NEW YORK – Legendary newsman Dan Rather’s career at CBS is over, and could officially come to a close next week.
“The finishing details are being put on a final arrangement, which will end my 44-plus years at CBS News,” Rather, 74, said Thursday.
But he doesn’t expect to be away from journalism for very long.
Rather’s deal with the network was to expire in November. However, everything heated up Thursday after an unnamed CBS executive told the Washington Post there was “no room” for him at “60 Minutes.”
“Under all those circumstances,” Rather said, “I’m going to move onto the next step of my career.”
But for now, Rather waits for his agent, Richard Leibner, and CBS officials to hammer out an exit deal.
“Had it worked out for me, to be an important contributor at “60 Minutes’ or any other report at CBS News,” Rather said, “I would have liked that.”
A CBS News spokeswoman had no comment on Rather’s situation Thursday.
Going out like this ends what has been a sour year and a half for Rather.
He was pressured to step down as anchor of the “CBS Evening News” in March 2005, a year earlier than he would have liked, after a faulty “60 Minutes II” report on President Bush’s time in the National Guard.
It was announced that he would contribute to “60 II.” But then that show was canceled, leaving Rather only to work on the main “60 Minutes,” where some of his colleagues had said the National Guard mistake would never have happened.
This year, Rather has done eight pieces; a regular correspondent for the show does 18 to 20.
“The work at “60 Minutes’ hasn’t worked out the way I’d hoped it would,” he admitted.
Next season, the “60 Minutes” reporting contingent will include Katie Couric, who will also anchor the “CBS Evening News,” and CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
Couric is set to arrive in September, and it appears that CBS executives want Rather out the door before then.
“I feel lucky and blessed with good health and high energy,” Rather said. “I want to do meaningful work. I want to be fully occupied. I want to work in real news, hard news.”
Rather said there are some opportunities available down the road, which he couldn’t discuss.
“I’m not a rest-and-relax person,” Rather said. “I want to get to it, and I intend to get to it quickly. I’ve had a wonderful run at CBS.”
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