Battle Over Walter Cronkite Nasty Tell-All Book

Posted on Jul 19, 2009 @ 01:27PM

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Barely a day after legendary newscaster Walter Cronkite died, a battle has broken out over a nasty planned tell-all book.

Terri Schwab, Cronkite's former chef and manager of his Martha's Vineyard home for 10 years is shopping a tome that charges Cronkite suffered from dementia and was hated by his three children. Schwab said the newsman had a nasty temper and was never around for his three kids, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.

But Cronkite's chief of staff at CBS, Marlene Adler is boiling over the book and told Jose Lambiet of the Palm Beach Post that the former chef has flipped her lid and called Schwab a "disgrace" and "deeply disturbed." Adler added: "Mr. Cronkite's body isn't even cold. What (Schwab) says about Mr. Cronkite's family is false. They're a loving, united family."

RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively that the book is titled “That’s the Way He Was: My Ten Years with Walter Cronkite.”

Schwab charges that Cronkite was supposed to marry his girlfriend Joanna Simon (sister of singer Carly Simon) in July of 2008 but was talked out of it by people close to him who were afraid they would lose part of his fortune, which is estimated at $30 million. She will also charge that his relationship with his children was strained because he was rarely around when they needed him.

Cronkite died July 17 at age 92. He had been married to Betsy Cronkite for nearly 65 years. She died in 2005.

Click here for pics of Walter Cronkite through the years.

The book, which is sure to infuriate people who remember Cronkite as the conscience of a generation, describes him as demanding and abusive with a temper so bad he once threw a phone against a wall. RadarOnline.com has learned the author will try to balance the portrait by saying Cronkite had a fun-loving side that included often pretending to do a strip-tease for guests.

Schwab stopped working for Cronkite in 2006 and RadarOnline.com has learned she will claim he gave her a glowing recommendation and used to refer to her as a “Cronk-ette.”

That claim is unlikely to defuse the anger of Adler, his former chief of staff, who looked after the venerable newsman even after his wife died. Her anger is sure to be shared by others.

Wow. It really is hard to find good help these days. Sounds like the one thing Walter is guilty of is not screening his employees carefully enough.

Click here for a timeline of Cronkite's life and career milestones.

(Photo: WENN)

Comments

Uncle Walter did have more than his share of idol worshipers. It will be quite interesting to hear from someone who saw him for what he really was.

by wavygravy
Posted Mon, 07/20/2009 - 10:08am

Omaha1, if someone dies and then are the subject of days of endless misplaced worship in the MSM, it is only right that the record is set straight. History deserves no less...

by RickVB
Posted Mon, 07/20/2009 - 9:20am

They were pawns used by closet leftists (like Mr. Cronkite) in political games, as were the **millions** of Asians who died as a result of our mishandling the war. Why someone who claims to be who you are would defend such a man is beyond me...

by RickVB
Posted Mon, 07/20/2009 - 9:22am

And Mr. Cronkite's complicity in the network news spin and misinformation about the war contributed to the mass hysteria that resulted in the abuse and rejection of returning soldiers such as yourself.

by RickVB
Posted Mon, 07/20/2009 - 9:16am

Mr. Swanson, I am plenty old enough to recall the 1960s news style very clearly. You know darn well there were no "clearly marked opinions" on network **news** then.

by RickVB
Posted Mon, 07/20/2009 - 9:15am

We always wait till someone Dies and then we talk about them. Alot of people loved the way he told a story on TV. He never had the makeings that TV has today to work with. If an ass so be it let his rest.

by omaha1
Posted Mon, 07/20/2009 - 8:38am

Heaven forbid we say something negitive about the old communist! Typical Lib, do as I say, not as I do.

by auggie61
Posted Mon, 07/20/2009 - 7:52am

Walter Cronkite, like so many of his ilk, was the product of a cleverly manipulated P/R. factory that still brainwashes Americans. Left is right just as coal is white. Sure it is. LMAO

by Avalon81
Posted Mon, 07/20/2009 - 6:21am

And Gary, I'm having a real hard time believing you're a Nam vet. One who's never heard of Uncle Walt's condemnation of the Tet offensive. Amazing. Simply amazing. And probably BS.

by Buck Cronkite
Posted Mon, 07/20/2009 - 5:15am

For the record, the "condermnation" you speak of was in reality a clearly marked opinion that the US had found itself in a quagmire in Vietnam that we needed to get out of.

by Gary Swanson
Posted Mon, 07/20/2009 - 5:45am