Walter Cronkite was a supporter of The HSUS and the recipient, in 1990, of our James Herriot Award. In 2006, HSUS staff member Rob Blizard talked with the veteran broadcaster about his lifelong interest in animals.
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| Walter Cronkite adopted two cats from a shelter in New Jersey. The HSUS |
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On a crisp fall day in October, veteran CBS journalist and anchorman—and contributor to The HSUS—Walter Cronkite
shared stories with us about living with pets, reporting on animal protection issues, and volunteering for humane causes.
In his New York apartment—complete with Emmy Awards on the bookcases and several pictures of Cronkite with famous world leaders and grandchildren—cat trees and toys sat just inside the foyer. Two young black-and-white cats made their appearance as Cronkite talked about his feline friends. Keysa was thinner and more outgoing than Blackie, her stout, more reserved sister.
"They provide a great deal of amusement," Cronkite said while one cat looked out at Manhattan through the windows. "I hold and pet them a lot. And I like to play with them when they get excited about their cat toys."
Part of the Family
Near the end of his late wife's life a couple of years ago, the Cronkites' veterinarian recommended euthanizing their beloved cat of 17 years, Dancer. Cronkite then adopted the two kittens from an animal shelter in New Jersey. The couple had always owned dogs while at their home on East 84th Street, which featured a dog-friendly backyard.
Now all of his children—dispersed across the country in New York, Massachusetts, and Texas—share their homes with pets. He offers no special advice for his grandchildren about how to treat animals; Cronkite said his children have taught their own progeny well about how to live humanely with their furry friends, who are truly members of the family.
These animals include a golden retriever named Nugget, a cinnamon tabby named Kiwi, a European shorthaired cat named Majoun, and a Labrador/husky mix named Ranger. America's Uncle Walter enjoys spending time with them at his children's homes and together on vacation in Martha’s Vineyard. When he travels, special live-in help is employed to care for his own cats.
Cronkite grew up in Houston with a series of pets, mostly wirehaired fox terriers. He "taught them to play ball" and allowed them to pull him around town while he wore a special harness and rollerskates. Cronkite sometimes used this method of transportation to deliver newspapers during his earliest foray into journalism.
The human-animal bond is hauntingly apparent in one of Cronkite's stories about his father's dog. A resident of St. Joseph, Missouri, at the time of his death, Cronkite's father had a voice that sounded similar to that of his famous son. After the newsman's dad passed on, his pooch would sit by the television when Cronkite's CBS Evening News would air so the dog could hear the voice that apparently reminded him of his late friend's.
Meanwhile, Keysa and Blackie are television watchers of a different sort. When asked about the felines' favorite newscast, Cronkite laughed. "They really have only one channel that they like to watch."
Advocating for Animals
As the recipient of The HSUS's prestigious James Herriott Award in 1990, Cronkite said he has always been interested in the issue of animal shelters and humane treatment of animals—and in other issues sometimes termed "animal rights." He said that he supports a range of charities and has acted as master of ceremonies many times for animal organizations, including local groups in New York and on Martha’s Vineyard.
He is especially pleased with The HSUS and our efforts to "awaken people to the issues, which is the key to realizing better treatment of animals. If people learn to like or even love animals, then they certainly will advocate for other people to take better care of them also."
Cronkite has been asked why he focuses on animals to such a degree. He responded that he also wants to see humans taken care of, but often animals have far fewer people and programs looking out for them. He always focuses on a mix of both human and animal charities, though.
Animals in the News
Throughout the years, certain news stories about the mistreatment of animals have concerned him deeply and his eyes frequently would well with tears. He is unable to select one animal story that stood out during his decades-long career. "They are all tragedies and they all bother me," he said. "All."
He pointed out, "The stories of pets affected by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans were very hard to watch. But I was glad to see the animals receiving some attention by newscasts."
Asked what the media can do in this era to help animals, he admitted that task may be tough for journalists to cover such stories when so many human beings are experiencing horrors. "I know they have to focus first on the human stories, but if they could just save some time for the animal stories, too." Cronkite added, "A journalist's job is always one of being pulled in different directions. He or she is always limited by time and space available to tell those stories. But I hope they will do their best to ensure that they get animal stories into the newspapers and broadcasts as much as possible and that funds will be allocated by their higher-ups to allow these."
Keysa and Blackie agree. And so do we.
