CBS's Don Hewitt: Rathergate Not 'Done Well'

(Vermillion, South Dakota) Don Hewitt, executive producer of CBS News and creator of 60 Minutes, was at the University of South Dakota yesterday to accept an award for excellence in journalism. At an afternoon news conference, he spoke of Iraq and Rathergate.

On the topic of the Iraq War, Hewitt didn't hesitate to give his opinion on the U.S. troop presence.

"How do we get out of a place when we never should've been there in the first place?" he asked. "The reason we're not winning the war in Iraq is it's not a war - it's mayhem. It's the OK Corral.

[ ... ]

Hewitt offered what [sic] called a "radical suggestion" on how U.S. troops could leave Iraq.

"I think we should get up and leave and do like the French did and hire a Foreign Legion," he said. "I think you have to hire killers to kill killers. Open up the prisons."

Jeez! I can hear Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton already. Also, I don't think his characterization of the French Foreign Legion is entirely accurate.

Hewitt also addressed the controversy surrounding Rather's "60 Minutes" report that suggested Bush received preferential treatment while in the National Guard.

Rather recently apologized publicly on behalf of CBS News because it could not authenticate documents used in the story.

If there is a culprit in the case, Hewitt said, it may be the producer who led Rather to go with the story. [Emphasis mine - ed.]

"I wouldn't have done the story," he said. "I don't think it was done very well. You can't take on the president of the United States on flimsy information.

"I would've said, 'Don't do it.' You don't want to inject yourself into a campaign. You can't talk about one of the candidates and his military record without injecting yourself."

Wait a minute! He's suggesting that Rathergate is entirely on the head of Mary Mapes? It seems there may be a break in the CBS circle of wagons and I wouldn't doubt that they're looking for a head, other than Rather's, to lop off. Mary Mapes should be looking for a job, it seems.

Al Neuharth, founder of USA Today and namesake of the Excellence in Journalism Award given to Hewitt, stated:

"In my judgment, there is no previous winner who has a better overall grasp of journalism than Don Hewitt," Neuharth said.

"I hope you remember he's the one who taught Walter Cronkite and Mike Wallace ... what the news is all about."

Neuharth didn't mention who taught Dan Rather.