Dan Rather

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Dan Rather
Dan Rather Peabody.jpg
Rather at the 2005 Peabody Awards
Born
Dan Irvin Rather Jr.

(1931-10-31) October 31, 1931 (age 87)
Wharton, Texas, U.S.
EducationSam Houston State University (BA)
Occupation
Years active1950–present
Notable credit(s)
Spouse(s)
Jean Goebel (m. 1957)
Children
  • Robin (daughter)
  • Danjack (son)
Websitewww.danrather.com

Dan Irvin Rather Jr. (/ˈræðər/; born October 31, 1931) is an American journalist. Rather began his career in Texas and was on the scene of the Kennedy assassination in Dallas in 1963, his reporting elevated his position in CBS News, where he was White House correspondent beginning in 1964. He served as foreign correspondent in London and Vietnam over the next two years before returning to the White House correspondent position, covering the Nixon presidency, including the trip to China, Watergate scandal and ultimate resignation.

When Walter Cronkite retired in 1981, Rather was promoted to news anchor for the CBS Evening News, a role he occupied for 24 years. Along with Peter Jennings at ABC News and Tom Brokaw at NBC News, Rather was one of the "Big Three" nightly news anchors in the U.S. from the 1980s through the early 2000s. He also frequently contributed to CBS's weekly news magazine 60 Minutes. Within a year of Brokaw's retirement and Jennings' death, Rather also left the anchor desk in 2005 following a controversy in which he presented unauthenticated documents in a news report on President George W. Bush's Vietnam-era service in the National Guard. After his departure from CBS Evening News, he continued to work with CBS until 2006.

After leaving CBS News, he was hired by the cable channel AXS TV (then called HDNet), where he hosted Dan Rather Reports, a 60 Minutes-style investigative news program, until 2013, he also hosts several other projects for AXS TV, including Dan Rather Presents, which does in-depth reporting on broad topics such as mental health care or adoption, and The Big Interview with Dan Rather, which features Rather conducting long-form interviews with musicians and entertainers. In January, 2018 he began hosting an online newscast called The News with Dan Rather on The Young Turks YouTube channel.

Early life[edit]

Rather's boyhood home being restored at the Wharton County Museum

Dan Irvin Rather Jr. was born on October 31, 1931, in Wharton County, Texas, the son of Daniel Irvin Rather Sr., a ditch digger and pipe layer,[1] and the former Byrl Veda Page. The Rathers moved to Houston, where Dan attended Love Elementary School and Hamilton Middle School, he graduated in 1950 from John H. Reagan High School in Houston. In 1953, he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Sam Houston State University[2] where he was editor of the school newspaper, The Houstonian. At Sam Houston,[3] he was a member of the Caballeros, the founding organization of the Epsilon Psi chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity.[4] After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Rather briefly attended South Texas College of Law in Houston, which would later award him an honorary Juris Doctor in 1990. In January 1954, Rather enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was sent to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego but was soon discharged because he omitted disclosing that he had rheumatic fever as a child.[5]

Early career[edit]

Rather began his journalism career in 1950 as an Associated Press reporter in Huntsville, Texas. Later, he was a reporter for United Press (1950–1952), several Texas radio stations, and the Houston Chronicle (1954–1955). Around 1955, Rather did a story on heroin. Under the auspices of the Houston Police, he experienced the drug which he characterized as "a special kind of hell."[6] While at Sam Houston State, Rather worked for KSAM-FM radio in Huntsville, Texas, calling junior high, high school, and Sam Houston State football games,[7] he later spent four seasons as the play-by-play announcer for the University of Houston football team.[8] During the 1959 minor league baseball season, Rather was the play-by-play radio announcer for the Houston Buffs team of the triple-A American Association. In 1959, he began his television career as a reporter for KTRK-TV, the ABC affiliate in Houston. Rather was subsequently promoted to the director of news for KHOU-TV, the CBS affiliate in Houston. In September 1961 Rather famously covered Hurricane Carla for KHOU-TV, broadcasting from the then National Weather Center in Galveston,[9] showing the first radar image of a hurricane on TV. Coverage of Carla put Rather before a national audience, advancing his career within CBS. Ray Miller, news director of KPRC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Houston, also mentored Rather in the early years.

On February 28, 1962, Rather left Houston for New York City for a six-month trial initiation. Rather did not fit in easily on the East Coast, and his first reports for CBS included coverage of the crash of American Airlines Flight 1 in Jamaica Bay, and a less memorable event on the suffocation of children at a hospital in Binghamton. Shortly after, Rather was made chief of CBS's Southwest bureau in Dallas. In August 1963, he was appointed chief of the Southern bureau in New Orleans, responsible for coverage of news events in the South, Southwest, Mexico and Central America.[10]

CBS News[edit]

Rather speaking about his experiences in his 61 years of journalism before a group of NATO commanders at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan in July 2011.

