Excerpt from MBO, Toronto:
CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite, whose warm, personal style helped define the television news and earned him the title of “most trusted man in America,” died Friday night [July 17, 2009] in his New York home surrounded by family. He was 92…
John Anderson, who mounted a serious presidential bid as an independent in 1980, briefly considered putting him on the ticket as running mate. (“I wouldn’t turn it down,” Cronkite promised.)…
And, an excerpt from The Telegraph, England:
…Later still, while chairing a luncheon for her [Margaret Thatcher] in America, he inspired a standing ovation by asking her lightly whether she would accept the Republican presidential nomination.
Cronkite himself was approached by both parties, but he steadfastly declined to discuss how he voted or to become available to run for office. In 1980 the independent candidate John Anderson specifically asked Cronkite to join him as vice-presidential nominee…
7 responses so far ↓
1 Kimberly Wilder // Jul 20, 2009 at 8:44 am
I also wanted to acknowledge the passing of another important person…
Author Frank McCourt passed away Sunday, July 19th.
Frank McCourt is the author of “Angela’s Ashes”, the story of his growing up in poverty in Limerick, Ireland.
Frank McCourt’s brother — Malachy McCourt — ran for Governor of New York with the Green Party in 2006. There have been many messages of concern about Frank’s illness and passing on the NY Green lists.
Condolences to the McCourt family.
2 paulie // Jul 20, 2009 at 11:45 am
http://aaeblog.com/2009/07/19/krankheit-the-way-it-was/#comments
3 Paris Hilton // Jul 20, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Imagine how different that election would have been – had Anderson picked Uncile Walter.
I wonder, will the Green Party pick Dan Rather, or invite Dan Rather as candidate in 2012…
Or Tom Brokaw?
4 Catholic Trotskyist // Jul 20, 2009 at 4:16 pm
If anyone would like to know, according to Wikipedia, Anderson eventually chose former Wisconsin governor and Ambassador to Mexico Patrick Lucey, a Democrat. It was considered to be a bad choice, despite these high positions. I like Anderson, especially because he eventually came to his senses and endorsed our Holy Revolutionary General, Barack H. Obama.
RIP Walter Cronkite and Frank McCourt.
5 Rick Talavera // Jul 20, 2009 at 5:07 pm
RIP indeed Walter Cronkite.
I think Anderson may be linked to a current up-and-coming third party although I don’t see anything where he outright says it, so may just be a coincidence.
6 Peter Orvetti // Jul 21, 2009 at 7:46 am
Yes, I’ve never understood why Anderson didn’t go with Cronkite. Pat Lucey was a pretty boring alternative. Anderson was in the low 20s in polls that summer. He still would have lost, but it would have been a fascinating election — and maybe Cronkite would have run for president in 1984.
7 Peter Orvetti // Jul 25, 2009 at 3:50 am
A related story, on the possibility of a Democratic McGovern-Cronkite ticket in 1972:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/24/AR2009072402938.html
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