Posted on 06/30/2006 6:51:35 AM PDT by presidio9
DAN Rather, who forced Walter Cronkite into early retirement, refused to be interviewed for a documentary on his predecessor, who turns 90 on Nov. 4. Rather is believed to be sulking over the way he was dumped by CBS News after 44 years and replaced by Katie Couric, who graciously agreed to narrate the 90-minute "American Masters" profile of Cronkite.
Couric, who'll become the new anchor of "The CBS Evening News" in September, recorded the narration last week, said Catherine Tatge, who wrote, directed and produced "Walter Cronkite: Witness to History," which is to premiere July 26 at 9 p.m. on WNET/Ch. 13.
Couric, who left NBC's "Today" show May 31, agreed instantly to narrate the film when the idea was proposed to her several weeks ago. "She was very cooperative," Tatge told The Post's Adam Buckman.
Rather, however, was not. He was asked to participate in interviews for the show, but said no for reasons he didn't make clear.
"I'm very sorry to say he declined twice," Tatge said. "It's really a shame. I really tried, and I really am sorry because everyone else [said yes] and I've got an amazing group of people. They're all there, and everyone was very happy to do this."
In fact, the Cronkite documentary contains dozens of interviews with TV news stars of past and present, including Tom Brokaw, Robert MacNeil, Don Hewitt, Mike Wallace, Andy Rooney, Morley Safer and Bill Moyers.
Cronkite revealed in his memoir, "A Reporter's Life," that Rather threatened to leave CBS unless Cronkite gave up his anchor chair several months before his 65th birthday. "And once Rather had the job, he never let Cronkite on the air again," said one media insider. "Walter has never forgiven Rather for his brutal tactics."
Cronkite, often called "America's Most Trusted Man
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Cronkite lied to the American people 5 nights a week for 25 years.
Don't forge the self-righteous elitist reporters and their Pukelitzers!
You summed it up nicely. The size of their egos is amazing.
Actually it would be that the View fiasco is CBS News II
My fantasy CBS newscast would have Walter, Dan, Connie, and Katie all sharing the anchor duties. Their egos would result it a very entertaining cat-fight.
Add to the fun, have only one camera and make them all compete for the camera's attention.
If you think about it, it would be Cronkite that would be the likely one to carry the grudge, not Rather since Rather was the perp and Cronkite was the victim, so his snub of this show is a further kick in the Cronkite pants.
And pay them a working man's salary.
Two has-been old hacks who deserve each other.
"In fact, the Cronkite documentary contains dozens of interviews with TV news stars of past and present, including Tom Brokaw, Robert MacNeil, Don Hewitt, Mike Wallace, Andy Rooney, Morley Safer and Bill Moyers."
Sorry, won't be able to watch this...Unfortunately, I'll be out with friends commemorating the ten year anniversary of the death of my pet clown fish.
Or maybe a working girl's rate.
Maybe they should be paid the same rate they pay the illegal aliens they hire as maids and gardeners.
Typical! The dems always parade the losers of their party as if they were actually winners.
Cronkite will always be known for his LYING, TRAITOROUS statements about out losing the TET offensive. This report caused the ENEMY TO BE ENCOURAGED - thereby re-engaging our soldiers.
At that time in the war there were 10,000 of our military dead - after Cronkite's LYING, TRAITOROUS STATEMENTS - the deal toll now stands at 58,000.
Cronkite and John Kerry are responsible for the deaths of 48,000 American soldiers. They should be run out of town and tarred and feathered for such treasonous activity.
Instead they will be lauded for their "contributions" to America - if 48,000 deaths is really a contribution to anything but death.
I too couldn't read the Cronkite book. It was so dense. I wish somebody would simplify it. It was dense and boring.
Hypocrisy is the compliment vice pays to virtue. Most people can put aside differences, personal disappointments and jealousies to find a kind word to say about an elderly colleague who once may have been a rival. But not Gunga Dan, a petty, vicious little man, the very model of a limousine liberal.
I haven't read it, but I won't let that stop me.
In the beginning there was the Word and the Word with with Murrow. Murrow spake unto Friendly and Friendly begat Cronkite and He saw that this was good. Wickness stirred in the Land and Cronkite smote sore the Evil that was stirring and the People rejoiceth for Civil Rights were upon them and Vietnam had forsaken them, all the days of their lives, amen.
The Wicked Ones, however festered. They plotted and schemed and found their chances. Their Leader, the Prince of Darkness was Reagan Incarnate. The People were deluded and they made Reagan Incarnate their leader and bowed down before him. Cronkite stirred to warn them, but in his years his power had faded, so he he handed the torch to a new, younger man, Kenneth and hoped that Kenneth could turn the People from their wickness.
But Kenneth was not up to the task and the Dark Night of Facism descended upon the Land. In the faculty lounges, editorial boards and CBS washrooms there was weeping and nashing of teeth. Kenneth spake in tongues, but the People heard him not for they knew not the frequency. Perdition and ruin are now the People's Lot.
Here endeth the reading.
Very true .. but it was Cronkite's broadcast (and Kerry's anti-war protests) which convinced NV that it would actually win against us.
NV didn't win against us .. the DEMOCRAT COWARDS stopped funding the war and brought out troops home as if they had been defeated. Frontline did a good job of pointing that out in one of their stories about Johnson's admin.
The dems like to start wars but they never want to see them through to victory.
This is exactly what they want to do in Iraq - but this time the incentive is to GET BUSH!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.