• by David Kaplan , November 23, 2004

Now that NBC's Tom Brokaw is making his final farewells as he vacates the anchor seat Dec. 1, Dan Rather announced Tuesday that he will step down as anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News" on March 9, 2005--24 years after his first broadcast in that position. Rather will continue to work full-time at CBS News as a correspondent for both editions of "60 Minutes," as well as on other assignments for the division. "I have been lucky and blessed over these years to have what is, to me, the best job in the world and to have it at CBS News," said Rather in a statement. Rather, who spent 24 years in the anchor seat, said he began discussing stepping down from the post this past summer.

As he has so many times throughout his career, Rather found himself overshadowing his own story when the authenticity of documents used in support of a "60 Minutes" story about President Bush's time in the Texas Air National Guard was deemed fraudulent. After the scandal about whether the documents were false or not simmered for days, CBS News eventually vowed to re-examine the documents in question--and their source--vigorously. In the end, the documents were indeed false.

Another famous episode occurred in March 1973, when he stood to ask a question of President Nixon, who was in the midst of the Watergate scandal, at a press conference. Nixon angrily tried to deflect Rather's query by saying: "Are you running for something?" to which Rather retorted: "No, Mr. President, are you?"

Lastly, there were his--love 'em or hate 'em, or both--quirky figures of speech, sundry outbursts, and bizarre non-sequiters known as Ratherisms. Some favorites from the last election:

"This race is hotter than a Times Square Rolex." "His lead is as thin as turnip soup." "This race is hotter than the devil's anvil." "Ohio becomes like a sauna for the two candidates. All they can do is wait and sweat." "One's reminded of that old saying, 'Don't taunt the alligator until after you've crossed the creek.'" "This situation in Ohio would give an aspirin a headache." "Bush is sweeping through the South like a big wheel through a cotton field." "No question now that Kerry's rapidly reaching the point where he's got his back to the wall, his shirttails on fire, and the bill collector's at the door." "Let's see where it goes from here. Round and round it goes, where it stops nobody knows." "We used to say if a frog had side pockets, he'd carry a handgun." "No one is saying that George Bush is not going to win the election, and if you had to bet the double-wide, you'd have to bet that he'd win." "In Southern states they beat him like a rented mule." "If you try to read the tea leaves before the cup is done you can get yourself burned."

Perhaps one of the strangest episodes in Rather's career happened one night in October 1986. While walking down a Manhattan street, Rather was punched from behind and thrown to the ground. His assailant kicked and beat him while repeating, "Kenneth, what is the frequency?"

Rumors abounded. Some speculated the assailant was a KGB agent, while others claimed the attack was the work of a jealous husband. Rather himself couldn't shed any light on the subject, saying he thought he'd simply been mugged.

As the mystery continued, the incident inspired the 1994 hit by the band REM. As lead singer and songwriter Michael Stipe explained, "It remains the premier unsolved American surrealist act of the 20th century. It's a misunderstanding that was scarily random, media hyped, and just plain bizarre."

Being a good sport, Rather even accompanied the band when they performed the song on a "Late Show With David Letterman" appearance.

In 1997, the mystery was solved. Based on a tip from a psychiatrist, Rather's attacker was identified as William Tager, a deranged man who was serving time for the shocking midday killing of an NBC stagehand in New York. Tager blamed news media for beaming signals into his head, and thought if he could just find out the "correct frequency," he could block those signals that were constantly assailing him.