Posted on 02/17/2005 11:42:49 AM PST by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK - CBS will televise a one-hour prime-time tribute to Dan Rather the night he leaves the evening news anchor chair, and its producer says it won't avoid the story that has clouded his final days on the job.
"Dan Rather: A Reporter Remembers" will air 8 p.m. EST on March 9, an hour after he anchors his final evening newscast after 24 years, the network announced Thursday.
Rather, 73, will talk about last fall's ill-fated "60 Minutes Wednesday" story about President Bush (news - web sites)'s military service, said Susan Zirinsky, the show's executive producer. CBS fired the story's producer and asked for the resignations of three executives because it could not authenticate documents used in the story.
"We're not going to shy away from dealing with his issues," Zirinsky said. "We'll deal with them and so will he. It's going to be a full picture."
The memoir will look back on the stories Rather has covered in a CBS News career that began in 1962. He's been on the scene for big stories from the Kennedy assassination to the Iraqi elections last month.
Despite 24 years as the evening news anchorman, Rather has always considered himself a reporter first and foremost, Zirinsky said. Not remaining deskbound is one of his proudest legacies, she said.
"The real job to him — and that's what will come through in this — is in the field," she said. "He loves to be eyeball to eyeball. He needs to see it, feel it, hear it, taste it."
Producers have found some remarkable footage, she said.
While reporting in Vietnam in 1965, Rather helped carry a wounded soldier to a helicopter and held a tourniquet to stop his bleeding — but the footage was never aired at his request.
Although Rather has been a favorite target of conservatives since his days going toe-to-toe with President Nixon, he's been an equal opportunity questioner, Zirinsky said.
"I think what this will show is the breadth of a man and his commitment to truth," she said.
Starting Feb. 28, the "CBS Evening News" will air an eight-part series in which Rather looks back at the most significant stories he's covered.
NBC offered Tom Brokaw a two-hour prime-time send-off when he stepped down as "Nightly News" anchorman last year. But Brokaw went out on a wave of good will, on top of the ratings, while Rather's show is a distant third and executives are mulling a dramatic revamp. Bob Schieffer will temporarily replace Rather starting March 10.
And the fallout from the Guard story continues to linger: the three executives asked to resign on Jan. 10 have yet to do so, with either a legal settlement or court fight looming. CBS would not comment on their status.
Rather is not retiring. He intends to keep reporting for "60 Minutes Wednesday," although there's some question whether the newsmagazine spinoff will continue beyond this season.
"I took on this piece because I wanted people to understand the breadth of his career," Zirinksy said. "This is not a last chapter. He's moving forward. The way to get over whatever discomfort he has felt because of this story is to keep moving."
In this file photo supplied by CBS, Dan Rather stands outside the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas in June, 1967. The building is where assassin Lee Harvey Oswald was hiding when he shot and killed President John F. Kennedy in 1963. CBS will televise a one-hour prime-time tribute to Dan Rather on March 9, the night he leaves the evening news anchor chair. He's been on the scene for big stories ranging from the Kennedy assassination to the Iraqi elections last month..(AP Photo/ CBS)
Which side was the soldier on?
First CBS's Dan Rather, seen here, then CNN's Eason Jordan, Internet bloggers have come of age as media watchdogs with their part in the downfall of these influential, high-profile media heads(AFP/File/Stan Honda)
"Just Damn"?
Don't you just love CBS? Thank God almighty they are on the other side.
yawn - what's a CBS?
Just damn.
If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
We will be doing a live thread for this tribute.....it should be a laugh a minute.
Best tagline I've ever read!!!
I plan to do a "Rather" (i.e. 15-minute blackout because the game ran over) when this turkey airs...
I'm thinking of the scene in "Chicago" where Richard Gere spins out a complicated line of bulls*** in the courtroom while tap-dancing at a furious pace hoping no one notices how lame the story is.
It was never aired b/c the soldier kept saying, "Put me down you dam coward!"
I think I'm gonna barf -- better check myself into the hospital, ala Michael Jackson!
I'll be busy that night - need to clean kitty litter boxes, clip my toenails, wash my hair, and watch the paint dry.
This is bound to get at least a 0.5 share for CBS. They might even beat Keith Olberman.
Cosmic events like this come around about as often as a month with 2 blue moons... that happened not so long ago.. btw. ;-)
I'll be looking for alternative programming as well, but the Live thread sounds like some cheap fun..
speaking of cheap , that is what CBS's legal defense costs will NOT be for battling the CBS folks that now refuse to take one in the back for the CBS bigwigs over the latest RatherGate scandal.
The lead-in will be a 15 minute tribute to Mary Mapes.
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