Robert Redford has been cast to play CBS News anchor Dan Rather in the new movie Truth – screenwriter James Vanderbilt’s directorial debut. The film is about the scandal called “Rathergate,” when Rather reported on 60 Minutes that George W. Bush received preferential treatment through his influential father, allowing him to be posted in the Texas Air National Guard upon graduation from Yale, thereby avoiding the Vietnam War draft. The proof supposedly came from documents by a deceased National Guard commanding officer. The Rather report came just as George W. Bush was running for re-election. His supporters put pressure on CBS, prompting an investigation into whether the documents were forgeries. Bush was re-elected, while Rather and his producer Mary Mapes suffered backlash from their controversial report. Rather’s reputation was tarnished and Mapes was fired.
Cate Blanchett is attached to the film as well, in the role of Mapes. The film is based on Mapes’ 2005 memoir Truth And Duty: The Press, The President, And The Privilege Of Power. ~Andrea Hodgins