Obama: Walter Cronkite "Never Let Us Down"

Legendary CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite's death is still being mourned by the country. In a statement released by CBS News, President Obama said, "He brought us all those stories large and small which would come to define the 20th century. That’s why we love Walter, because in an era before blogs and e-mail, cellphones and cable, he was the news. Walter invited us to believe in him, and he never let us down."

His colleagues and friends continue to remember him. Bob Schieffer, CBS News' Washington correspondent, said, "Walter used to talk to the reporters, he'd call you out on the beat - 'what's going on, why did they say this, why did they do that.' But, on those days when Walter would call you after the broadcast and say, 'good job on that tonight,' you really felt good about it because that was the highest compliment you could get." And Cronkite was so popular that he was urged to run for President. His cousin, Kay Barnes, recalled, "I said, 'well why don't you run' and he said 'well I would have to go through a campaign.' We both laughed and he said 'yes, even Walter Cronkite would have to go through a campaign,' so he decided not to." CBS will air a special at 7 p.m. tonight, "That's The Way it Was: Remembering Walter Cronkite." CBS News also has more tributes here and here.

With Cronkite's death reported on Friday night, Rachel Maddow's MSNBC featured thoughts from Dan Rather and Tom Brokaw. Here's video of Dan Rather; Brokaw's is after the jump:

The Post has more fond memories of Cronkite from friends. And as reported yesterday, a private funeral service for Cronkite will be held on Thursday at St. Bartholomew's Church in midtown Manhattan; afterward, he will be buried next to his wife in Missouri. A larger memorial will take place in the next few weeks at Lincoln Center.