Join Walter Cronkite for Lunch in New York City

Thursday, December 21st, 2006 7:00 PM EST

Walter Cronkite is the  man whose commentary defined issues and events in America for almost two decades. Cronkite, whom a major poll once named the "most trusted figure" in American public life, often saw every nuance in his nightly newscasts scrutinized by politicians, intellectuals, and fellow journalists for clues to the thinking of mainstream America. In contrast, Cronkite viewed himself as a working journalist, epitomized by his title of "managing editor," of the CBS Evening News. His credo, adopted from his days as a wire service reporter, was to get the story, "fast, accurate, and unbiased"; his trademark exit line ws, "And that's the way it is."

After working at a public relations firm, for newspapers, and in small radio stations throughout the Midwest, in l939 Cronkite joined United Press (UP) to cover World War II. There, as part of what some reporters fondly called the "Writing 69th," he went ashore on D-Day, parachuted with the l0lst Airborne, flew bombing mission over Germany, covered the Nuremburg trials, and opened the UP's first post-war Moscow bureau.

Cronkite's legacy of separating reporting from advocacy has become the norm in television news. In addition, his name has become virtually synonymous with the position of news anchor worldwide--Swedish anchors are known as Kronkiters, but in Holland they are Cronkiters.

Now in his eighties, Cronkite seems happy to be one of the busiest men in America. He maintains a steady schedule of speaking engagements and television appearances and spends what spare time he has sailing or relaxing with his wife, Betsy, at their home in New York. It's just the sort of life Americans would choose for the man they trust the most.

A once in a life time opportunity gift for young or old admirers of this iconic Newscaster!