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Rather leaves CBS in bitter end to 44 years
reuters ^ | June 20, 2006 | Mark Egan

Posted on 06/20/2006 3:31:16 PM PDT by prairiebreeze

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Veteran broadcast journalist Dan Rather has left CBS News in a bitter departure clouded by a reporting scandal over President George W. Bush's military record, ending 44 years as reporter, anchor and face of the network

His career spanned such U.S. historical landmarks as President John F. Kennedy's 1963 assassination, the Watergate scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon in 1974 and the attacks by suicide hijackers who seized airliners and flew them into the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

Rather said his departure on Tuesday came after "a protracted struggle" with CBS executives who, he said, had "not lived up to their obligation to allow me to do substantive work" since he stepped down as anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News" in March 2005.

"Of all the famous names associated with CBS News, the biggest and brightest on the marquee are (Edward R.) Murrow, (Walter) Cronkite and Rather," CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus said of the man known for an aggressive reporting style and folksy metaphors evocative of his Texas roots.

Rather succeeded Cronkite in the CBS anchor chair in 1981 and stepped down from that post on March 9, 2005, exactly 24 years later.

CBS News said it would air a prime-time special to mark Rather's career in the fall but that it could not reach a deal to renew his contract, which was to expire in November.

Rather, 74, said he was leaving with a desire to return to "regular, meaningful reporting," adding that CBS had offered him "a future with only an office but no assignments."

"It just isn't in me to sit around doing nothing," he said. "So I will do the work I love elsewhere, and I look forward to sharing details about that soon."

Some said the departure of Rather, whose reputation was tarnished in 2004 by a subsequently discredited report on Bush's record in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, was an unceremonious end.

"You never expect someone who's been the face of the network for so long to just be given an office which is essentially a closet ... and then not to be given air time and then to have it leaked to the press that he's being booted," said New Yorker magazine media critic Ken Auletta. "It's jarring."

Rather had officially remained assigned to the CBS prime-time news magazine "60 Minutes" after relinquishing the evening anchor chair but was seldom seen on the air since then. The Los Angeles Times quoted him on Friday saying he was rebuffed when he offered to help cover Hurricane Katrina, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rather was one of the Big Three network anchors who dominated television news for two decades -- along with Peter Jennings on ABC and Tom Brokaw on NBC. Jennings died of lung cancer last August, less than a year after both Brokaw and Rather stepped down as hosts of their respective newscasts.

"Too much is made of anchors and their personalities," Rather said, adding more attention should be paid to the role of a free press and the "corporatization" of news.

Rather came to prominence at CBS for his 1961 coverage of Hurricane Carla in Texas, where he tied himself to a tree so he could keep reporting from the eye of the storm, and won a national reputation during the Kennedy assassination.

In 1980 he slipped into Afghanistan in disguise following the Soviet invasion, earning himself the nickname "Gunga Dan." Then in 1981 he replaced broadcast legend Walter Cronkite, known as "the most trusted man in America," as CBS anchor.

His broadcasts were known for his quirky "Ratherisms." On election night 2000, contested by Al Gore and Bush, Rather said: "This race is tight like a too-small bathing suit on a too-long ride home from the beach."

He was a lightning rod for conservatives who accused him of liberal bias after heated exchanges with Republicans. During a combative 1974 exchange with Nixon, the president was prompted to ask, "Are you running for something?" to which Rather shot back, "No, sir ... are you?"

(Additional reporting by Claudia Parsons)


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bitter; buckheadstrophy; canned; cbsnews; danrather; disgraced; loser; sacked
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Rather, 74, said he was leaving with a desire to return to "regular, meaningful reporting," adding that CBS had offered him "a future with only an office but no assignments."

"It just isn't in me to sit around doing nothing," he said. "So I will do the work I love elsewhere, and I look forward to sharing details about that soon."

~~"You never expect someone who's been the face of the network for so long to just be given an office which is essentially a closet ... and then not to be given air time and then to have it leaked to the press that he's being booted," said New Yorker magazine media critic Ken Auletta. "It's jarring."

*snicker!* heh. heh-heh. Hoo-hoo. Haaahaaa! BWAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!

Don't let the door hit you on the way out Dan. Courage.

1 posted on 06/20/2006 3:31:19 PM PDT by prairiebreeze
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To: prairiebreeze
His career spanned such U.S. historical landmarks as President John F. Kennedy's 1963 assassination, the Watergate scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon in 1974 and the attacks by suicide hijackers who seized airliners and flew them into the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

Also getting crank calls from Stern listeners live on the air during the JFK Jr. airplane crash.