JFK assassination to Watergate[edit]

In his autobiography, written with help from ghostwriter Mickey Herskowitz, Rather wrote that he was in Dallas to return film from an interview that morning in Uvalde at the ranch of former Vice President John Nance Garner who celebrated his 95th (Rather erroneously called it his 98th) birthday on November 22.[11] Although hired in August to set up a southern bureau for CBS in New Orleans, Rather had only recently moved from Dallas to New Orleans in November[12] and would not have been in Dallas except for the need to get film to Dallas CBS affiliate KRLD-TV (now KDFW) to feed to New York. Although he had no assigned reporting role in Dallas, Rather happened to be "on the other side of the railroad tracks, beyond the triple underpass, thirty yards from a grassy knoll that would later figure in so many conspiracy theories."[13] His job was to fetch a film drop from a camera truck at that location and take it to the station for editing, he did not witness or hear the shooting, he said. He heard nothing of what may have caused the commotion until he reached KRLD, running all the way through Dealey Plaza, "The moment I cleared the railroad tracks I saw a scene I will never forget; some people were lying on the grass, some screaming, some running, some pointing. Policemen swarmed everywhere and distinctly above the din, I heard one shout, 'DON'T ANYBODY PANIC.' And of course, there was nothing but panic wherever you looked."[14]

There is at least one significant error in Rather's 1976 book: "Within an hour of the arrest the police disclosed that a paraffin test of Oswald's hands and face showed that he had fired a gun."[15] Lee Harvey Oswald had been arrested in Oak Cliff at 1:50 p.m. Texas time, but the paraffin test was not administered until 8:55 CST, according to expert Pat Speer, who has explained the tests done and their results.[16][17][18] In his autobiography, he also claims to be one of the first to see the Zapruder film showing the assassination and the first to describe it on television;[19] the film was never shown on television to the general public, and Rather reported the fatal headshot as forcing Kennedy's head to be thrown violently forward, when it was thrown backwards. This report is sometimes included as part of conspiracy theories which purport that the direction in which Kennedy's head moved supports one theory or another.[citation needed]

Later he reported that some Dallas schoolchildren had applauded when they were notified of the president's death.[20] Administrators said that the thrust of the announcement was that school was to be dismissed early (making the students' delight more understandable), and did not mention the assassination. However, teacher Joanna Morgan confirmed that students had cheered at the news that Kennedy was shot;[21] this story infuriated local journalists at then-CBS affiliate KRLD-TV (now Fox-owned-and-operated KDFW-TV).[citation needed]

Rather's reporting during the national mourning period following the Kennedy assassination and subsequent events brought him to the attention of CBS News management, which rewarded him in 1964 with the network's White House correspondent position.[citation needed]

After serving as a foreign correspondent for CBS in London in 1965 and Vietnam in 1966, he served his second tenure as White House correspondent during the Richard Nixon presidency. Rather was among those journalists who accompanied Nixon to China,[22] he covered the Watergate investigation as well as impeachment proceedings. In 1970, he drew the assignment as anchor for the CBS Sunday Night News[23] (1970–73; 1974–75), and later for the CBS Saturday Evening News (1973–76).[24]

CBS Evening News anchor[edit]

After President Nixon's resignation in 1974, Rather took the assignment of chief correspondent for the documentary series CBS Reports. In December 1975, he became a correspondent of the long-running Sunday night news show 60 Minutes, just as the program was moved from a Sunday afternoon time-slot to primetime. Success there (and a threat to bolt to ABC News) helped Rather pull ahead of longtime correspondent Roger Mudd in line to succeed Walter Cronkite as anchor and Managing Editor of The CBS Evening News.[citation needed]

Good evening. President Reagan, still training his spotlight on the economy, today signed a package of budget cuts that he will send to Congress tomorrow. Lesley Stahl has the story.

— Rather's first lines in his debut as anchor of The CBS Evening News

Rather assumed the position upon Cronkite's retirement, making his first broadcast on March 9, 1981. From the beginning of his tenure, it was clear that Rather had a significantly different style of reporting the news. In contrast to the avuncular Cronkite, who ended his newscast with "That's the way it is", Rather searched to find a broadcast ending more suitable to his tastes. For one week in September 1986, with CBS the target of potentially hostile new ownership, Rather tried ending his broadcasts with the word "courage"[25] and was roundly ridiculed for it, he eventually found a wrap-up phrase more modest than Cronkite's and more relaxed than his own previous attempt; for nearly two decades, Rather ended the show with "That's part of our world tonight." Rather also held other positions during his time as anchor. In January 1988, he became host of the newly created 48 Hours and in January 1999, Rather joined the new 60 Minutes II as a correspondent.[citation needed]

While Rather had inherited Cronkite's ratings lead, the success of the Evening News with Rather at the helm fluctuated wildly. After a dip to second place, Rather regained the top spot in 1985 until 1989 when he ceded the ratings peak to rival Peter Jennings at ABC's World News Tonight. By 1992, however, the Evening News had fallen to third place, it remained there until 2005, when Bob Schieffer became the interim anchor between Rather and Katie Couric. It briefly moved ahead of ABC World News Tonight in the wake of the death of Peter Jennings, but remained behind NBC Nightly News. Rather was a frequent collaborator with CBS News producer Susan Zirinsky, a leading member of the news division's staff.[26]

The traditionally strong journalistic bench of CBS News was changed in 1987 when new owner Laurence Tisch oversaw layoffs of hundreds of CBS News employees,[27] including correspondents such as David Andelman, Fred Graham, Morton Dean and Ike Pappas. Fewer videotape crews were dispatched to cover stories and numerous bureaus were closed. Critics cited the cutbacks as a major factor in CBS News' fall into third place in the ratings.[28]

Rather in 1998

For a short time from 1993 to 1995, Rather co-anchored the evening news with Connie Chung. Chung had previously been a Washington correspondent for CBS News and anchored short news updates on the West Coast. On joining the CBS Evening News, however, she worked to report "pop news" stories that did not fit the style of broadcast. In one widely cited case, she aggressively pursued Tonya Harding, who was accused of being behind a plot to injure fellow Olympic ice skater Nancy Kerrigan.[29] Chung ultimately left the network, and Rather went back to doing the newscast alone.[citation needed]

At the end of Rather's time as anchor, CBS Evening News lagged behind NBC Nightly News and ABC World News Tonight in the ratings, though it was still drawing approximately 7 million[dubious – discuss] viewers a night. Criticism of Rather reached a fever pitch after 60 Minutes II ran his 2004 report about President Bush's military record. Numerous critics questioned the authenticity of the documents, upon which the report was based. Rather subsequently admitted on the air that the documents' authenticity could not be proven.[30] In the aftermath of the incident, CBS fired multiple members of CBS News staff but allowed Rather to stay on.[citation needed]

Journalistic history and influence[edit]

Nixon[edit]

During Richard Nixon's presidency, critics accused Rather of biased coverage against him. At a Houston news conference in March 1974, Nixon fielded a question from Rather, still CBS's White House correspondent, who said, "Thank you, Mr. President. Dan Rather, of CBS News." The room filled with jeers and applause, prompting Nixon to joke, "Are you running for something?" Rather replied, "No, sir, Mr. President. Are you?"[31] His question accused Nixon of not cooperating with grand jury investigation and House Judiciary Committee in relation to the Watergate scandal.[31]

According to NBC's Tom Brokaw, the network considered hiring him to replace Rather as its White House correspondent, but these plans were scrapped after word was leaked to the press; the controversy did little to dent Rather's overall tough coverage of the Watergate scandal, which helped raise his profile.[citation needed]

Space Shuttle Challenger disaster[edit]

Main article: Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

In January 1986, NASA faced repeated delays in the preparations to launch the space shuttles Columbia and Challenger in close sequence. Rather's description of the January 10 delay of the space shuttle Columbia as "star-crossed space shuttle Columbia stood ready for launch again today and once more the launch was scrubbed. Heavy rain was the cause this time; the launch has been postponed so often since its original date, December 18, that it's now known as mission impossible" was an example of the "biting sarcasm" and pressure the media was applying to NASA over scheduling.[32] Columbia launched on January 12.[citation needed]

On January 27, Rather's reporting of the impending Challenger launch began as follows:

Yet another costly, red-faces-all-around space-shuttle-launch delay; this time a bad bolt on a hatch and a bad-weather bolt from the blue are being blamed. What's more, a rescheduled launch for tomorrow doesn't look good either. Bruce Hall has the latest on today's high-tech low comedy.

— Dan Rather, January 27, 1986[33]

On 28 January, Challenger's destruction occurred 73 seconds after launch.[citation needed]

Afghanistan, Reagan, and George H. W. Bush[edit]

Rather speaking with Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell and Sergeant Maj. Beam about the Afghan National Security Forces training mission and other issues at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan, on July 26, 2011.

During the Soviet–Afghan War, Rather was on camera wearing a traditional Mujahideen headdress and garments while reporting from near the front lines; these reports helped Rather gain prominence with the Evening News audience (and the nickname "Gunga Dan"; Rather's reports were also spoofed by the comic strip Doonesbury). It later turned out that Rather's reports played a role in moving Congressman Charlie Wilson to try to help the struggling mujahideen, which led to the largest-ever CIA covert operation in supplying aid and advanced arms to the mujahideen, which in turn eventually led to the Soviets quitting Afghanistan.[34]

Rather's energy and spirit helped him out-compete Roger Mudd for the anchor spot on the Evening News. Mudd was a more senior correspondent and a frequent substitute anchor for Walter Cronkite on Evening News, he also anchored Sunday evening broadcast, but it was Rather who traveled through Afghanistan when news led there. A few years into his service as anchor, Rather began wearing sweaters beneath his suit jacket to soften and warm his on-air perceptions to viewers.[35]

Later during the 1980s, Rather gained further renown for his forceful and skeptical reporting on the Iran–Contra affair, which eventually led to an on-air confrontation with then Vice President George H. W. Bush: Bush referred to Rather's "dead air incident" saying, "I want to talk about why I want to be President, why those 41 percent of the people are supporting me. And I don't think it's fair to judge my whole career by a rehash on Iran. How would you like it if I judged your career by those seven minutes when you walked off the set in New York?" Rather ignored Bush's comment.[36]

Shortly after Iraq invaded Kuwait, Rather secured an interview with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

There is no powerful and quick strike that a people could deliver, whatever their overall power; the United States depends on the Air Force. The Air Force has never decided a war in the history of wars.

— Saddam Hussein in an interview with Dan Rather on August 29, 1990[37]

On February 24, 2003, Rather conducted another interview with Hussein before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In the interview, Hussein invited Rather to be the moderator of a live television debate between himself and George W. Bush; the debate never took place.[38]

The Wall Within[edit]

On June 2, 1988, Rather hosted a CBS News special, The Wall Within. In it, he interviewed six former servicemen, each of whom said he had witnessed horrible acts in Vietnam. Two of the men said that they had killed civilians, and two others said that they had seen friends die; each talked about the effects the war had upon their lives – including depression, unemployment, drug use and homelessness.[citation needed]

In 2004, National Review ran an article by Anne Morse entitled "The First Rathergate", in which she said that almost nothing claimed in The Wall Within was true.[39] Citing Stolen Valor by B. G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley, Morse said that military records available through FOIA requests would have disclosed that all six individuals lied about their experiences, only one having served in combat, and two never having been in Vietnam.[citation needed]

Killian documents[edit]

Main article: Killian documents controversy

On September 8, 2004, Rather reported on 60 Minutes Wednesday that a series of memos critical of President George W. Bush's Texas Air National Guard service record had been discovered in the personal files of Lt. Bush's former commanding officer, Lt. Col. Jerry B. Killian.[40] Once copies of the documents were made available on the Internet, their authenticity was quickly called into question. Much of this was based on the fact that the documents were proportionally printed and displayed using other modern typographic conventions usually unavailable on military typewriters of the 1970s; the font used on the documents has characteristics that exactly or almost exactly match standard font features of Microsoft Word. This led to claims that the memos were forgeries;[41] the accusations then spread over the following days into mainstream media outlets including The Washington Post,[42] The New York Times,[43] and the Chicago Sun-Times.[44]

Rather and CBS initially defended the story, insisting that the documents had been authenticated by experts.[45] CBS was contradicted by some of the experts it originally cited,[46] and later reported that its source for the documents – former Texas Army National Guard officer Lt. Col. Bill Burkett – had misled the network about how he had obtained them.[47]

On September 20, CBS retracted the story. Rather stated, "If I knew then what I know now, I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question."[48] The controversy has been referred to by some as "Memogate" and "Rathergate."[49]

Following an investigation commissioned by CBS,[50][51][52] CBS fired story producer Mary Mapes and asked three other producers connected with the story to resign. Many believe Rather's retirement was hastened by this incident.[53] On September 20, 2007, Rather was interviewed on Larry King Live commenting "Nobody has proved that they were fraudulent, much less a forgery. ... The truth of this story stands up to this day."[54]

Lawsuit over ouster from CBS Network[edit]

On September 19, 2007, Rather filed a $70 million lawsuit against CBS, its former parent company Viacom; CBS President and CEO Leslie Moonves; Sumner Redstone, chairman of both Viacom and CBS; and Andrew Heyward, former president of CBS News. Rather accused the network and its ownership and management of making him a "scapegoat" in the Killian story. A CBS spokesman claimed that the lawsuit was "old news" and "without merit."[55] On September 21, 2009, Rather's lawyers claimed that Bush's military service would be proven to be a sham and Rather would be vindicated.[56] On September 29, 2009, a New York state appeals court dismissed Rather's lawsuit against CBS.[57][58] On January 12, 2010, New York's top court refused to reinstate Rather's $70 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against CBS Corp. On May 18, 2012, Rather appeared on Real Time With Bill Maher and claimed he had been fired for reporting a story about George W. Bush's year of absence from the reserve unit he served with, and that the news corporations had been "very uncomfortable" with running the story.[citation needed]

Departure from the CBS Evening News[edit]

We've shared a lot in the 24 years we've been meeting here each evening, and before I say 'Good night' this night, I need to say thank you. Thank you to the thousands of wonderful professionals at CBS News, past and present, with whom it's been my honor to work over these years, and a deeply felt thanks to all of you, who have let us into your homes night after night; it has been a privilege, and one never taken lightly.

Not long after I first came to the anchor chair, I briefly signed off using the word, 'Courage.' I want to return to it now, in a different way: to a nation still nursing a broken heart for what happened here in 2001, and especially to those who found themselves closest to the events of September 11; to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, in dangerous places; to those who have endured the tsunami, and to all who have suffered natural disasters, and must now find the will to rebuild; to the oppressed and to those whose lot it is to struggle in financial hardship or in failing health; to my fellow journalists in places where reporting the truth means risking all; and to each of you, Courage.

