Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Dan Rather

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Dan Rather made an impact.

Dan Rather is an American journalist and former national evening news anchor, renowned for his extensive career covering major historical events. He gained early recognition for his reporting during Hurricane Carla in 1961, aiding in the evacuation of 350,000 people. Throughout his career, Rather reported on pivotal moments such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Gulf War, 9/11, the Iraq War, and the war on terror, establishing himself as a prominent figure in broadcast journalism.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1950: Began Career as AP Reporter

In 1950, Dan Rather started his journalism career as an Associated Press reporter in Huntsville, Texas.

1952: Reporter for United Press

From 1950-1952, Dan Rather worked as a reporter for United Press.

1953: Graduation with Journalism Degree

In 1953, Dan Rather earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Sam Houston State Teachers College. During this time he was also the editor of the school newspaper.

1954: Reporter for Houston Chronicle

In 1954, Dan Rather became a reporter for the Houston Chronicle.

1955: Wrote Piece on Heroin

Around 1955, Dan Rather wrote a piece on heroin for the Houston Chronicle, in which he tried a dose of the drug under police auspices.

1959: Play-by-Play Announcer

During the 1959 minor league baseball season, Dan Rather was the play-by-play radio announcer for the Texas League Houston Buffs.

1959: Coaches Show Host

In 1959, Dan Rather started his television career as part of a weekly Coaches Show for the University of Houston on KTRK-TV.

1960: News Anchor and Director

In 1960, Dan Rather was hired as the 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. news anchor and director of news for KHOU-TV.

September 1961: Hurricane Carla Coverage

In September 1961, Dan Rather covered Hurricane Carla for KHOU-TV, showing the first radar image of a hurricane on TV and initiating the evacuation of over 350,000 people.

February 28, 1962: Joined CBS for a Trial Initiation

On February 28, 1962, Dan Rather left Houston for New York City for a six-month trial initiation at CBS.

August 1963: Chief of Southern Bureau

In August 1963, Dan Rather was appointed chief of the Southern bureau in New Orleans for CBS, responsible for news coverage in the South, Southwest, Mexico, and Central America.

November 1963: Reporting from Dallas on JFK Assassination

In November 1963, Dan Rather reported from Dallas during the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This reporting significantly raised his profile at CBS News.

1964: White House Correspondent

In 1964, Dan Rather was promoted to White House correspondent at CBS News, following his reporting on the Kennedy assassination.

1965: Contributed to Reporting of Kennedy Assassination Aftermath

In 1965, Dan Rather contributed to the reporting of the return to Washington from Dallas by Charles von Fremd.

1965: Foreign Correspondent in London

In 1965, Dan Rather served as a foreign correspondent for CBS in London.

1966: Foreign Correspondent in Vietnam

In 1966, Dan Rather served as a foreign correspondent for CBS in Vietnam.

1968: Rather attempts to interview delegate at Democratic National Convention

During the live coverage of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, Dan Rather attempted to interview a delegate from Georgia who appeared to be forcibly removed by men without identification badges.

1970: Anchor for CBS Sunday Night News

In 1970, Dan Rather was assigned as anchor for the CBS Sunday Night News.

1973: Anchor for CBS Saturday Evening News

In 1973, Dan Rather was assigned as anchor for the CBS Saturday Evening News.

March 1974: Confrontation with Nixon at News Conference

In March 1974, at a Houston news conference, Dan Rather questioned President Richard Nixon about his cooperation with the Watergate investigation. This led to a tense exchange and accusations of biased coverage.

1974: Chief Correspondent for CBS Reports

After President Nixon's resignation in 1974, Dan Rather became chief correspondent for the documentary series CBS Reports.

1974: Anchor for CBS Sunday Night News

In 1974, Dan Rather continued as anchor for the CBS Sunday Night News.

December 1975: Correspondent for 60 Minutes

In December 1975, Dan Rather became a correspondent for the long-running Sunday night news show 60 Minutes.

November 10, 1980: Cab Incident in Chicago

On November 10, 1980, Dan Rather was involved in an incident with a cab driver in Chicago after asking to be taken to Studs Terkel's home for an interview for 60 Minutes. The driver refused and drove erratically, leading to a disorderly conduct charge. Rather declined to press charges.

1980: Carl Galloway lawsuit against Rather and CBS

In 1980, Carl Galloway, a California doctor, sued Dan Rather and CBS, claiming a 60 Minutes report wrongly implicated him in an insurance fraud scheme. The jury sided with CBS and Rather, and they won the case.

March 9, 1981: First CBS Evening News Broadcast

On March 9, 1981, Dan Rather made his first broadcast as the news anchor after succeeding Walter Cronkite.

1981: Anchor of CBS Evening News

In 1981, Dan Rather became the news anchor for the CBS Evening News, a position he held for 24 years.

1985: Regained Top Spot

In 1985, Dan Rather regained the top spot in TV news.

January 1986: Reporting on Space Shuttle Delay

In January 1986, Dan Rather reported on the repeated delays facing NASA's Space Shuttles Columbia and Challenger.

September 1986: "Courage" Broadcast Ending

For one week in September 1986, Dan Rather ended his broadcasts with the word "courage", but was ridiculed for it.

September 1986: Rather's use of "courage" sign-off

For one week in September 1986, Dan Rather signed off his CBS broadcasts with the word "courage". This was ridiculed by other newscasters, and he stopped using the sign-off.

September 11, 1987: Rather walks off set due to U.S. Open delay, causing dead air

On September 11, 1987, Dan Rather walked off the set in anger because a U.S. Open tennis match ran long, delaying the Evening News. This resulted in six minutes of dead air for over 100 CBS affiliate stations.

