Rather Goes from the Desk to the Door at CBS

Dan Rather is leaving the television network he has called home for 44 years. The intense reporter and anchor was the defining presence of the CBS Evening News show.

Rather stepped away from the networks' top anchor desk 15 months ago, after his story on President Bush's National Guard service had to be retracted. Now, Rather is parting with CBS for good -- months before his contract was set to expire.

Just over two years ago, on 60 Minutes Wednesday, Rather and producer Mary Mapes broke the scandal of the abuse of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. In September 2004, the duo combined again to question President Bush's military service record.

Rather strongly defended the reporting, even though the documents it relied on soon came under fire. The report was later retracted, and Rather announced he would be leaving the anchor's chair.

Mapes and other CBS journalists were fired. Rather was exiled to an office at 60 Minutes, with few story assignments.

The network has announced that it has reached an agreement for Rather to leave CBS at once, ahead of his contract. And in a separate statement, Rather told fans to stay tuned -- he's not done yet with journalism.

Reports have linked him to a high-definition cable network started by Texas businessman Mark Cuban.