Veteran CBS Newsman Bill Plante Retires

Scott Pelley of CBS News raised a toast to Bill Plante at a packed Mexican restaurant in Washington, D.C. Wednesday after a video snapshot of a remarkable 52-year career.

At 78, he’s covered five consecutive presidencies and worked with nearly a dozen different co-White House correspondents for CBS.

According to Vanity Fair, Lesley Stahl joked that “he’s outlasted about 300 CBS News presidents…and Larry Tisch,” the late long-ago CBS Inc. CEO-billionaire whose tenure is not venerated. He anchored the network’s Sunday evening newscast for seven years.

And Pelley said aptly, “He’s integrity wrapped in talent wrapped in grace.” There were instant “Here, here’s!” when glasses were held high.

It was a multi-generational celebration of a resilient, indefatigable journalist who’s endured in a competitive TV hothouse with grit and collegiality while navigating revolutionary changes that displaced or slowed many of his generation. Throw in some personal and health ups and downs, too, and you’ve also got a tale of individual fortitude.