History of Dan Rather in Timeline
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.
October 31, 1931: Dan Rather's Birth
On October 31, 1931, Daniel Irvin Rather Jr. was born. He would later become a prominent American journalist, commentator, and news anchor.
1950: Graduation from High School
In 1950, Dan Rather graduated from John H. Reagan High School in Houston, where he also played football.
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.
January 1954: Enlistment and Discharge from Marine Corps
In January 1954, Dan Rather enlisted in the United States Marine Corps but was soon discharged due to a childhood history of rheumatic fever.
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.
1957: Marriage to Jean Goebel
In 1957, Dan Rather married Jean Goebel, marking the beginning of a 67-year-long marriage.
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.
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.
November 1963: In Dallas During Kennedy Assassination
In November 1963, Dan Rather was in Dallas to return film when President Kennedy was assassinated, placing him near Dealey Plaza, though he did not witness the shooting.
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.
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.
1971: Rather's cameo in All in the Family
In 1971, Dan Rather had a cameo appearance in an episode of All in the Family, where he delivered post-speech analysis of a Richard Nixon address.
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.
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.
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.
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: "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" becomes a pop culture reference
In 1987, the phrase "What's the frequency, Kenneth?" became a popular culture reference after the attack on Dan Rather, appearing in media such as the album Lolita Nation.
January 1988: Host of 48 Hours
In January 1988, Dan Rather became the host of the newly created 48 Hours.
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.
1994: R.E.M. releases "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?"
In 1994, R.E.M. released the song "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" on their album Monster, referencing the attack on Dan Rather.
1994: Sam Houston State Renames Building After Rather
In 1994, Sam Houston State University renamed its mass communications building after Dan Rather.
1994: William Tager kills NBC stagehand
In 1994, William Tager killed NBC stagehand Campbell Montgomery outside The Today Show studio.
1995: Connie Chung Leaves
In 1995, Connie Chung left the network, and Dan Rather went back to doing the newscast alone.
1997: Identification of Dan Rather's Attacker
In 1997, William Tager, who was serving time for killing an NBC stagehand, was identified as the man who attacked Dan Rather in 1986. Tager believed TV networks were beaming signals into his brain.
1998: Publication of Stolen Valor
In 1998, B.G. Burkett published Stolen Valor, which served as the basis for the National Review's critique of Dan Rather's show, 'The Wall Within'.
1998: "Rocked by Rape" mashup song parodies Rather
In 1998, the Evolution Control Committee created the mashup song "Rocked by Rape", parodying TV news by using phrases uttered by Dan Rather.
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.
2000: CBS sends cease-and-desist letter over "Rocked by Rape"
In 2000, CBS sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Evolution Control Committee over their mashup song "Rocked by Rape", claiming copyright violation. After fair use responses, CBS desisted.
April 2001: Speaks at Democratic Party Fundraiser
In April 2001, Dan Rather spoke at a Democratic party fundraiser in Austin, where he was the featured speaker; one of the official hosts for the fundraiser was Rather's daughter.
2001: Receives Golden Plate Award
In 2001, Dan Rather received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.
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.
June 2002: Andy Rooney Calls Rather Transparently Liberal
In June 2002, Andy Rooney stated that Dan Rather is "transparently liberal".
2002: Published Book Bias Alleges Liberal Bias
In 2002, Bernard Goldberg published a book titled Bias, alleging a liberal bias in news organizations, using Dan Rather as a primary example.
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: Featured in Barbecue: A Texas Love Story
In 2004, Dan Rather was featured in the documentary film Barbecue: A Texas Love Story.
2004: Inducted into Television Hall of Fame
In 2004, Dan Rather was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
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: 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: Character in Shooting War graphic novel
In 2006, Dan Rather was featured as a character in the Shooting War graphic novel, set in the year 2011.
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'.
May 2007: Receives Honorary Doctorate from Siena College
In May 2007, Dan Rather received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Siena College for his lifetime contributions to journalism.
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.
2007: Rather appears in Dirty Sexy Money and The Simpsons
In 2007, Dan Rather had a cameo in the premiere of the drama Dirty Sexy Money and guest-starred in The Simpsons episode, "E Pluribus Wiggum".
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".
2008: Appearance in Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story
In 2008, Dan Rather appeared in the award-winning documentary Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story.
May 2009: Rather appears on The Daily Show
In May 2009, Dan Rather appeared on The Daily Show, wearing an Afro wig and mutton-chop sideburns to narrate a segment parodying MSNBC's coverage of President Obama and Vice President Biden's hamburger lunch.
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.
October 2010: Parole of William Tager
In October 2010, William Tager, the man who attacked Dan Rather in 1986, was paroled.
2011: Shooting War Graphic Novel set
In 2011, the Shooting War graphic novel was set, where Dan Rather was featured as a character.
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.
2012: Publishes Autobiography 'Rather Outspoken'
In 2012, Dan Rather published his autobiography titled 'Rather Outspoken: My Life in the News'.
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.
2015: Portrayal in Truth and appearance in Facing Saddam
In 2015, Robert Redford portrayed Dan Rather in the film Truth, and Rather appeared in the documentary series Facing in the episode "Facing Saddam".
September 23, 2016: Announces SiriusXM Radio Program
On September 23, 2016, SiriusXM Radio announced a new hour-long weekly program, 'Dan Rather's America', debuting on September 27.
2017: Digital Humanities Project Completed at UT
In the fall of 2017, the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas completed a digital humanities project dedicated to the career of Dan Rather titled 'Dan Rather: American Journalist'.
January 2018: Hosting The News with Dan Rather
In January 2018, Dan Rather began hosting an online newscast called The News with Dan Rather on the Young Turks YouTube channel.
January 21, 2018: Launches 'The News with Dan Rather' on The Young Turks
On January 21, 2018, Dan Rather launched a weekly newscast on The Young Turks titled 'The News with Dan Rather', airing until June.
2021: Writing 'Steady' Newsletter
Since 2021, Dan Rather has been writing the newsletter "Steady" on the Substack platform.
2023: Inducted into the SXSW Hall of Fame
In 2023, Dan Rather was inducted into the SXSW Hall of Fame.
April 2024: Return to CBS News
In April 2024, Dan Rather returned to CBS News for an interview on Sunday Morning, his first appearance since his 2006 departure.
November 2024: Death of Jean Goebel, Dan Rather's Wife
In November 2024, Jean Goebel, Dan Rather's wife of 67 years, passed away.
2024: Posts on 'Steady' Newsletter
In 2024, Dan Rather had 170 posts in his newsletter 'Steady' on Substack.
2024: Release of Netflix documentary Rather
In 2024, Netflix aired the documentary film Rather, directed by Frank Marshall, a biography of Dan Rather.
