Critics pounced on the question of authenticity of documents and CBS was forced to apologize.
The furor, nicknamed Rathergate, eventually cost Rather his anchor chair with the connection.
OnCNNsReliable Sourceson Sunday, he said, They couldnt attack us on the facts.
Credit: Paul Andrew Hawthorne/WireImage; Tony Barson/FilmMagic
So they attacked us where we were most vulnerable, the source of the documents.
In fact, hes confident that the military documents are authentic, as explained in the film.
I think we proved it beyond reasonable doubt, he said.
But I understand the argument saying, Well, you didnt prove it beyondanydoubt.'
Thats a fact, Rather said.
Nobody in the U..S military disappears for a year.
3, strangely enough, mysteriously, his military records disappear.
Look, the Defense Dept.
is among the best in the world at keeping records.
So those were facts that we reported.
Theyre uncomfortable truths for some people.
Rather says that Bush has never denied or specifically addressed allegations that he bailed on his military obligations.
He thinks the reaction to the story and CBS handling of it, let Bush off the hook.
They succeeded in damaging us [so] that others just stopped looking into the story, said Rather.
And thats what happened to us.
