CNN

May 1st, 2012

Dan Rather on the George W. Bush memos: “We reported a true story. That’s the reason I’m no longer at CBS News”

On Tuesday evening, “Piers Morgan Tonight” welcomed legendary journalist Dan Rather, and his remarkable blend of insight and perspective.

Joining Piers Morgan for a live, face to face interview, the longtime “CBS Evening News” anchor and “60 Minutes” correspondent opened up about the much-scrutinized 2004 report on George W. Bush‘s Air National Guard service record:

“We reported a true story. That’s the reason I’m no longer at CBS News,” revealed Rather. “Those who found the story uncomfortable for their partisan political purposes attacked us at what they knew to be the weakest point, which was the documents.”

The “60 Minutes Wednesday” segment focused on a series of memos discovered in the files of Bush’s commanding officer. Though their authenticity has long been questioned, Rather noted that the documents, and his report, have stood up:

“I believed it at the time, or I wouldn’t have put them on. I believed it ever since, and believe it to this day. And I remark, the longer we go and nobody comes forward with proof that the documents were not what they report to be, the more I believe it.”

Watch the clip, and listen to the interview, as the author of the a book, “Rather Outspoken: My Life In The News,” shared details of the conversation he had with Bush following the much-publicized incident.