For the CBS Evening News, Dan Rather reporting. Good night.[59]

— Rather's speech at the end of his farewell newscast

Rather retired as the anchorman and Managing Editor of the CBS Evening News in 2005; his last broadcast was Wednesday, March 9, 2005,[60] he had worked as the anchorman for 24 full years, the longest tenure of anyone in American television history, and for a short time continued to work as a correspondent for 60 Minutes. Bob Schieffer, a fellow Texan and host of Face the Nation, took over Rather's position on an interim basis, with Katie Couric replacing Schieffer in 2006.[citation needed]

Since retiring, Rather has spoken out about what he perceives as a lack of courage by American journalists. On January 24, 2006, Rather spoke to a Seattle audience. Before the speaking engagement, he told a newspaper reporter, "In many ways on many days, [reporters] have sort of adopted the attitude of 'go along, get along.'"[citation needed]

"What many of us need is a spine transplant", Rather added. "Whether it's City Hall, the State House, or the White House, part of our job is to speak truth to power."[61]

Ouster from CBS News[edit]

In June 2006, reports surfaced that CBS News would most likely not renew Dan Rather's contract.[60] According to a Washington Post article, sources from CBS said that executives at the network decided "there is no future role for Rather."[citation needed]

On June 20, 2006, CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus announced that Rather would leave the network after 44 years.[62] Rather issued a separate statement which accompanied the news of the departure:[63]

I leave CBS News with tremendous memories, but I leave now most of all with the desire to once again do regular, meaningful reporting. My departure before the term of my contract represents CBS's final acknowledgement, after a protracted struggle, that they had not lived up to their obligation to allow me to do substantive work there; as for their offers of a future with only an office but no assignments, it just isn't in me to sit around doing nothing. So I will do the work I love elsewhere, and I look forward to sharing details about that soon.

Post-CBS career[edit]

Following his departure from CBS, Dan Rather joined Mark Cuban's cable network AXS TV (then called HDNet) to host and produce the weekly one-hour news show Dan Rather Reports from 2006 until 2013.[64][65]

Since 2013, Rather has hosted and produced the hour-long series The Big Interview on AXS TV, where he sits down for in-depth interviews with influential figures in music and entertainment, such as John Fogerty, Quentin Tarantino, Simon Cowell, Aaron Sorkin and Sammy Hagar,[66][67][68][69][70] he has also produced several documentary specials for the network under the banner Dan Rather Presents, including specials about "America's Mental Health Crisis," the United States Secret Service and "The Shameful Side of International Adoption"[71][72][73]

Rather also appears frequently on a number of news shows including MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show[74] and The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell[75] and on CNN,[76] he has also written for The Huffington Post[77] and Mashable.[78]

On May 28, 2007, Rather compared historical events to events in the Star Wars films in the History Channel special, Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed.[citation needed]

In 2012, Rather published an autobiography titled Rather Outspoken: My Life in the News.[79]

In 2015, Rather launched an independent production company called News and Guts Media, through which he produces The Big Interview among other projects.[65]

In 2015, Rather also began actively posting on Facebook,[80] he credits young staffers at News and Guts Media with pushing him to try social media. While his posts were considerably longer than typical social media posts, they resonated with the audience, which soon grew to more than two million followers. Even late night TV noticed Rather's unusual but effective Facebook presence.[81] Subject matter ranges from current political events to journalism to childhood memories.[citation needed]

On September 23, 2016, SiriusXM Radio announced a new hour-long weekly program, "Dan Rather's America", airing Tuesday mornings at 10AM Eastern on Radio Andy channel 102, debuting on September 27.[82][83]

In the fall of 2017, the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas completed a digital humanities project dedicated to the long career of the journalist: Dan Rather: American Journalist; the result of three years of research conducted at the Briscoe Center, the site uses materials from a dozen archives and libraries and draws from over 25 of the Briscoe Center for American History's news media and photojournalism collections. The website features over 2,000 digitized documents, 300 excerpts from twelve oral history interviews, and 1000 video clips, enabling visitors to dive deep into the history of the last 60 years through the lens of Dan Rather's career.[citation needed]

On January 21, 2018, it was announced that Rather would be launching a weekly 30-minute newscast on The Young Turks. Titled The News with Dan Rather, it airs on Mondays at 5:30pm Eastern time.[84]

Personal life[edit]

Rather at South by Southwest 2007; discussing media, the internet, and asking the "hard questions."

