Robert Redford to Play Dan Rather in Bush Story Film

Robert Redford to Play Dan Rather in Bush Story Film

Veteran newsman Dan Rather, left, and Actor Robert Redford.

Thursday, 10 Jul 2014 02:57 PM

By John Blosser

http://www.newsmax.com/US/dan-rather-robert-redford-movie-cbs/2014/07/10/id/581931

Hollywood star Robert Redford plans to play veteran newsman Dan Rather in a film about the controversy that got the television newsman kicked off the "CBS Evening News" after 24 years as anchor.

The film is based on the book "Truth And Duty: The Press, the President and the Privilege of Power," by Mary Mapes, Rather’s producer at CBS the time, until "Rathergate" also brought her down.

On his website, Rather wrote, "I do know that Mary Mapes wrote a great book and that Redford and Cate Blanchett, who is to play Mapes, are incredible talents. I've always been impressed by what Esquire magazine described as Redford's "faith in film as truth telling.

"And partly because of that I am pleased that he's agreed to take on the challenge of trying to make a film about political and corporate interference with truth-telling investigative journalism."

Rather, 82, ran afoul of CBS over a 2004 "60 Minutes" report he anchored about President George W. Bush receiving special treatment that allowed him to serve in the Air National Guard rather than being drafted into service in the Vietnam war. When the documents on which the story was based came under suspicion of being forgeries, Rather retired from CBS.

However, as Mediaite reports, he still stands by the story, telling Piers Morgan, "With our story, the one that led to our difficulty, no question the story was true."

Rather, who went so far in 2007 as to file a $70 million lawsuit against CBS which was later dismissed, has since appeared on "Dan Rather Reports" on AXS TV.

The film project has yet to attract funding and Rather commented on his website, "A long life has taught me that he who lives by the crystal ball learns to eat a lot of broken glass; so who knows if the movie will actually get made."

Dan Rather

Dan Rather is a trustee at the Paley Center for Media, and was an anchor for the CBS News.

Note: Norman Lear was a trustee emeritus at the Paley Center for Media, is a director at People for the American Way, and married to Lyn Davis Lear.

Lyn Davis Lear is married to Norman Lear, and a trustee at the Sundance Institute.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for People for the American Way, the Sundance Institute, and the Aspen Institute (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Robert Redford is the founder & president of the Sundance Institute, and plans to play veteran newsman Dan Rather.

Geoffrey K. Sands is a trustee at the Sundance Institute, and a trustee at the Paley Center for Media.

Patricia E. Mitchell is the vice chair for the Sundance Institute, and the president & CEO for the Paley Center for Media.

Cesar R. Conde is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a trustee at the Paley Center for Media.

James S. Crown is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Lester Crown was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

William M. Daley is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, a contributor for the CBS News, and was the chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration.

Barbara Walters was a writer for the CBS News, and is a trustee at the Paley Center for Media.

Walter L. Cronkite was the anchorman for the CBS News, and a member of the Bohemian Club.

Henry A. Kissinger is a member of the Bohemian Club, a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), a trustee at the Paley Center for Media, was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

CBS News is a subsidiary of CBS.

Philippe P. Dauman was a director at CBS, and is a trustee at the Paley Center for Media.

Leslie Moonves is the president & CEO & director for CBS, and a trustee at the Paley Center for Media.

Howard Stringer was the president of CBS, and is a trustee at the Paley Center for Media.

William S. Paley was the chairman for CBS, and the founder of the Paley Center for Media.

Dan Rather is a trustee at the Paley Center for Media, and was an anchor for the CBS News.

CBS News is a subsidiary of CBS.

Sundance Channel is a partner with CBS.

Robert Redford is a partner with the Sundance Channel, the founder & president for the Sundance Institute, and plans to play veteran newsman Dan Rather.