Dan Rather

A New York appellate division unanimously dismissed Rather's remaining action against CBS, finding, notably, that the network had continued paying his contractual salary. In January 2010, the Court of Appeals refused to reinstate the claim.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is the complainant

Rather sued CBS and several executives for $70 million, alleging, among other things, breach of contract and scapegoating following the report on Bush. He maintained that CBS had mishandled the aftermath and marginalised him to appease political and corporate pressure.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is the complainant

The independent panel commissioned by CBS concluded that preparing and defending the report violated fundamental journalistic principles, identified serious deficiencies and criticised the programme's initially "rigid" defence. Several executives or producers left CBS.

State of the evidence

Documented

Rather announced in November 2004 that he would leave the CBS Evening News anchor chair in March 2005. The timing fuelled speculation about a link to the Bush documents scandal, although he said the departure had previously been agreed with CBS.

State of the evidence

Disputed

Attribution

Directly implicated

Rather presented a report claiming that new documents supported criticism of George W. Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard. After their authenticity and provenance were challenged, CBS acknowledged that it could not authenticate them and said using them had been a mistake. Rather apologised.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Rather was the headline guest at a Travis County Democratic Party fundraiser in Texas that raised approximately $20,000. CBS reiterated that its standards prohibited correspondents from participating in partisan fundraising events.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Rather closely questioned Vice-President George H. W. Bush about his knowledge of the Iran-Contra affair. The exchange became confrontational, with Bush attacking Rather over the US Open incident and both men interrupting one another.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Rather temporarily left the CBS Evening News studio after the network decided to let a US Open match run beyond its scheduled time. When the sports broadcast ended earlier than expected, CBS aired approximately six minutes of dead air.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

During a public exchange, Nixon responded to a question from Rather by asking whether he was "running for something"; Rather turned the question back on the President. The incident angered the White House, and several CBS affiliates called for his resignation according to CBS retrospectives.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated