Kenneth to step down from CBS Evening News

Dan "What's the Frequency Kenneth" Rather will be stepping down from the anchor chair of the CBS Evening News in March, 24 years after assuming the role of anchor and managing editor from Walter Cronkite.

Rather's been under major fire after several reports critical of President Bush, the truth and veracity of which were questionable at best.

"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. Along the way, I've had the honor of working with some of the most talented, dedicated professionals in the world, and I'm appreciative of the opportunity to continue doing so in the years ahead," Rather said in a statement.

Kenneth didn't mention the "Rathergate" scandal in his statement, though critics will most likely point to that as a part of the reason for the announcement.

He'll continue as a correspondent to 60 Minutes, and will likely contribute other reports to the network. There's been rampant speculation as late as yesterday that Rather might anchor an 8P ET newscast for CNN, but no word one way or the other on that front (even though former Rather-boss Jonathan Klein is taking over as head honcho for CNN's domestic newsroom).

CBS has not named a successor to Rather, but most pundits point toward Chief White House Correspondent John Roberts as the most likely candidate for the center seat.

Rather's departure comes on the heels of next week's retirement of long-time NBC anchor Tom Brokaw, who will be replaced in the anchor chair on the NBC Nightly News by Brian Williams.

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