Rather married Jean Goebel in 1957, they have a son and daughter, and maintain homes in New York City and Austin, Texas.[85] Their daughter Robin is an environmentalist and community activist in Austin, Texas, their son Dan is an assistant district attorney in the District Attorney's office in Manhattan, New York.[citation needed]

Sam Houston State University renamed its mass communications building after Rather in 1994; the building houses The Houstonian and KSHU, the student-run radio and television stations. In May 2007, Rather received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Siena College in Loudonville, New York, for his lifetime contributions to journalism.[citation needed]

A columnist whose work is distributed by King Features Syndicate, Rather continues to speak out against alleged influence in journalism by corporations and governments. At a 2008 conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, sponsored by the group Free Press, Rather criticized both local and national news organizations, stating – according to reports – that there is no longer incentive to do "good and valuable news."[86]

Books[edit]

  • The Palace Guard, with Gary Paul Gates, 1977. ISBN 9780060135140.
  • The Camera Never Blinks: Adventures of a TV Journalist, with Mickey Hershkowitz, 1977. ISBN 978-0688031848.
  • I Remember, with Peter Wyden, 1991. ISBN 978-0316734400.
  • The Camera Never Blinks Twice: The Further Adventures of a Television Journalist, with Mickey Hershkowitz, 1994. ISBN 978-0688097486.
  • Deadlines and Datelines: Essays at the Turn of the Century., 1999. ISBN 978-0788193491.
  • "The American Dream: Stories from the Heart of Our Nation", 2001. ISBN 978-0688178925.
  • Rather Outspoken : My Life in the News., with Digby Diehl, 2013. ISBN 978-1455502400.
  • What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism, with Elliot Kirschner, 2017. ISBN 978-1616207823.

Awards[edit]

Dan Rather at the 64th Annual Peabody Awards

He has received numerous Emmy Awards, several Peabody Awards, and various honorary degrees from universities.[citation needed]

Award Year Program Title
Peabody 1975 CBS News
Peabody 1976 60 Minutes
Peabody 1994 CBS Reports: D-Day
Peabody 1995 CBS Reports: In the Killing Fields of America
Paul White Award
Radio Television Digital News Association 		1997[87] Lifetime Achievement
Peabody 2000 48 Hours: Heroes Under Fire
Peabody 2001 60 Minutes II: Memories of a Massacre
Peabody 2004 60 Minutes II: Abuse at Abu Ghraib
Emmy Trustees Award 2014 Lifetime Achievement

In addition to these awards, Rather was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2004.[citation needed]

Criticism[edit]

As one of the last broadcast news journalists from the era of the "Big Three" network news primacy, Rather was generally regarded highly within his profession by long-serving journalists. Rather has been accused of having a liberal bias.[88][89][90]

Claims of bias[edit]

Rather's on-screen comments and election-night reporting have come under attack dating back to Richard Nixon's presidency. In a June 2002 interview with Larry King, his long-time co-worker (and self-described liberal) Andy Rooney stated that Rather is "transparently liberal".[91]

During the weeks following the Killian documents stories, Rather received widespread criticism from other journalists and historians.[92] In an interview with commentator Bill Maher, Rather accused Fox News Channel of receiving "talking points" from the Republican-controlled White House. Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly, who had defended Rather during the Killian documents incident, criticized Rather for not offering any evidence to support the claim.[93]

In 2002, Bernard Goldberg published a book with the title Bias, alleging a liberal bias in print and broadcast news organizations. In the book, Goldberg used Dan Rather as a primary example of a news anchor with a liberal bias, he also criticized the anchor for his criticisms of President George W. Bush's and Vice President Dan Quayle's service in the National Guard rather than the Active Duty military during the Vietnam War, and questioned Rather's own service.[94]

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting has accused Rather of having "an unwillingness to challenge official power and policy" in his reporting.[95] Investigative reporter Mark Hertsgaard characterized Rather as a "stern anti-Communist" during the Reagan administration for allegedly having "reported the pronouncements of public officials with considerable respect".[96]

In April 2001, according to a front-page story in The Washington Post, Rather spoke at a Democratic party fundraiser in Austin, Texas, where he was the featured speaker. One of the official hosts for the fundraiser was Rather's daughter, Robin Rather; Rather said that he did not realize that his daughter was a host of the fundraiser. Rather also said that he did not realize that the event was a partisan fundraiser, although he did realize that after he arrived at the event.[97]

From Walter Cronkite[edit]

During an appearance on CNN's American Morning, former CBS anchor Walter Cronkite said about Rather: "It surprised quite a few people at CBS and elsewhere that, without being able to pull up the ratings beyond third in a three-man field, that they tolerated his being there for so long." Cronkite also said that Bob Schieffer's succession was long overdue.[98]

From Dallas CBS news director Eddie Barker[edit]

In the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination while Rather was a Dallas reporter, he interviewed a minister who said some local schoolchildren had cheered upon learning of the President's shooting; the Associated Press later confirmed the story. A teacher at the school backed up the Rather story, confirming that some students at the school had cheered at the principal's news about Kennedy.[99] Eddie Barker, local Dallas-area news director for CBS, said that Rather had in fact been aware that the children were merely happy about being sent home early and they had not been given a reason for early school closure (Barker's children attended the school, as he informed Rather), he stated that Rather had deliberately misrepresented the facts by indicating that the children were happy about the shooting. Barker attempted to fire Rather, but was overruled by the national CBS News management.[20]

