Signing Off: A Brief History

THE FLAP OVER HIS 60 MINUTES report on President Bush’s National Guard service has marred Dan Rather’s retirement from the CBS Evening News after 24 years. But one thing you can be sure of: Rather–who once signed off from his newscast with the word “Courage”–will put some thought into his Wednesday-night farewell. He may even study some of the parting words of anchors past. –By Jeremy Caplan

“Those who have made anything of this departure, I’m afraid they’ve made too much. This is but a transition, a passing of the baton.” –WALTER CRONKITE, CBS EVENING NEWS, 1981

“It’s not the questions that get us in trouble. It’s the answers … I say thanks for all that I have learned from you. That’s been my richest reward.” –TOM BROKAW, NBC NIGHTLY NEWS, 2004

“On this, my last word here on ABC, I quote Shakespeare, who said, ‘All’s well that ends well.’ My time here now ends extremely well. Thank you.” –DAVID BRINKLEY, ABC’S THIS WEEK, 1997

“I have taken the good with the bad … In the end, I have just one question: How come I’m canceled and bin Laden is still on al-Jazeera?” –BILL MAHER, ABC’S POLITICALLY INCORRECT, 2002