Dan Rather to step down - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

djtestudo · 11-23-2004, 09:36 AM

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertai...-news-breaking

Quote:

NEW YORK - Dan Rather, embattled anchor of the "CBS Evening News," announced Tuesday that he will step down in March, on the 24th anniversary of taking over the job from Walter Cronkite.

The veteran anchor has been under fire in recent months for his role in a "60 Minutes Wednesday" story that questioned President Bush's service in the National Guard, which turned out to based on allegedly forged documents.

Rather, 73, said he will continue to work for CBS, as a correspondent for both editions of "60 Minutes."

He made no mention of the National Guard story in announcing the change, saying he had agreed with CBS executives last summer that after the Nov. 2 election would be the right time to leave.

"I have always been and remain a 'hard news' investigative reporter at heart," he said. "I now look forward to pouring my heart into that kind of reporting full time."

CBS made no mention of a potential successor.

Rather has worked at CBS News for more than 40 years and made his name as a reporter covering the Nixon White House. His nearly quarter-century at the helm of the "CBS Evening News" is the longest at the helm of any network evening broadcast.

Sad to see him go, although I think it's time.

Bill O'Rights · 11-23-2004, 09:54 AM

Wow...the end of an era. Still...you're right, it is time.

bendsley · 11-23-2004, 09:58 AM

GOOD, glad he's going. my $0.02

MSD · 11-23-2004, 10:12 AM

The great thing about being a moderator is that I can clean up my own dumb mistake and not feel quite as stupid.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6567283
(click link for extremely unflattering picture of Rather)

Quote:

Rather to step down as CBS News anchor
Veteran to remain with
network as correspondent
The Associated Press
Updated: 12:51 p.m. ET Nov. 23, 2004

NEW YORK - Dan Rather, embattled anchor of the “CBS Evening News,” announced Tuesday that he will step down in March, on the 24th anniversary of taking over the job from Walter Cronkite.

The veteran anchor has been under fire in recent months for his role in a “60 Minutes Wednesday” story that questioned President Bush’s service in the National Guard, which turned out to be based on allegedly forged documents.

Rather, 73, said he will continue to work for CBS, as a correspondent for both editions of “60 Minutes.”

He made no mention of the National Guard story in announcing the change, saying he had agreed with CBS executives last summer that after the Nov. 2 election would be the right time to leave.

“I have always been and remain a ‘hard news’ investigative reporter at heart,” he said. “I now look forward to pouring my heart into that kind of reporting full time.”

No successor named
CBS did not mention a potential successor for Rather, who has been at CBS for more than four decades and made his name as a reporter covering the Nixon White House.

“He has been an eyewitness to the most important events for more than 40 years and played a crucial role in keeping the American public informed about those events and their larger significance,” CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves said.

A report on what went wrong with the National Guard story, from a two-man independent investigative panel, is due imminently. Rather anchored the story and initially defended it when it was criticized.

Changing of the anchor guard
Rather’s announcement comes eight days before his NBC rival, Tom Brokaw, steps down as “Nightly News” anchor and is replaced by Brian Williams (MSNBC is part of a joint venture between NBC and Microsoft).

The triumvirate of Rather, Brokaw and ABC’s Peter Jennings has ruled network news for more than two decades. Rather dominated ratings after taking over for Cronkite during the 1980s, but he was eclipsed first by Jennings and then by Brokaw. His evening news broadcast generally runs a distant third in the ratings each week.

His hard news style was mixed with a folksy Texan style that led him to rattle off homespun phrases on Election Night. But odd incidents dogged him: In 1987 he walked off the set, leaving CBS with dead air, to protest a decision to let a tennis match delay the news. And his claim that he was accosted on the street by a strange man saying, “What’s the frequency, Kenneth?” led rock band R.E.M. to write a song with the same name.
© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

I believe in holding people accountable for their mistakes. I think that Rather fucked up and should be setpping down, if not resigning, because of it.

Averett · 11-23-2004, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSelfDestruct

The great thing about being a moderator is that I can clean up my own dumb mistake and not feel quite as stupid.

And I only have the power to edit, so I'll just do this:

Averett · 11-23-2004, 10:18 AM

Rather/CBS news was the one that I never watched. Couldn't stand him or the CBS news in general. Just something about it...

Sucks that he'll probably be known for the whole President Bush/National Guard fiasco.

Ustwo · 11-23-2004, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Averett

Rather/CBS news was the one that I never watched. Couldn't stand him or the CBS news in general. Just something about it...

