Dan Rather
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| Dan Rather | |
|---|---|
 Moody College of Communication from Austin, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source | |
| Name | Dan Rather |
| Caption | Rather in 2017 |
| Birth date | March 31, 1931 |
| Birth place | Wharton, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Journalist, news anchor, reporter |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Credits | CBS Evening News, 60 Minutes, Dan Rather Reports |
Dan Rather
Dan Rather is an American journalist and former television news anchor who became a prominent national figure through his work with CBS News. He reported on major events including the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal aftermath, presidential elections, and the September 11 attacks, and served as anchor of the CBS Evening News. His career spans local Texas stations, national investigative reporting, and later digital and independent media projects.
Early life and education
Rather was born in Wharton, Texas, and raised in Houston near Spindletop, attending schools in Harris County and the Texas Gulf Coast region. He grew up during the era of the Great Depression in the United States and World events including World War II, contexts that shaped mid-20th-century Texas life. He graduated from Sam Houston State University with a degree in journalism and later pursued graduate study at the University of Texas at Austin, where he interacted with faculty and student journalists influenced by regional media traditions like the Houston Chronicle and the Austin Statesman.
Career beginnings and local reporting
Rather began his career at local stations including KBMT, KTRK-TV, and KTRP-TV in Texas, covering municipal politics, state legislatures such as the Texas Legislature, and events in cities like Houston. He reported on regional issues that connected to national stories such as the Texas oil industry and civil rights developments involving figures from Texas politics. His early work caught the attention of national networks during the era when broadcast news expanded across markets influenced by companies including CBS and NBC.
CBS News and national prominence
Rather joined CBS News in the early 1960s and covered conflicts including the Vietnam War, embedding with units and reporting on battles and diplomatic initiatives involving Richard Nixon and Lyndon B. Johnson. He reported on the Watergate scandal aftermath, and covered the presidencies of Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and other administrations. Rather served as a correspondent for programs like 60 Minutes and eventually became the anchor of the CBS Evening News, succeeding Walter Cronkite and presiding over coverage of events such as the Watergate hearings, the Iran hostage crisis, and multiple United States presidential elections.
Notable reporting and controversies
Rather produced high-profile investigative reports on topics ranging from the Vietnam War and Hurricane Katrina aftermath to the September 11 attacks and international crises. His tenure included contentious moments such as coverage of the George W. Bush Texas Air National Guard service controversy and the broadcast of documents in the 2004 presidential campaign season that led to the "Rathergate" dispute, involving institutions like the National Guard and publications such as the New York Times and The Washington Post. The controversy prompted examinations by entities including the CBS News management, independent review panels, and commentators from outlets such as The Wall Street Journal. Throughout his career he also reported from scenes involving the Middle East conflict, interactions with leaders like Anwar Sadat and Yasser Arafat, and coverage of crises in regions shaped by events such as the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Later career, projects, and broadcasting work
After leaving the anchor chair, Rather continued work as a correspondent for CBS News and contributed to programs including 60 Minutes II and investigative series. He later founded projects for digital and cable platforms, producing reports for outlets such as AXS TV and launching the program "Dan Rather Reports" with organizations that included independent production companies and online syndication partners. He hosted and appeared on programs addressing topics from climate change debates to electoral oversight, collaborating with journalists and producers and appearing at institutions like Columbia University and the Pew Research Center forums. Rather also embraced social media and online video distribution, engaging audiences via platforms influenced by companies such as YouTube and streaming services.
Personal life and legacy
Rather's personal life includes family ties in Texas, marriage and children, and residences that connected him to communities in New York City and Houston-area locales. He received awards and honors associated with broadcast journalism, including accolades from organizations like the Emmy Awards, the Peabody Awards, and journalism societies connected with Columbia Journalism School. His legacy is reflected in discussions among media scholars at institutions such as Harvard University and in curricula at journalism schools like the Medill School of Journalism and the Cronkite School of Journalism; it remains a subject of debate in analyses published by outlets including The Atlantic and academic journals that examine the evolution of television news, media ethics, and the role of anchors in shaping public discourse.