Rather on Trump[edit]

On May 16, 2017, Dan Rather wrote on Facebook, "I end each of my days with a silent prayer for my country", "It has been a ritual for some time, but as of late I feel an anxiety gripping my heart and a sadness permeating my soul that seems unlike anything I have felt before, but in the end, prayer will not be enough. Action, sustained action, will be required." "our Constitutional government" will provide America with a "safety net".[100]

Notable incidents and controversies[edit]

1968 Democratic convention[edit]

During live coverage of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, Rather attempted to interview a delegate from Georgia who appeared as though he was being forcibly removed by men without identification badges.[citation needed]

As Rather approached the delegate to question the apparent strong-arm tactics of the Chicago political machine under Mayor Daley, he was punched in the stomach by one of the men, knocking him to the ground. "He lifted me right off the floor and put me away. I was down, the breath knocked out of me, as the whole group blew on by me ... In the CBS control room, they had switched the camera onto me just as I was slugged."[citation needed]

Chicago cab ride[edit]

On November 10, 1980, Rather landed at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and got into a cab, he asked the cab driver to take him to the home of writer Studs Terkel, whom he was interviewing for 60 Minutes. A police spokesman said that the cab driver refused to go to the address and instead "wildly drove through the city streets" with Rather shouting out the window asking for help; the driver was charged with disorderly conduct. Rather called the incident "a rather minor thing". By the time the case was about to come to trial, he was about to add anchoring the "CBS Evening News" to his "60 Minutes" role at CBS News. Rather declined to press charges, citing a "mounting schedule of reporting assignments".[101][102]

Galloway lawsuit[edit]

In 1980, Rather and CBS were taken to court when Carl Galloway, a California doctor, claimed that a report on 60 Minutes wrongfully implicated him in an insurance fraud scheme. CBS stated Galloway had signed the bogus report and was suing Rather because he was upset at being caught; the jury sided with CBS and Rather and they won the case.[103] During the trial, Galloway's side used outtakes from the TV report showing that one interview was rehearsed.[103]

"Kenneth, what is the frequency?"[edit]

On October 4, 1986, while walking along Park Avenue to his apartment in Manhattan, Rather was attacked and punched from behind by a man who demanded to know "Kenneth, what is the frequency?" while a second assailant chased and beat him. As the assailant pummeled and kicked Rather, he kept repeating the question. In describing the incident, Rather said "I got mugged. Who understands these things? I didn't and I don't now. I didn't make a lot of it at the time and I don't now. I wish I knew who did it and why, but I have no idea."[104] Until the crime was resolved years later, Rather's description of the bizarre crime led some to doubt the veracity of his account,[105] although the doorman and building supervisor who rescued Rather fully confirmed his version of events.[104]

The assault remained unsolved for some time, and was referenced multiple times in popular culture; the phrase "What's the frequency, Kenneth?" became a popular-culture reference over the years, such as in a scene in the graphic novel Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron by cartoonist Daniel Clowes. In 1994, the band R.E.M. released the song "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" on their album Monster. Rather later sang with R.E.M. during a sound check prior to a gig at New York's Madison Square Garden, which was shown the following night on the Late Show with David Letterman before their performance of "Crush with Eyeliner".[citation needed]

In 1997, a TV critic writing in the New York Daily News solved the mystery, publishing a photo of the alleged assailant, William Tager, who received a 12½-to-25-year prison sentence for killing NBC stagehand Campbell Montgomery outside The Today Show studio in 1994.[105] Rather confirmed the story: "There's no doubt in my mind that this is the person."[105] New York District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau said "William Tager's identity as the man who attacked Mr. Rather was established in the course of an investigation by my office."[106] Tager claimed he thought television networks were beaming signals into his brain;[107] when he murdered the stagehand, Tager was trying to force his way into an NBC studio with a weapon, in order to find out the frequency the networks were using to attack him, so that he could block it. Tager was paroled in October 2010 and is believed to be living in New York City.[citation needed]

"Courage"[edit]

For one week in September 1986, Rather signed off his broadcasts to CBS with the word "courage", he said that it was just a signature line and had nothing to do with the news at the time. Other newscasters ridiculed and parodied Rather, and he dropped it.[108] Afterward, he said "And that's part of our world." On his last CBS Evening News broadcast, he once again signed off with "courage", this time linking it to the September 11, 2001 attacks, as well as to courage shown by fellow journalists.[citation needed]

Dead air[edit]

