- Dan Rather is returning to CBS News for the first time since his controversial exit in 2006, appearing on CBS Sunday Morning.
- Rather’s departure was marked by a scandal over a 2004 report for 60 Minutes II on President George W. Bush’s military record, leading to his being labeled as the scapegoat and suing the network.
- The incident was dramatized in the 2015 film “Truth,” with CBS refusing to accept advertising for the film.
- Rather maintains that his exit was a result of being scapegoated for the fallout from the 60 Minutes II report, despite the Bush administration disputing the authenticity of the documents cited in the story.
Newsypeople- Dan Rather, the legendary newsman and former anchor of CBS News, is making a significant return to the network after an 18-year absence. This return comes in the form of an interview on “CBS Sunday Morning,” where he will be discussing his work at CBS and his life in news. The interview will be conducted by Lee Cowan and is set to air on April 25, 2024.
Rather’s departure from CBS News in 2006 was marked by a controversy surrounding a “60 Minutes II” report he aired in 2004. The report was about allegations that then-President George W. Bush had gone AWOL during part of his time in the Texas Air National Guard.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/Dan-Rather41-11052019-3df3db67e1764eaab0b0e8a987a049cc.jpg "Dan Rather has returned to CBS News after an 18-year absence")
The Bush administration disputed the authenticity of the documents cited in the report, leading to an investigation that concluded the piece disregarded “fundamental journalistic principles.” However, the documents were never proven to be forgeries.
The controversy, dubbed “Rathergate,” led to Rather’s removal from the anchor desk in 2005 and his subsequent firing in 2006. Mary Mapes, the producer of the report, and three other news executives were also let go from CBS as a result of their involvement with the story. The incident was dramatized in the 2015 film “Truth,” with Cate Blanchett portraying Mapes and Robert Redford playing Rather. CBS reportedly refused to run advertising for the movie, which was based on Mapes’ memoir “Truth and Duty”.
Despite the controversy, Rather has maintained that his ousting was a result of being scapegoated for the fallout from the report. He has since become an active presence on social media, calling out former President Donald Trump for misdeeds. Rather has expressed no grudges against CBS over the incident, stating in a 2023 interview that he holds no resentment towards the network.
Rather return to CBS News is also being celebrated with the release of a documentary titled “Rather,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and will be available on Netflix starting May 1. The documentary chronicles Rather’s rise to prominence, his public downfall, and his redemption and re-emergence as a voice of reason to a new generation.
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