Tom Brokaw Signs Off

Tom Brokaw is signing off for the last time.

NBC's longtime Nightly News anchor steps down Wednesday from one of the top three jobs in broadcast journalism after a highly successful run that lasted almost 23 years.

"We've been through a lot together," Brokaw said at the end of his final broadcast. "Through dark days and nights and seasons of hope and joy. Whatever the story I had only one objective--to get it right.

"Thanks for all that I have learned from you," he said, choking up slightly. "That's been my richest reward."

As the youngest of the "Big Three" network anchors, Brokaw, 64, leaves with the added distinction of consistently triumphing over CBS' Dan Rather (who announced last week that he will step down in March) and ABC's Peter Jennings in the ratings race since 1997.

A sentimental Brokaw choked up Wednesday morning as he clinked champagne flutes with Katie Couric and Matt Lauer on NBC's Today Show, while saying his goodbyes.

"It's been a great, great...privilege," Brokaw said before momentarily losing his composure

"I didn't think I was going to do that," he admitted, as he reined in the tears.

Brokaw waxed nostalgic about his first $90-a-week job and his fascination with presidential politics during the 16-minute Today segment.

The South Dakota native joined NBC in 1966 and served as White House correspondent from 1973 to 1976, covering the Watergate years.

He anchored the Today show from 1976 to 1981, then switched to the Nightly News in 1982 with coanchor Roger Mudd, who reported from Washington.

In 1983, after dismal ratings and poor chemistry with Mudd, Brokaw became the sole anchor, a position he held down for the past 21 years.

Now that he's trading in the pressures of breaking news to pursue a more leisurely lifestyle, Brokaw said he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Meredith.

Brokaw said on the Today Show that he told his wife, " 'You know, Meredith, for the first time in our married life, I'm going to be completely free for several months the beginning of the year.' And she said, 'Oh, that's great. I'm going to be on a horseback safari in Africa. Maybe you can meet be over there.' "

The couple, who live in Manhattan, ultimately will call their ranch in Montana home--but Brokaw's not ready to kick back just yet.

In the next few months, he has a fishing trip to New Zealand and a mountain-climbing expedition to South America in the works.

Meanwhile, he's not departing from the Peacock entirely--the baritone-voiced broadcaster has signed a contract with NBC requiring him to produce at least three documentaries a year for the news division.

Brokaw has said that he would likely have stepped down sooner from the NBC Nightly News desk, if not for the events of September 11, 2001.

After the terrorist attacks, he opted to stay on until after the recent presidential election before hanging up his Nightly News hat.

Though Wednesday night will mark his final dispatch, don't count Brokaw out, should news of the same magnitude happen again.

"I'll report for duty," he told the Associated Press. "It doesn't mean I'll go back to what I did before. They'll have to find a new role for me."

Brokaw's current role will be filled as of Thursday by Brian Williams, his top substitute for years, who has long been groomed to take up the Nightly News reins upon Brokaw's departure.

"You'll see Brian Williams here tomorrow," Brokaw said at the end of his newscast, "and I'll see you along the way."