NEW YORK, April 20 (UPI) -- Tom Brokaw has announced his retirement as anchor of "NBC Nightly News," a position the TV newsman has held since 1983.
NBC officials said Brokaw will leave his top anchor job Dec. 1, but plans to remain a contributor to the NBC news team on a limited basis, the New York Post reported Tuesday.
Brian Williams, a former CNBC news anchor who has become more involved with "Nightly News" since last year, will take over for Brokaw upon retirement.
"It gives me great comfort to know when I move on to other NBC News projects, Brian will be there to take over (the) 'Nightly News' reins," Brokaw, 64, said.
Brokaw, who joined NBC in 1966, is the first of the three major networks' top anchors to retire. Neither CBS's Dan Rather, 72, or ABC's Peter Jennings, 65, have indicated when they plan to step down.
