In a rare display of emotion, Cronkite momentarily lost his composure when announcing Kennedy's death, removing his glasses and pausing briefly to collect himself before continuing with the report. This human moment, broadcast live to millions of Americans, endeared Cronkite to viewers and demonstrated the profound impact of the event on the entire nation.

Cronkite's coverage of the Kennedy assassination and its aftermath set a new standard for television news. He anchored CBS News coverage for four days straight, providing updates and context as the story unfolded. This included live coverage of Kennedy's funeral and the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby, which occurred during a live broadcast.