Truth (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The Killian documents were questioned because forensic analysis revealed they were formatted using Microsoft Word, a program that did not exist in the 1970s when the memos were allegedly created. The font and letter spacing indicated they were typed on a computer rather than a typewriter, raising immediate doubts about whether they could be authentic records from George W. Bush's commanding officer Jerry Killian.

• killian documents
• forensic analysis
• font analysis
• microsoft word
• document verification

Bill Burkett admitted that he lied about the source of the documents he provided to the 60 Minutes team. He claimed to have obtained them from a specific person, but later acknowledged this was false. This lie severely undermined the credibility of the entire investigation, as Burkett was the primary source for the most damaging allegations against Bush.

• bill burkett
• documents source
• lie
• credibility

Mary Mapes was fired from CBS News following the internal review panel's investigation into the broadcast. The review focused heavily on alleged political bias rather than examining whether the core allegations about Bush's military service were true. Despite her previous successful career, including producing the award-winning Abu Ghraib documentary, Mapes lost her position as a result of the controversy.

• mary mapes
• fired
• cbs news
• career consequences

Dan Rather was forced to apologize on air for presenting the Killian documents as factual without sufficient verification. After the documents were proven questionable and the controversy erupted, Rather faced intense public scrutiny and criticism. The scandal contributed to his decision to retire from broadcasting, ending his decades-long career with CBS.

• dan rather
• apology
• retirement
• cbs
• 60 minutes

The CBS internal review panel chose to focus on whether the production team had political bias rather than investigating whether the core allegations about Bush's military record were accurate. This frustrated many involved, as the substance of the claims about preferential treatment and the AWOL period was never thoroughly examined, instead, the debate centered on document authenticity and editorial process.

• internal review
• political bias
• cbs investigation
• allegations

Analysis of the memos showed they used a typeface and formatting consistent with Microsoft Word, which was not available until the 1980s. This technical detail became the central piece of evidence suggesting the documents were fabricated or heavily altered, as they could not have been created on a 1970s typewriter as claimed.

• memos
• font
• microsoft word
• forensics
• typewriter
• 1970s

Mike Smith, Lucy Scott, and Colonel Roger Charles were all disciplined and ultimately fired from CBS News following the internal review. Smith was visibly upset, venting in the office before being escorted out. The three were banned from their roles at CBS, ending their careers at the network as a result of their involvement in the disputed story.

• mike smith
• lucy scott
• roger charles
• fired
• cbs news

Robert Hodges, who was Jerry Killian's supervisory officer, initially stated that the Killian documents appeared to be authentic. However, he later recanted this statement during the investigation. While he refused to elaborate on whether there was truth in the documents, his recantation further weakened the case for authenticity and added to the uncertainty surrounding the evidence.

• robert hodges
• recant
• statement
• killian documents

The film notes that CBS won a Peabody Award for Mary Mapes's earlier documentary exposing atrocities at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. This serves as a bittersweet contrast to the later scandal, it demonstrates that Mapes had previously produced impactful, award-winning journalism, highlighting both her proven capabilities and the tragic fall from grace that followed the disputed Bush story.

• abu ghraib
• peabody award
• documentary
• cbs
• mapes

Former Texas Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes admitted to using political influence to help George W. Bush gain entry into the Texas National Guard. This admission provided some corroboration for the investigation's central claim that Bush received preferential treatment, though the story ultimately collapsed due to the questionable authenticity of the documentary evidence.

• ben barnes
• national guard
• influence
• texas
• political favor