Audio Vault: CBS News Coverage of President Eisenhower’s Funeral Cortege

Here’s a brief audio excerpt of CBS News coverage of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s funeral cortege, anchored by Walter Cronkite, broadcast on Sunday, March 30th, 1969.

Eisenhower died on Friday, March 28th, 1969 at the age of 78. His state funeral began the following day when his casket was transported to the Washington National Cathedral. On Sunday, March 30th, a cortege transported the casket from the National Cathedral down Constitution Avenue to the United States Capitol. President Richard Nixon gave a eulogy. The casket was then transported back to the National Cathedral on Monday, March 31st for a funeral service before traveling by train to Abilene, Kansas for another funeral service and burial at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum.

All three television networks aired extensive news coverage of President Eisenhower’s death and state funeral. There were also a variety of news specials dedicated to Eisenhower. CBS rebroadcast “Victory in Europe, 20 Years After” on Sunday, March 30th. Originally aired live via the Early Bird satellite, it featured a discussion between General Dwight D. Eisenhower and British Field Marshall Montgomery about the Allied victory in Europe during World War II.

Following the end of “Victory in Europe, 20 Years After,” Walter Cronkite spoke briefly about the upcoming transfer of Eisenhower’s casket from the Washington Cathedral to a hearse for the cortege to the Capitol.

Here’s a transcript:

[Walter Cronkite] That was the 20th anniversary of VE Day from five years ago.

Here in Washington, it would appear to be snowing in this– a scene from the top of the memorial– from the Washington Monument. But, actually, while snow is swirling by the camera on top of the monument, by the time it gets to the ground it becomes a fine mist of rain. Snow is not falling on the ground.

The Chief Justice of the United States entering the Washington Cathedral in preparation for the short service, really not a service, but the transferral of the body from there in some 20 minutes from now, out to the waiting hearse and then down to 16th and Constitution Avenue and the cortege to the Capitol.

We pause now for station identification.

I haven’t been able to confirm exactly when CBS rebroadcast “Victory in Europe, 20 Years After” on Sunday, March 30th, 1969. According to the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home website, Eisenhower’s casket was transferred from the National Cathedral at 3PM ET.

You can watch CBS News coverage of the cortege on YouTube that begins in front of the National Cathedral with the casket already inside the hearse:

CBS may have a recording of its rebroadcast of “Victory in Europe, 20 Years After” and this brief CBS News snippet in its archives. Or this audio recording may be all that remains of otherwise lost television.

About This Recording

Source: Reel-to-reel audio tape
Date: Sunday, March 30th, 1969
Network: CBS
Station: Unknown