Dan Rather cut out of CBS's JFK 50th anniversary events

(UPI) -- When President John F. Kennedy was killed nearly 50 years ago, Dan Rather was an anchor on air for CBS News. Now, as the network prepares to commemorate the anniversary of the assassination, Rather won't take part in their coverage.

Rather and CBS parted ways inamicably in 2006, and after waiting to hear if CBS would invite him to take part in their high-profile commemoration of the assassination on November 22, Rather took his memories elsewhere.

The longtime anchor will appear on NBC on the anniversary, joining Tom Brokaw on a special Today show. He has been interviewed for a segment on CNN's series The Sixties to air on the same day and has also been in Dealey Plaza in Dallas, where Kennedy was shot, filming an hour special for his AXS TV show, Dan Rather Reports, to air on November 18.

Susan Zirinsky the executive producer of CBS's primetime special on the assassination, said archival footage featuring Rather and his later recollections of the day would "of course" be included, even if Rather would not be back to add any new reflections.

"Dan was a big part of CBS' coverage in that historic time of the assassination," Zirinski said, "and of course he is in the coverage and, over the years, has been extremely eloquent and reflective of that event and CBS' role in history. Because I have that already captured in pretty amazing terms, that will be included in the show."

CBS will air As It Happened: John F. Kennedy 50 Years on November 16 at 9 p.m., hosted by anchor Bob Schieffer. Schieffer will then anchor Face the Nation on November 17 from Dallas, and Scott Pelley will front the evening news from Dallas on the anniversary itself.