Which journalist's reporting intensified skepticism about the war after Tet?

• A. Dan Rather
• B. Walter Cronkite
• C. Peter Arnett
• D. Tom Brokaw

Answer: (B)

The main idea tested is how a trusted media voice can shape public opinion about a war. Walter Cronkite, as the anchor of CBS Evening News, used his platform to frame the Vietnam War after the Tet Offensive as likely unwinnable and in need of negotiations rather than escalation. His on-the-ground impressions and sober assessment carried immense credibility with a national audience, turning late-1960s skepticism about U.S. policy into a broader public demand for a change in strategy. The Tet Offensive had already exposed a gap between optimistic government portrayals and the reality on the ground; Cronkite’s authoritative verdict helped cement that credibility gap in the minds of many Americans, making his reporting the moment that intensified scepticism about continuing the war.