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You wrote: Couric denied it, and said the transcripts proved Coulter was wrong. Couric read portions of the transcript. On this point, 80 percent of the viewing public had to believe Coulter had slandered Couric.

"Good morning. The Gipper was an airhead! . That's one of the conclusions of a new biography of Ronald Reagan that's drawing a tremendous amount of interest and fire today, Monday, September the 27th, 1999."
Katie Couric, Today show co-host

I'm sorry, but the transcripts prove that Couric DID bash Reagan with her opening quip on Morris' book. She LIED by saying that "Reagan was an airhead" was one of the conclusions of the author of that book, when it wasn't. The transcripts prove that Ann was right in pointing out that incident as an example of the TOADY show's liberal bias.

Your own post proves my point. Morris mentioned in his book that he had thought Reagan an "apparent airhead." The Today Show wasn't the only one that played that up when the book was released, nor was it the only thing Morris said about Reagan that was unflattering. The Today Show played up the apparent conclusions of the author, no doubt to create interest in, and boost ratings for, the Morris interview.
You need to recall that Morris spent a lot of time with the Reagans in writing the book, and the Reagans felt betrayed by the result. The book was viewed, at least by the Reagans, as unflattering. Morris backed off much of what he had written when he was interviewed by Couric, no doubt in response to the wave of criticism levelled his way.
You can be critical of the Today Show and other media generally for the frequent attempts to sensationalize the news simply to boost ratings. But the promos for the Morris interview resulted from Morris's statements in his book.
Couric noted that Nancy Reagan called her personally after the Morris interview to THANK HER for confronting Morris and helping to clear the air. Certainly Nancy Reagan didn't think Couric had set out to bash Reagan. So why did you?