On September 11, 1987, Rather walked off the set in anger just before a remote Evening News broadcast from Miami, where Pope John Paul II had begun a rare U.S. tour, when a U.S. Open tennis match was being broadcast into the time scheduled for the newscast. He was upset that the news was being cut into to make room for sports and discussed it with the sports department and made it clear that if the newscast did not start on time then CBS Sports should fill the half hour; the Steffi Graf–Lori McNeil tennis match coverage then ended sooner than expected at 6:32 p.m., but Rather had disappeared. (CBS Sports had finally agreed to break away immediately after the match without commentary.) Thus, over 100 affiliates were forced to broadcast six minutes of dead air.[109] The next day, Rather apologized for leaving the anchor desk; the following year, when Rather asked then Vice President Bush about his role in the Iran–Contra affair during a live interview, Bush responded by saying, "Dan, how would you like it if I judged your entire career by those seven minutes when you walked off the set in New York?"[110] Roger Ailes had a “mole” at CBS who alerted him that the goal was to “take Bush out of the race” with a tough interview on Iran-Contra. Ailes alerted Bush on the cab ride over and fed him the seven minutes retort; the aftermath of the interview showed the episode was a boost for Bush. “The vice president’s poll ratings in Iowa and New Hampshire bumped visibly upward.” [111]

"Ratherisms"[edit]

Rather is known for his many colorful analogies and descriptions during live broadcasts. Similar to those used by baseball announcer Red Barber, cycling commentator Phil Liggett and Formula 1 commentator Murray Walker, these "Ratherisms" are also called "Texanisms" or "Danisms" by some. A few of the more colorful ones, several of which were used throughout the 2008 HBO made-for-TV movie Recount about the 2000 Election, include:

  • "This race is shakier than cafeteria Jell-O."[112]
  • "This thing is as tight as the rusted lugnuts on a '55 Ford."[112]
  • His characterization of the Republican Party's assessment of President Obama:[113] "[He] couldn't sell watermelons if you gave him the state troopers to flag down the traffic."[citation needed]

In popular culture[edit]

Rather at the LBJ Presidential Library in 2016

Rather has been referenced in the television shows Saturday Night Live and Family Guy and many films. An animated caricature of him made a cameo appearance in the JibJab political cartoon, Good to Be in D.C. In 1971 he had a cameo in an episode of the number one hit comedy series All in the Family. Entitled The Man in the Street, series star Carroll O'Connor's Archie Bunker character excitedly awaits the viewing of a videotaped interview he gave earlier that day for the CBS Evening News. At the last minute, to his dismay, the segment is preempted by the telecast of a Richard Nixon presidential address from the Oval Office. Rather appears, as himself, delivering post-speech analysis from actual news footage. Jean Stapleton, as Archie's scatterbrained wife Edith Bunker, says of Rather how he's there to "... tell us what Mr. Nixon just said."[citation needed]

In 2004, he was featured in the documentary film Barbecue: A Texas Love Story by Austin-based director Chris Elley.[114] Two years later, Rather and Elley educated a group of New Yorkers in Madison Square Park about the true meaning of BBQ and its significance to the identity of the Lone Star State. Rather began the discussion with a direct statement: "Let's get this straight folks. If it ain't beef and it ain't in Texas, then it ain't barbecue."[citation needed]

In the 2006–07 graphic novel Shooting War, which is set in the year 2011, an 80-year-old Dan Rather is shown to be one of the last journalists still reporting from Iraq, he had a cameo in the premiere of the Fall 2007 drama Dirty Sexy Money on ABC television. He guest-starred as himself in The Simpsons episode, "E Pluribus Wiggum".[citation needed]

Rather appeared on The Daily Show in May 2009 wearing an Afro wig and mutton-chop sideburns to narrate a segment about the late former President Nixon eating a burrito, as a parody of MSNBC's extensive coverage of President Obama and Vice President Biden's hamburger lunch,[115] he appears in the 2008 award-winning documentary Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story.[citation needed]

A character "Dano", an imitation of Rather, appears on the Brad and Britt morning show on WZTK radio. Features of the imitation include mentioning "I have the documents" whenever a dubious claim is made. Dano is also heard sometimes interviewing President Obama's teleprompter.[citation needed]

A skit on the 38th season of Sesame Street featured Anderson Cooper interviewing two grouches, "Walter Cranky" and "Dan Rather Not," who, when asked to answer questions, demurred with the phrase "I'd rather not."[116]

Robert Redford portrayed Rather in the 2015 film Truth. Rather appeared in the docudrama Facing Saddam providing his views on Saddam Hussein.[citation needed]

Ratings[edit]

Under Rather's predecessor, Walter Cronkite, the CBS Evening News was a strong #1 in the ratings [117] which Rather maintained through much of the 1980s.[118] However, Tom Brokaw and his NBC Nightly News, and Peter Jennings of ABC News' World News Tonight, increasing in popularity, eventually cut deep into the Rather broadcast's numbers.[119]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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  3. ^ Then called Sam Houston State Teachers College. For more details, see [the "Name changes" section of] the article about the school that is now [as of 2017] called Sam Houston State University.
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Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Media offices
Preceded by
Walter Cronkite 		CBS Evening News anchor
March 9, 1981 – March 9, 2005
co-anchor with Connie Chung (1993–1995) 		Succeeded by
Bob Schieffer
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dan_Rather&oldid=903533995"