1987: Layoffs at CBS News

In 1987, new CBS owner Laurence Tisch oversaw layoffs of hundreds of CBS News employees, a major shake-up that impacted the network's ratings.

January 1988: Host of 48 Hours

In January 1988, Dan Rather became the host of the newly created 48 Hours.

June 2, 1988: Hosting CBS News Special 'The Wall Within'

On June 2, 1988, Dan Rather hosted a CBS News special, 'The Wall Within', featuring interviews with Vietnam veterans discussing the war's impact on their lives.

1988: Bush references Rather's walk-off during live interview about Iran-Contra

In 1988, during a live interview about the Iran-Contra affair, Vice President George H.W. Bush referenced Dan Rather's 1987 walk-off, asking Rather how he would like to have his career judged by those seven minutes. Bush's favorability benefited in Iowa and New Hampshire after the interview.

1989: Ceded Rating Peak

In 1989, Dan Rather ceded the ratings peak to rival Peter Jennings at ABC's World News Tonight.

1992: Evening News Fell to Third Place

By 1992, the Evening News had fallen to third place of the three major networks.

1993: Co-Anchoring with Connie Chung

From 1993 to 1995, Dan Rather co-anchored the evening news with Connie Chung.

1995: Connie Chung Leaves

In 1995, Connie Chung left the network, and Dan Rather went back to doing the newscast alone.

January 1999: Correspondent for 60 Minutes II

In January 1999, Dan Rather joined the new 60 Minutes II as a correspondent.

2000: 2000 election

Dan Ratherisms were used to commentate the 2000 election.

2001: Sign Off Using the Word Courage

In 2001, shortly after becoming an anchor, Dan Rather signed off using the word "Courage", extending it to the nation during difficult times.

February 24, 2003: Interview with Saddam Hussein

On February 24, 2003, Dan Rather interviewed Saddam Hussein before the U.S. invasion of Iraq. During the interview, Hussein invited Rather to moderate a live debate between himself and George W. Bush.

September 8, 2004: Reporting on Bush's National Guard Service

On September 8, 2004, Dan Rather reported on '60 Minutes Wednesday' about memos questioning President George W. Bush's Texas Air National Guard service. The authenticity of these documents was quickly challenged.

September 20, 2004: CBS Retracts Bush Guard Story

On September 20, 2004, CBS retracted the story about President Bush's National Guard service. Dan Rather acknowledged that he would not have aired the story with the documents in question, knowing what he knew then.

2004: Report on President Bush's Military Record

In 2004, a report on President Bush's military record which was criticized after 60 Minutes II ran the report. Numerous critics questioned the authenticity of the documents upon which the report was based.

March 9, 2005: Last Broadcast as CBS Evening News Anchor

On March 9, 2005, Dan Rather delivered his final broadcast as the anchorman and Managing Editor of the CBS Evening News, ending a 24-year tenure.

2005: Criticism After Bush's Military Record Report

By the 2005-06 season, CBS Evening News lagged behind other networks and faced criticism after a 2004 report about President Bush's military record was questioned.

2005: Departure from Anchor Desk

In 2005, Dan Rather left the anchor desk following the Killian documents controversy.

2005: Rose in Rankings

In 2005, The Evening News rose in rankings when Bob Schieffer became the interim anchor between Rather and Katie Couric.

2005: Walter Cronkite's criticism of Dan Rather on CNN

In 2005, Walter Cronkite criticized Dan Rather's performance as CBS anchor on CNN's American Morning, stating that he was surprised CBS tolerated Rather's low ratings for so long and that Bob Schieffer should have been given the position sooner.

January 24, 2006: Rather Speaks About Lack of Courage by Journalists

On January 24, 2006, Dan Rather spoke to a Seattle audience, criticizing the lack of courage among American journalists, suggesting they have adopted a 'go along, get along' attitude.

June 2006: Reports of CBS Not Renewing Rather's Contract

In June 2006, reports surfaced that CBS News would likely not renew Dan Rather's contract, indicating "there is no future role for Rather" at the network.

June 20, 2006: Departure from CBS News Announced

On June 20, 2006, CBS News announced that Dan Rather would leave the network after 44 years, accompanied by a separate statement from Rather.

2006: Departure from CBS

Dan Rather had already departed from CBS in 2006 after the Killian documents controversy.

2006: Host of Dan Rather Reports

In 2006, Dan Rather began hosting Dan Rather Reports, an investigative news program, on AXS TV (then HDNet).

2006: Joins HDNet to Host 'Dan Rather Reports'

In 2006, after leaving CBS, Dan Rather joined Mark Cuban's HDNet (now AXS TV) to host and produce the weekly news show 'Dan Rather Reports'.

September 19, 2007: Rather Files Lawsuit Against CBS

On September 19, 2007, Dan Rather filed a $70 million lawsuit against CBS, Viacom, and network executives, accusing them of making him a "scapegoat" in the Killian documents story.

2008: Ratherisms used in HBO's Recount

In 2008, the HBO made-for-TV movie Recount about the 2000 Election, used many of Dan Rather's colorful analogies and descriptions, known as "Ratherisms".

2013: End of Dan Rather Reports

In 2013, Dan Rather's investigative news program, Dan Rather Reports, ended its run on AXS TV.

2013: Rather denies anger in 1987 walk-off incident

In his 2013 book, Dan Rather denied being angry or upset during the 1987 walk-off incident, stating that he was only misinformed about the timing of the tennis match.

2013: Hosts 'The Big Interview with Dan Rather'

Since 2013, Dan Rather has hosted and produced 'The Big Interview with Dan Rather' on AXS TV, featuring in-depth interviews with influential figures in music and entertainment.

2015: Begins Posting on Facebook

In 2015, Dan Rather began actively posting on Facebook, covering a range of topics and amassing a large following.

2015: Launches News and Guts Media

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