March 30, 1940

Walter Cronkite & Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” Maxwell

Today in wedding history news anchor Walter Cronkite married his sweetheart Betsy Maxwell.

They met one day in 1936, while both working at the KCMO radio station in Kansas City, Missouri. Cronkite has been quoted as saying he fell in love with her the first moment he saw her! It only took a few months of dating and the two became engaged. They married in the Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

The two stayed strong through 64 years of marriage. Walter has said, “Meeting such a bright and supportive woman brought me a lifetime of joy and tenderness. And for me, that was key.” Walter and Betsy, had three children and even more grandchildren.