957
  •  The Twentieth Century
  • It’s News to Me
  • Pick The Winner
  • The Morning Show
  • The Twentieth century-1957-1970
  • Great Books 1993-2006
  • 60 Minutes-since 1968
  • CBS Morning News-since 1963
  • Good morning America-since 1975
  • CBS Reports-1959
  • For The Love of Liberty
  • 20/20-since 1978

Alter Leland Cronkite Net worth

By the time of his death, he had a Net worth of $20 million.

Alter Leland Cronkite Death

Cronkite succumbed to cerebrovascular disease on 17 July, 2009 in Ney York, New York, United States.

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