UT Plaza Dedicated to Cronkite
Four Plaques Commemorating the Journalistic Ideals of Accuracy, Courage, Integrity and Independence Adorn the Walter Cronkite Plaza/Photo by Filipa RodriguesAudio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
A crowd of more than a hundred was on hand for the dedication of the plaza on Thursday night, which sits in the middle of the College of Communication complex at the corner of Dean Keaton and Guadalupe.
Don Carleton is the Executive Director of the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at UT, where Cronkite’s papers now reside. He got to know Cronkite when working on the legendary newsman’s memoir, A Reporter’s Life.
“It was that combination of professionalism and humanism that his viewers could see and understand that earned him the title of ‘most trusted man in America,’” Carleton said.
Also on hand for the dedication were two of Cronkite’s children, Chip and Kate. Kate graduated from the UT School of Social Work and lives here in Austin. She says beyond being a famous journalist, it’s nice to hear people describe her father as simply a good guy.
“When I think that this will be here – maybe not forever the way the world goes – but that this is a place that his legacy will continue in a very grounded way. That’s meaningful,” said Cronkite.
The plaza dedication was followed by an art installation by Ben Rubin, titled “And That’s the Way It Is.” The project displayed projections of text drawn from Cronkite’s archival transcripts along with recently published news. It will be visible every evening from dusk until midnight on the plaza.
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