Sucks that he'll probably be known for the whole President Bush/National Guard fiasco.

He had more false stories then that, its just that the 'new media' rubs his nose in the guard memos, in the old days, he got away with it.

Bye, bye Dan.

ratbastid · 11-23-2004, 10:35 AM

It's funny that Rather is resigning in disgrace while Brokaw is all set to retire in a blaze of glory.

The media is the media. They all suck. They're all whores to the advertisers, hand-crafting stories that will capture the majority of the lowest-common-denominator viewer share. Rather just got caught.

Bill O'Rights · 11-23-2004, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSelfDestruct

The great thing about being a moderator is that I can clean up my own dumb mistake and not feel quite as stupid.

True. Very true. But, it only works if...you don't tell them...

paperwings · 11-23-2004, 10:41 AM

I wonder if it was really him stepping down or just being forced off after such a ridiculous 60 minutes report.

Blackthorn · 11-23-2004, 10:54 AM

WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY KENNETH?

Dan Rather shown here in a circa 1975 photo with Fidel Castro

He does bring a certain amount of entertainment to "journalistic integrity".

One of my favorite D.R. stories is the one where he doesn't want to pay the $12.00 cab fare he owes in NYC so the cabbie doesn't let him get out and he claims he was kidnapped.

Always a hoot that Rather guy...gonna miss him when he's gone.

World's King · 11-23-2004, 11:25 AM

Stepping down from what?

He's a TV personality. That's like saying the cast of Friends stepped down.

xxSquirtxx · 11-23-2004, 11:34 AM

Well hot damn! I might have an ounce of respect for him now.

OFKU0 · 11-23-2004, 11:55 AM

I liked his catchy phrases especially when he was on Letterman. Now John Roberts will take over I presume. I just can't look at Roberts without thinking back to when he was J.D Roberts interviewing Aerosmith on Canada's MuchMusic.

11-23-2004, 09:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	Wow...the end of an era. Still...you're right, it is time. __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

11-23-2004, 09:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
bendsley Professional Loafer Location: texas	GOOD, glad he's going. my $0.02 __________________ "You hear the one about the fella who died, went to the pearly gates? St. Peter let him in. Sees a guy in a suit making a closing argument. Says, "Who's that?" St. Peter says, "Oh, that's God. Thinks he's Denny Crane."

11-23-2004, 10:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
Averett Is In Love Location: I'm workin' on it	Rather/CBS news was the one that I never watched. Couldn't stand him or the CBS news in general. Just something about it... Sucks that he'll probably be known for the whole President Bush/National Guard fiasco. __________________ Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

11-23-2004, 10:54 AM	#11 (permalink)
Blackthorn Beware the Mad Irish Location: Wish I was on the N17...	WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY KENNETH? Dan Rather shown here in a circa 1975 photo with Fidel Castro He does bring a certain amount of entertainment to "journalistic integrity". One of my favorite D.R. stories is the one where he doesn't want to pay the $12.00 cab fare he owes in NYC so the cabbie doesn't let him get out and he claims he was kidnapped. Always a hoot that Rather guy...gonna miss him when he's gone. __________________ What are you willing to give up in order to get what you want? Last edited by kjroh; 11-23-2004 at 10:57 AM..

11-23-2004, 11:25 AM	#12 (permalink)
World's King Here Location: Denver City Denver	Stepping down from what? He's a TV personality. That's like saying the cast of Friends stepped down. __________________ heavy is the head that wears the crown

11-23-2004, 10:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	It's funny that Rather is resigning in disgrace while Brokaw is all set to retire in a blaze of glory. The media is the media. They all suck. They're all whores to the advertisers, hand-crafting stories that will capture the majority of the lowest-common-denominator viewer share. Rather just got caught.

11-23-2004, 10:41 AM	#10 (permalink)
paperwings Upright	I wonder if it was really him stepping down or just being forced off after such a ridiculous 60 minutes report.

11-23-2004, 11:34 AM	#13 (permalink)
xxSquirtxx More anal, less shenanigans Location: Always lurking	Well hot damn! I might have an ounce of respect for him now. __________________ .

11-23-2004, 11:55 AM	#14 (permalink)
OFKU0 Junk	I liked his catchy phrases especially when he was on Letterman. Now John Roberts will take over I presume. I just can't look at Roberts without thinking back to when he was J.D Roberts interviewing Aerosmith on Canada's MuchMusic. __________________ " In Canada, you can tell the most blatant lie in a calm voice, and people will believe you over someone who's a little passionate about the truth." David Warren, Western Standard.