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Truth: The Dan Rather Controversy
Killian Documents
The Killian documents controversy was a major journalistic scandal that occurred in 2004. CBS News alleged that George W. Bush had received preferential treatment during his service in the Texas Air National Guard, based on documents it claimed were written by Bush’s commanding officer. The documents were later found to be forgeries, and CBS retracted the story.
Aftermath
The fallout from the scandal was significant. Anchor Dan Rather and producer Mary Mapes were fired, and three other CBS employees resigned. The network’s reputation was also damaged, and it was accused of bias against Bush.
Legacy
The story of the controversy was dramatized in the 2015 film Truth, starring Robert Redford as Rather and Cate Blanchett as Mapes. The film was adapted from a memoir written by Mapes about the scandal.
Rather and Mapes still believe in the story they reported, even though the documents they based it on were fake. They argue that their reporting was accurate and that they were victims of a political smear campaign.
The Killian documents controversy is a reminder of the importance of journalistic integrity. It is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of relying on unverified sources.
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