Dan Rather returns to CBS News after a bitter departure 18 years ago

NEW YORK (AP) — Dan Slightly 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,” Slightly left below a cloud following a botched investigation into then-President George W. Bush’s navy report. Slightly 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, Slightly basically grew to become a nonperson on the information division he dominated for many years.

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

Slightly escaped official blame for the report that questioned Bush’s Vietnam Conflict-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 based mostly, though many individuals concerned within the story nonetheless imagine it was true.

Within the documentary “Slightly,” debuting Wednesday on Netflix, Slightly stated he thought he would survive the incident, however his spouse, Jean, advised him, “You bought right into a battle with the president of the US throughout his reelection marketing campaign. What did you suppose was going to occur?”

Slightly 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 turn into 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 as we speak 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,” Slightly stated within the CBS interview, filmed at his dwelling in Texas. “And I needed to remain within the recreation.”

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

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

“In the long run, no matter stays of 1’s life — household, pals — these are going to be the issues for which you’re remembered,” he stated.

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David Bauder writes about media for The Related Press. Follow him at