Tom Shales writes: “At CBS News and in the TV business generally yesterday, there was speculation that the retirement is not Wallace’s idea — that his departure was part of a purge of aging veterans so younger faces could fill the screen. ‘Oh, God, no!’ was Wallace’s reply to such rumors.”

Wallace continues: “I’m sure there is skepticism. All I can tell you is, I had a long talk with [CBS News President] Sean McManus, and I made the decision. To suggest there weren’t different opinions about this within the news division — of course there were. But I figure, what the hell, they’ve been so damn good to me for so long, it’s no time for sour grapes.” More…