--one final mawkish maudlin preening MacArthuresque "old reporters never die" (or Nixonian "I am not a forger") farewell speech before he rides into the sunset...Source says Dan Rather nearing CBS exit
By DAVID BAUDER
The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Dan Rather, who has been working at "60 Minutes" since leaving as "CBS Evening News" anchor last year, apparently is in his final days at CBS News.
CBS executives and Rather's representatives appear close to a deal that will end Rather's association with CBS News after more than 40 years, according to an executive knowledgeable about the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Thursday.
Rather, 74, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he has had no conversations about continuing at "60 Minutes" beyond the television season that ended last month. Another story published Thursday in The Washington Post quotes CBS executives who declined to be identified that network bosses have concluded there is no future role at CBS for Rather. [...]
Rather told the Inquirer that he has had no conversation with McManus — other than twice saying hello when they saw each other at functions — since McManus took over in October.
"We've had no conversations about carrying on at `60 Minutes,'" Rather said. "My position is, I want to work. Maybe it's my hubris, but I still think there are things I can contribute, and I want an opportunity to do that."
He told the newspaper that while he would like to stay at CBS News, "the question is whether they have anything for me to do that I think is meaningful." [...]
Yes, that is quite a question there, Dan, quite a question, indeed. "Courage," old fellow. Posted by Terry Oglesby at June 15, 2006 01:28 PMRaising the corollary question, "Is anything you've done in the last 40 years meaningful to anyone but the tinfoil hat brigade."
Posted by: Skinnydan at June 15, 2006 02:50 PMWell, that right there is why Aunt Martha never sits on the porch when it's thundering.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 15, 2006 03:34 PM