Hear Walter Cronkite mention 2017 back in 1979! The last time there was a total solar eclipse was 1979 and you hear Walter Cronkite say “2017” and hear how big a deal it is! The next one is coming up on Monday August 21st! A screen shot of the Feb. 26, 1979 broadcast of the CBS Evening News reporting on the last total solar eclipse in the United States and Canada.