Tom Brokaw signs off humbly, with gratitude

0 Comments | USA TODAY, December, 2004 | by Peter Johnson

Departing NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw began Wednesday by choking up on NBC's Today , the program he anchored as a young man with Jane Pauley.

After he chatted about his 38-year NBC career, he teared up when Katie Couric read a few touching fan letters, champagne was brought out and his staff gathered behind him.

"Nobody does it better, and no one ever has, Tom," Couric said.

"Well, it's very sweet," Brokaw said, clearly moved. "I've . . . it's been a great, great privilege."

Brokaw was more scripted later when he ended his 21-year Nightly run by telling viewers that his only objective had been "to get it right."

"When I failed, it was personally painful, and there was no greater urgency than course correction," he said. "On those...