Source: CBS Evening News

Speaker: Walter Cronkite

And that's the way it is... This is Walter Cronkite, CBS News. Good night.

Context

This line was spoken by Walter Cronkite at the end of most broadcasts of CBS Evening News from 1962-1981.

Before the Internet, most Americans learned about the world from newspapers and the evening news. The most respected news anchor in the 60s and 70s was Walter Cronkite. His news broadcasts were an anchor of calm in a turbulent times, like the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, the Vietnam War, and the 70s energy crisis.

And even though he delved into complicated sociopolitical issues in his news reports, Cronkite signed off his broadcasts by simply saying, "And that's the way it is."

Because this line is perfect for objective journalism, Cronkite would occasionally omit it if his final segment was his own opinion instead of the facts. This dedication to objectivity, and not candy coating difficult situations like losing the war in Vietnam or the Watergate scandal, Walter Cronkite became the most trusted man in America.

And that's the way it is.

Where you've heard it

You've probably heard this line after someone has told you about a factual event. You don't have to like it, but it's what happened.

Additional Notable References:

• Walter Cronkite's final sign off in 1981.
• One of Cronkite's most famous news reports was breaking the story about President John F. Kennedy getting shot and killed.
• And this has nothing do with journalism, but "And That's The Way It Is" is a 1999 hit by Celine Dion. She even performed a live version with *NSYNC.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

The truth might be painful, but it's not pretentious, and neither is this quote.

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