Dan Rather returned to the CBS News airwaves for the first time since his bitter exit 18 years ago. After 44 years at the network, 24 as anchor of the “CBS Evening News” Rather left under a cloud following a botched investigation into then-President George W. Bush’s military record. Rather signed off as anchor for the last time on March 9, 2005, and exited the network when his contract ended 15 months later.