Challenges Faced by Dan Rather: Obstacles and Turning Points

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Dan Rather. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

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

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.

October 4, 1986: Attack on Dan Rather: "What's the frequency, Kenneth?"

On October 4, 1986, Dan Rather was attacked in New York by a man who repeatedly asked, "Kenneth, what is the frequency?". The assailant continued to repeat the question as he pummeled and kicked Rather. The crime remained unsolved for some time and led to much speculation, but Rather's account of the bizarre incident was fully confirmed.

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.

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.

2004: National Review Article on 'The First Rathergate'

In 2004, the National Review published an article questioning the veracity of claims made in Dan Rather's 'The Wall Within' special, alleging that some veterans had fabricated their experiences.

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: 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.

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.

September 2007: Lawsuit Against CBS and Viacom

In September 2007, Dan Rather filed a $70 million lawsuit against CBS and its former parent company, Viacom, claiming he was made a "scapegoat" in the Killian documents controversy.

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.

September 20, 2007: Dan Rather Comments on 'Rathergate' Controversy

On September 20, 2007, Dan Rather commented on Larry King Live saying that no one has proven the documents fraudulent in the 'Rathergate' controversy and that the truth of the story stands up to this day.

2008: Criticizes Political Influence in Journalism

At a 2008 conference in Minneapolis, Dan Rather criticized both local and national news organizations, stating that there is no longer incentive to do "good and valuable news".

September 2009: Lawsuit Dismissal

In September 2009, an intermediate New York state appeals court dismissed Dan Rather's lawsuit against CBS and Viacom.

September 21, 2009: Rather's Lawyers Claim Vindication

On September 21, 2009, Rather's lawyers claimed that they would prove that Bush's military service was a sham and that Rather would be vindicated in the CBS lawsuit.

September 29, 2009: Lawsuit Against CBS Dismissed

On September 29, 2009, a New York state appeals court dismissed Dan Rather's lawsuit against CBS.

January 12, 2010: Top Court Refuses to Reinstate Lawsuit

On January 12, 2010, New York's top court refused to reinstate Dan Rather's breach-of-contract lawsuit against CBS Corp.

January 2010: Lawsuit Reinstatement Refusal

In January 2010, the New York Court of Appeals refused to reinstate Dan Rather's lawsuit against CBS and Viacom.

May 18, 2012: Rather Claims He Was Fired

On May 18, 2012, Dan Rather claimed on Real Time With Bill Maher that he was fired for reporting a story about George W. Bush's year of absence from the reserve unit.