And That's the Way It Is

His voice thick with emotion, Tom Brokaw signed off tonight for the last time as anchor of NBC's "Nightly News" after twenty-one years behind the desk."Well, the time is here," Brokaw intoned in his trademark flat Midwestern accent. "We've been through a lot together, through dark days and nights, and seasons of hope and joy."Brokaw joined NBC in his home state of Nebraska in 1966, and was the White House correspondent for the network from 1973-76, first covering the Watergate scandal. He began anchoring the morning staple "Today" before graduating to the anchor's desk in 1982.It was on the "Today," that Brokaw began his last day as anchor, as hosts Katie Couric and Matt Lauer raised a glass to him during a champagne toast. "Nobody's done it better and nobody ever has," Lauer told him.

Brokaw, who announced his retirement in 2002, will be succeeded by long-time understudy Brian Williams.Williams, who is often criticized for not having spent the time "in the field" before coming to anchor's chair, contributed a moving report from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where severely injured soldiers on treated.Closing the report, Williams said, "And with that -- one last time, Tom: Back to you." Brokaw, smiling, told Williams, "Don't go far, because we have plans for you."

Williams inherits what has been the highest-rated evening news program over the past seven years.