Once dominant at CBS News before a bitter departure, Dan Rather makes his first return in 18 years

NEW YORK — Dan Quite returned to the CBS Information airwaves for the primary time since his bitter exit 18 years in the past, showing in a reflective interview on “CBS Sunday Morning” days earlier than the debut of a Netflix documentary on the 92-year-old newsman’s life.

After 44 years on the community, 24 as anchor of the “CBS Night Information,” Quite left below a cloud following a botched investigation into then-President George W. Bush’s navy report. Quite signed off as anchor for the final time on March 9, 2005, and exited the community when his contract ended 15 months later.

With continued enmity between him and since-deposed CBS chief Leslie Moonves, Quite basically turned a nonperson on the information division he dominated for many years.

“With out apology or rationalization, I miss CBS,” Quite informed correspondent Lee Cowan within the interview that aired Sunday. “I’ve missed it because the day I left.”

Quite escaped official blame for the report that questioned Bush’s Vietnam Struggle-era Nationwide Guard service however, because the anchor who launched it, was recognized with it. CBS couldn’t vouch for the authenticity of some paperwork upon which the report was primarily based, though many individuals concerned within the story nonetheless consider it was true.

Within the documentary “Quite,” debuting Wednesday on Netflix, Quite mentioned he thought he would survive the incident, however his spouse, Jean, informed him, “You bought right into a struggle with the president of the USA throughout his reelection marketing campaign. What did you assume was going to occur?”

Quite didn’t retire after leaving CBS, doing investigative journalism and rock star interviews for HDNet, a digital cable and satellite tv for pc tv community. Over the previous few years, he has grow to be recognized to a brand new technology as a tart-talking presence on social media.

This previous week, he posted on X throughout former President Trump’s hush cash trial: “Is it simply me or did right this moment appear sleazy even for Donald Trump?”

“You both get engaged and also you get engaged within the new phrases … otherwise you’re out of the sport,” Quite mentioned within the CBS interview, filmed at his dwelling in Texas. “And I wished to remain within the recreation.”

The Netflix documentary traces his profession from protection of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the Vietnam Struggle and Watergate, via his anchor years and past. It contains a number of the then tightly-wound Quite’s odder incidents, together with an assault in New York Metropolis by somebody saying, “What is the frequency, Kenneth,” then later showing onstage with R.E.M. when the group carried out its track of the identical title.

In each the documentary and within the CBS interview, Quite bypasses his profession when speak turned to his legacy.

“Ultimately, no matter stays of 1’s life — household, mates — these are going to be the issues for which you are remembered,” he mentioned.

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David Bauder writes about media for The Related Press. Observe him at http://twitter.com/dbauder