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 ...
LOL - me 2
no no no...you are forgetting the inbred modus operandi of a liberal/socialist: always blame the other guy for your sins
More likely that Danny is sulking because he feels this show should be about him...and the realization that there likely wont be one about him in his lifetime
Agree. Rather has always been a buffoon. Cronkite was a smart, skillful propagandist for the left.
Both of these Democrat Party cheer leaders should be bound together with duct tape and dunked in the village pond. Only difference between'em: Cronkhite has a higher IQ than Rather, which ain't all that difficult.
At least Cronkite was shelved when he turned 65. Poumpous blowhard, that he is.
Are you sure the show is called "American Masters" and not "American B@stards?" The media makes their Gods and Kings. Look at JFK and Camolot. JFK as King Arthur....except I don't remember King Arthur boning Merlin of Monroe!
Handy says, "He was sulking like Achilles in his tent!"
LOL
YEp.
I read reports that even say the JFK was skonkered when the PT boat he was piloting got in the way of the Japanese boat that cut it in half. (hush hush)
But a real WW11 hero, ... The youngest pilot in the Navy when he received his wings, he flew 58 combat missions during World War II. On one mission over the Pacific as a torpedo bomber pilot he was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire and was rescued from the water by a U. S. submarine. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in action. " not to mention that AFTER his plane got hit, instead of turning to make a run for the safety of the ship offshore he CONTINUED on his bomb run, made the drop and only then made a run for safety. And because of the delay, the plane did not make it to the ship, but crashed into the ocean. Miraculously, he didn't die in the crash, but the enemy was in hot pursuit in a race to capture him before our ship could get to him. He was rescued by the skin of his teeth.
Who was this real hero? Aw, you already knew! George Herbert Walker Bush.
What WAS the name of the book, and the movie, and the TV special, and all the articles that were written ab out this REAL war hero?
waiting, waiting...
But you know...NOW would be a perfect time to get FOX, Rush, et all to do a special on this. He was the quintessential war hero = dashing, Hollywood handsome fighter pilot...And add photos of him at the time - along with photos of him and young Barbara Bush= she was gorgeous.
This would make a lot of folk sit up and reevaluate "W" - comes from good stock...(the subliminal message would be - 'unlike Carter, the Clintons, sKerry, Kennedy, etc)
getting plucked from the sea
Barbara (Pierce) Bush dances with her father
The wedding party, Mr and Mrs George H W Bush
"W" with little Jena
Couldn't resist the last one :o)
I AGREE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT. tRUTHFULLY, I BOUGHT THE BOOK SOME YEARS BACK BEFORE THE RECOUNT AND BEFORE I FIGURED OUT HE WAS SUCH A LIBERAL. HIS MIDWESTERN, MIDDLECLASS ROOTS REMINDED ME OF MY OWN, BUT OUR SIMILARITIES END THERE. HE'S REALLY NOTHING LIKE MY DAD OR GRANDPARENTS WHO SAW THREW ALL OF THAT CRAP.
correct!
I don't think it is or ever was about "Democrat Party cheer leading". It is more about the view from the Upper West Side, or the view from Malibu or Georgetown, or --- take your pick. That view usually coincided with the Democrats, but just as often the Democrats coincided with that view. It's a chicken-egg thing.
There is a sophisticated elite in this country/world who run in very close, tight nit circles. Those circles have their privileges but also their dues that must be paid in terms of conformity. Cronkite conformed, brilliantly, for several decades but in a vacuum where the only "critics" of his work were members of the same elite. Needless to say, they called him "the most trusted voice in America." He was reward handsomely for his conformity -- rewarded like ballplayers of movie stars. Who the hell were us peasants to question that fame and fortune? Those of us who were close to some of the stories he reported knew damn well he was a complete fraud, but we had no voice in those days -- no way to warn the others.
Rather was no where near as spectacular as "Uncle Walter" (and Uncle Ho was a far more honest man than either), but Gunga Dan had the misfortune of being made a total ass by a Freeper doing what most Freepers can do. Cronkite got away with the same crap for years and there was no way to break his defense shield in those days. The technological Glastnos that has occurred in America pretty much in parallel with the fall of the Soviets, doomed old Walter/Dan's audience to people even older than them.
The New York and DC aristocrats do not control the news or events today --- they just bitch about Limbaugh or the "Internet" while audience for each grow ever larger and the elite's "Old Grey Lady" subscriber base bleeds out.
And a Dim Bulb. Always was
Yep. Cronkite is no match for Rather's famous metaphors.
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