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NEW YORK — Veteran newsman Dan Rather (search) announced Tuesday that he would step down as anchor of 'CBS Evening News' in March, the 24th anniversary of his taking over the job from Walter Cronkite. The move comes just months after Rather, 73, was taken to task for going to air with a controversial '60 Minutes II' story that questioned President Bush's service in the National Guard, a piece that turned out to be based on allegedly forged documents. Rather said he would continue to work for CBS News as a correspondent for both editions of '60 Minutes.' 'I have always been and remain a 'hard news' investigative reporter at heart,' he said. 'I now look forward to pouring my heart into that kind of reporting full time.' Rather spoke to his viewers about his exit midway through his evening newscast Tuesday. 'It has been, and remains, an honor to be welcomed into your homes in the evening and I thank you for the trust you have given me,' he said. Rather made no mention of the National Guard story in announcing the change, saying he had agreed with CBS executives last summer that the right time to leave would be after the Nov. 2 election. 'I think he's probably ready to do it. It's a good thing to do. He's about 15 years after [Walter] Cronkite stepped down ... so he's had a good run and it's been great,' CBS colleague Andy Rooney told reporters. David Blum, author of this year's 'Tick... Tick... Tick...: The Long Life & Turbulent Times of '60 Minutes,'' told FOX News that CBS had wanted Rather to step out of the anchor chair for some time. 'CBS always wanted, at least in recent years, to move Rather out, bring in a successor and shore up the ratings. They've been in the third position for a while now. Nothing really happened that wasn't anticipated,' he said. CBS did not mention a potential successor for Rather, who has been at CBS for more than four decades and made his name as a reporter covering the Nixon White House. 'He has been an
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