Source Says Dan Rather Nearing CBS Exit

[Omaha Steve]

Source Says Dan Rather Nearing CBS Exit
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Jun 15, 1:25 PM (ET)

By DAVID BAUDER


NEW YORK (AP) - Dan Rather, who has been working at "60 Minutes" since leaving as "CBS Evening News" anchor last year, apparently is in his final days at CBS News.

CBS executives and Rather's representatives appear close to a deal that will end Rather's association with CBS News after more than 40 years, according to an executive knowledgeable about the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Thursday.

Rather, 74, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he has had no conversations about continuing at "60 Minutes" beyond the television season that ended last month. Another story published Thursday in The Washington Post quotes CBS executives who declined to be identified that network bosses have concluded there is no future role at CBS for Rather.

CBS News President Sean McManus would not comment on the reports Thursday, a spokeswoman said. Rather did not immediately return a call to his office.

Rather stepped down in March 2005 after 24 years as CBS' anchorman. He took much of the public blame for a discredited 2004 story that questioned President Bush's military service, an episode that clouded his final months on the job.

Full story: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060615/D8I8PGAG0.html

[stop the bleeding]

1. the end of an era

may your journeys be good ones Mr. Rather

[napi21]

2. Perhapse they can't afford him, but I'd love to see Dan replace

Scarborough, Rita Cosby, Larry King, Paula Zahn, etc! on the cable networks!

[cboy4]

3. If true, CBS should absolutely be ashamed of the way its treating

Dan Rather.

He makes one indirect mistake after being with the company for more than 40 years, and this is he thanks he gets.

Even NBC allows Tom Brokaw to hang around and do reports now and then.

[LibDemAlways]

4. It was shameful how Rather was

"swiftboated" over his reporting of the AWOL story. I hope he writes a tell-all book and makes millions exposing how he was done in by the whores in the CBS boardroom.

[bigluckyfeet]

5. I know longer watch

CBS news,and I wrote and told them so.

[leQ]

11. i haven't stopped watching cbs news, but i certainly look at 'em

with a lot more cynicism. i haven't quite figure out if schieffer is pro-bush or not, but it's better than nbc or abc. i think nbc and abc are shills for this adminsitration. they certainly aren't watchdogs... more like lapdogs.

[aaronbees]

14. Yes, yes it was...

An inglorious end to a great career ... though I think he'll pop up somewhere and do some good work. If I recall correctly, Edward R. Murrow's end at CBS was similarly turbulent. A real shame for reporters that (usually) got it right.

[tsuki]

16. It was.

[wicket]

6. Well, that does it, no more CBS news for me

He's always been the only reason to watch.

[RedStateShame]

7. Definition of "Perpetual Motion":

Edward R. Murrow's grave when Katie Couric gets behind an anchor's desk.

[Psephos]

9. lol n/t

[MrTriumph]

8. "I trust this president." That was Dan's jump the perch, er, shark moment

x

[AndyTiedye]

10. He Was The Last Gasp of Real Journalism On Our Networks. It's Over Now.

[Raine]

12. It was real 'classy' of CBS

to allow Rather to continue on 60 Minutes Two when they already were planning on canceling it. x( DISGRACEFUL!

[nealmhughes]

13. maybe Moyers will hire him after the revolution when he gets the

2 hour show at PBS...

[Rex]

15. 60 minutes was a thorn in the BFEEs side.

So Dan Rather gets the boot after 24 years of loyal service. So why does Rather get the shaft, when George Bush lied in the State of the Union speech to Congress? I guess that one gets a pass, 'cuz thats different'.