NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams had pitched to NBC and CBS about making him the next late-night show host before he was busted for falsifying stories . Williams , 55 , is currently suspended from NBC without pay as a team investigates claims he lied in reports about the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina , among others . But prior to the suspension he had agreed to a five-year anchor deal with Nightly News after being persuaded into it with a gift of veteran broadcaster Edward R Murrow 's old desk . Brian Williams agreed to a five-year contract after being persuaded by NBC News President Deborah Turness , who gifted him with veteran broadcaster Edward R Murrow 's old writing desk . And few years ago , Williams told NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke that he wanted to take over the Tonight Show from Jay Leno . Burke turned down Williams 's idea and instead offered him a weekly program called Rock Center , which Williams hoped could evolve into a variety show . Instead , the show ended up mirroring 60 minutes and it was canceled after two seasons , according to New York Magazine . Williams pushed on , however , and went to CBS CEO Les Moonves to suggest succeeding David Letterman . Moonves was n't interested , sources told New York Magazine . Williams then had to be convinced through lengthy negotiations to become a news anchor by NBC News president Deborah Turness . Though they first clashed - because Williams was used to having the final say over a show 's content - the pair eventually warmed to one another . Brian Williams suggested succeeding both Jay Leno ( left ) and David Letterman ( right ) . CEOs from NBC and CBS turned down his offers . Williams sent Turness a note over the holidays that read , '2015 is going to be our year together ' , according to New York Magazine . He went on to agree to a new five-year anchor deal , during the same dinner Turness presented him with Murrow 's old writing desk . She had found the 1940s desk through a Los Angeles-based antique dealer . And less than two months later , Williams was publicly shamed for a backlog of fictional stories and executives struggled with how to deal with the situation . This comes just after speculations that Katie Couric might be is in talks NBC 's incoming chairman Andrew Lack to make a return by replacing Williams on the Nightly News . 'It makes sense ( that she could come back ) because she is so closely associated with the brand , ' a source told the New York Daily News . Lack 'has not made up his mind ' as to whether or not Williams will return when his six-month suspension is up , according to New York Magazine 's sources . A 'close friend ' of Williams said the the magazine , however , that the anchor 'ca n't wait until he can speak ' , which he ca n't do publicly until his suspension ends .
Williams was turned down by both NBC Universal CEO and CBS CEO . NBC President Deborah Turness persuaded Williams into five-year anchor deal with Murrow 's old desk . Williams sent her a note over the holidays that read '2015 is going to be our year together ' Speculations arose last week that Katie Couric could replace Williams .