The 74-year-old Rather has complained of being virtually forgotten at CBS Corp. since his exit as anchor last year, six months after a discredited story on President Bush's military service.
Rather was both gracious and blunt in a statement about his departure.
"I appreciate the words and gestures contained in today's press release by CBS," the statement began.
"I leave CBS News with tremendous memories. But I leave now most of all with the desire to once again do regular, meaningful reporting. My departure before the term of my contract represents CBS's final acknowledgement, after a protracted struggle, that they had not lived up to their obligation to allow me to do substantive work there. As for their offers of a future with only an office but no assignments, it just isn't in me to sit around doing nothing. So I will do the work I love elsewhere, and I look forward to sharing details about that soon."
The network also said it had made a contribution to Rather's alma mater, Sam Houston State University.
The Texan has worked at CBS News since 1962, covering stories ranging from the Kennedy assassination to the 2001 terrorist attacks. He was the "CBS Evening News" anchor who replaced Walter Cronkite in 1981 until signing off with the admonition "courage" on March 9, 2005.
Rather apparently hadn't even seen the report questioning Bush's Vietnam-era National Guard service before introducing it on the air in September 2004. When CBS News couldn't substantiate the story following questions about its sources, Rather became a symbol of the incident even as he escaped official blame.
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http://stuffdaddy.blogspot.com/2006/06/dan-rather-song.html The Dan Rather Song by Jared Lucas Nathanson I think we are all sorry, that you're leaving CBS, Honestly, we thought you left in 04, I confess. I understand your move, since they took your anchor chair away, After 44 long years you didn't want to stay. Growing up with you, there on the TV was sublime, I honestly saw you as "Cronkite Junior" at one time. You seemed so filled with passion for the news when I was ten, When I turned twenty, you were rehearsed, like all other newsmen. Once you lost your sincerity, for me that's when you left, They forced you past your principles into a public death. You cried like a baby at 9/11 and said it was honestly, But that's not what you told the BBC. If you'd faced this George Bush story, when you were in your prime, America would've loved you more, they would have drawn the line. But Dan, Republicans knew that your documents couldn't prove the case, Carl Rove shredded the real ones back during the Texas Governor's race. So CBS, in its new form, doesn't want you on TV, Next to Katie Couric, you're not what they call cuddly. If you stay, a desk is all they promise you will get, But is it wise to trust Mark Cuban and go to HDNet? For all your mistakes, I'll say this Dan, you really don't deserve, To leave in shame, a footnote of when CBS lost their nerve, Somewhere you'll always be in that green flak jacket you had, Sometime when you're still our TV NewsDad. So if you're really leaving, but you still want to be heard, Cast off the sad assumptions of what modern news has learned, And for us, be that Newsman that you were always meant to be, You can say whatever you want, now that you are free! And take a page from Cronkite before you're through, He doesn't give a fuck about CBS, George Bush or you! Goodbye Dan!!
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