2 posted on 06/20/2006 3:32:59 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity.)
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To: prairiebreeze
Another communist bites the dust, now he can join his fellow traveler Walter Cronkite.
3 posted on 06/20/2006 3:33:25 PM PDT by Graybeard58 (Remember and pray for Sgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: Peach; Mo1
Rather said his departure on Tuesday came after "a protracted struggle" with CBS executives who, he said, had "not lived up to their obligation to allow me to do substantive work" since he stepped down as anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News" in March 2005.

Actually Dan, that's called keeping you on an extremely short leash and with a gag in your mouth. LOL!

4 posted on 06/20/2006 3:33:51 PM PDT by prairiebreeze (“Double or triple our troubles and we would still be better off than any people on earth.”---Reagan)
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To: Graybeard58

Another communist bites the dust, now he can join his fellow traveler Walter Cronkite.
------
And many of the U.S. citizenry had the ignorant gall to defame McCarthy...who WAS RIGHT!!!


5 posted on 06/20/2006 3:34:46 PM PDT by EagleUSA
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To: BigSkyFreeper

I'd never read about him tying himself to a tree during a hurricane. That image invites all sorts of observations, LOL!


6 posted on 06/20/2006 3:35:28 PM PDT by prairiebreeze (“Double or triple our troubles and we would still be better off than any people on earth.”---Reagan)
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To: EagleUSA

McCarthy was indeed, correct. Pity the public had such little information in those days and what they had was deliberately skewed and manipulated.


7 posted on 06/20/2006 3:36:27 PM PDT by prairiebreeze (“Double or triple our troubles and we would still be better off than any people on earth.”---Reagan)
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To: prairiebreeze

ROTFL! I hope he is only the first in a long line of biased "journalists" that get the heave ho!


8 posted on 06/20/2006 3:36:46 PM PDT by ladyinred (Liberals are dangerous for America.)
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To: prairiebreeze

Dan, stick a fork in it. No one will ever believe you again.


9 posted on 06/20/2006 3:37:04 PM PDT by John Lenin (The RAT party is still Stuck on Stupid)
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To: prairiebreeze

Why can't these people just retire like normal folk?


10 posted on 06/20/2006 3:37:41 PM PDT by GSWarrior
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To: ladyinred

I wonder if Rather won't have lots of time these days to get together with Aaron Brown and commisserate.

Brown was literally let go overnight to slot in Anderson Cooper. No improvement whatsoever, IMO. Both just as biased as we'd expect from the Clinton News Network.


11 posted on 06/20/2006 3:38:26 PM PDT by prairiebreeze (“Double or triple our troubles and we would still be better off than any people on earth.”---Reagan)
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To: GSWarrior

Because these people aren't normal?

:^)


12 posted on 06/20/2006 3:38:57 PM PDT by prairiebreeze (“Double or triple our troubles and we would still be better off than any people on earth.”---Reagan)
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To: prairiebreeze

I for one will not miss this scumbag bedwetter.

If it were not for the NFL contract with CBS, I'd never gaze on that corrupt subversive network


13 posted on 06/20/2006 3:39:47 PM PDT by Radix (Stop domestic violence. Beat abroad.)
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To: prairiebreeze
"You never expect someone who's been the face of the network for so long to just be given an office which is essentially a closet ... and then not to be given air time and then to have it leaked to the press that he's being booted," said New Yorker magazine media critic Ken Auletta. "It's jarring."

Correct, given what Rather has done one expects him to be fired!

14 posted on 06/20/2006 3:40:13 PM PDT by TruthWillWin
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Comment #15 Removed by Moderator

To: prairiebreeze

So, uh, what IS the frequency, Kenneth?


16 posted on 06/20/2006 3:41:02 PM PDT by OKSooner (It wasn't the black guy after all - the dutch boy did it.)
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To: prairiebreeze
FINALLY. Someone takes the lipstick off that pig and calls it what it is: A BITTER ENDING. Mark Egan, I must say I am proud of you.
17 posted on 06/20/2006 3:41:38 PM PDT by small voice in the wilderness (Quick, act casual...if they sense scorn or ridicule, they'll flee)
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: prairiebreeze
So typical of Dan. Instead of quietly riding off into the sunset and licking his wounds, Dan would rather have a tantrum, play victim and name call while slamming the door on his way out, reminding everyone how classless he truly is.


19 posted on 06/20/2006 3:43:41 PM PDT by demkicker (democrats and terrorists are intimate bedfellows)
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To: prairiebreeze

I gotta cue up my tiny little violin and play "my heart bleeeeeeeeeds for you"

*snigger*


20 posted on 06/20/2006 3:43:45 PM PDT by Ronin (Ut iusta esse, lex noblis severus necesse est.)
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