Rather signs off with 'courage'

NEW YORK — Dan Rather echoed a word he once briefly used to sign off the "CBS Evening News" — courage — in anchoring the program for the final time after 24 years on Wednesday.

In a brief statement at the end of the broadcast, Rather paid tribute to Sept. 11 terrorist victims, tsunami survivors, American military forces, the oppressed, those in failing health and fellow journalists in dangerous places.

"And, to each of you," he said. "Courage."

He seemed to savor each word of his signoff: "For the 'CBS Evening News,' Dan Rather reporting. Good night."

Rather's reporting career spanned the Kennedy assassination to this winter's tsunami, and he's been the public face of CBS's legendary news division since replacing Walter Cronkite on March 9, 1981.

His first newscast included a story about English girls imitating the hairstyle of Prince Charles' bride-to-be, Diana. On Wednesday, the lead story was oil prices causing a bad day on Wall Street.

He's the second of the three men who dominated network news for more than two decades to step down in four months. NBC's Tom Brokaw exited in November, leaving ABC's Peter Jennings remaining at "World News Tonight."

Bob Schieffer is Rather's temporary replacement starting today. CBS expects to name a permanent anchor team to succeed Rather in the coming months.

Rather, 73, is returning to full-time reporting for CBS's "60 Minutes" broadcasts.

He flashed a steadfast defiance in reminding viewers of the phrase "courage." He was mocked by some for using the word to end his broadcasts for a week in September 1986 before giving up on the idea.

For its first 20 minutes, Rather's final broadcast was all business. No one — Rather or correspondents John Roberts and Anthony Mason — acknowledged it was a special night. Rather wore a dark blue pinstriped suit and striped red tie. His voice was hoarse.

His exit comes at a low ebb in his career. Rather took much of the public blame for a discredited "60 Minutes" story last fall about President Bush's military service, and he's a distant third in the ratings behind NBC's Brian Williams and Jennings.

He has been a target for decades of conservatives who accuse the media of bias, since his coverage of the Nixon White House during the Watergate era, and many have exulted in his recent misfortunes.

But he had his supporters, too.