Daniel Irvin Rather Jr. is a renowned American journalist and commentator, widely recognized for his impactful career as a national evening news anchor. His journey began in Texas, where he rose to prominence for his life-saving reporting during Hurricane Carla in 1961. Rather's innovative use of radar imagery, creating the first radar weather report, facilitated the successful evacuation of 350,000 people. Throughout his career, he provided insightful coverage of major historical events, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Gulf War, 9/11, the Iraq War, and the war on terror, leaving an indelible mark on American journalism.
October 31, 1931: Dan Rather is Born
Dan Rather was born on October 31, 1931 in Wharton County, Texas.
1950: Begins Journalism Career
Dan Rather begins his journalism career in 1950 as an Associated Press reporter in Huntsville, Texas.
1952: Works as Reporter for United Press
Dan Rather works as a reporter for United Press from 1950 to 1952.
January 1954: Enlists and is Discharged from Marine Corps
Dan Rather enlists in the United States Marine Corps and is sent to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in January 1954. However, he is soon discharged after it is discovered that he omitted his childhood rheumatic fever during the enlistment process.
1954: Works as Reporter for Houston Chronicle
Dan Rather works as a reporter for the Houston Chronicle from 1954 to 1955.
1955: Writes Article About Heroin
Around 1955, Dan Rather writes a piece on heroin where, under the supervision of the Houston Police, he tries a dose of the drug and characterizes the experience as "a special kind of hell."
1957: Dan Rather Marries Jean Goebel
Dan Rather married Jean Goebel in 1957. They have a son and daughter and reside in New York City and Austin, Texas.
1959: Announces for Houston Buffs and University of Houston Football
During the 1959 minor league baseball season, Dan Rather serves as the play-by-play radio announcer for the Texas League Houston Buffs. He also works as the play-by-play announcer for the University of Houston football team for four seasons.
September 1961: Hurricane Carla Reporting
Dan Rather gains national recognition for his reporting on Hurricane Carla in September 1961, saving thousands of lives. He spontaneously created the first radar weather report by overlaying a transparent map over a radar image of the hurricane, and helped initiate the evacuation of 350,000 people in his first national broadcast.
September 1961: Hurricane Carla Coverage
In September 1961, Dan Rather gained recognition for his coverage of Hurricane Carla for KHOU-TV. He broadcasted from the National Weather Center in Galveston, showing the first radar image of a hurricane on television. His innovative use of a transparent map overlay on the radar screen helped viewers understand the hurricane's size and potential impact. Rather's coverage, broadcast nationally, contributed to the largest evacuation to that time, saving thousands of lives.
August 1963: Appointment as CBS Southern Bureau Chief
In August 1963, Dan Rather was appointed chief of the CBS Southern bureau in New Orleans. This role expanded his responsibilities to cover news in the South, Southwest, Mexico, and Central America.
November 1963: Reporting on JFK Assassination
Dan Rather reports from Dallas in November 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
November 1963: Presence in Dallas During Kennedy Assassination
In November 1963, Dan Rather was in Dallas, working on an assignment related to former Vice President John Nance Garner's birthday. He was unknowingly near the location of President Kennedy's assassination but did not witness the event itself. He learned about the assassination upon reaching KRLD, having run through Dealey Plaza.
1964: Becomes CBS News White House Correspondent
Based on his reporting, including his coverage of the JFK assassination, Dan Rather is promoted to White House correspondent for CBS News in 1964.
1964: Appointment as CBS White House Correspondent
In 1964, impressed by his reporting in the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination, CBS News appointed Dan Rather as their White House correspondent.
1965: Contribution to Reporting on Charles von Fremd's Return to Washington
In 1965, Dan Rather contributed to the reporting of Charles von Fremd's return to Washington from Dallas. This event was part of a conversation between President Lyndon B. Johnson and NBC Director Max Schindler at the White House.
1965: Foreign Correspondent in London
In 1965, Dan Rather served as a foreign correspondent for CBS in London.
1968: Dan Rather Reports from 1968 Democratic National Convention
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.
1971: Rather's Cameo in All in the Family
In 1971, Dan Rather made a cameo appearance as himself in an episode of the hit comedy series All in the Family. The episode, titled "The Man in the Street," featured Rather delivering post-speech analysis following a televised address by President Richard Nixon.
March 1974: Confrontation with President Nixon
In March 1974, Dan Rather, then CBS's White House correspondent, had a tense exchange with President Nixon at a Houston news conference, questioning Nixon's cooperation with the Watergate investigation.
1974: Chief Correspondent for CBS Reports
Following President Nixon's resignation in 1974, Dan Rather transitioned to the role of chief correspondent for the documentary series CBS Reports.
1974: Accompanying Nixon to China and Covering Watergate
In 1974, Dan Rather was among the journalists who accompanied President Richard Nixon on his historic trip to China. He also played a key role in covering the Watergate investigation and the impeachment proceedings against Nixon in Congress.
December 1975: Correspondent for 60 Minutes
In December 1975, Dan Rather became a correspondent for the prominent news program 60 Minutes, which had moved to a primetime slot. His success on the show contributed to his eventual selection as Walter Cronkite's successor as anchor of The CBS Evening News.
November 10, 1980: Dan Rather Involved in Incident with Cab Driver
On November 10, 1980, Dan Rather was involved in an incident with a cab driver in Chicago who refused to take him to his requested destination and drove erratically. The driver was charged with disorderly conduct, but Rather declined to press charges.
1980: Dan Rather and CBS Win Lawsuit
In 1980, Dan Rather and CBS were taken to court when a California doctor claimed that a report on 60 Minutes wrongfully implicated him in an insurance fraud scheme. CBS stated the doctor 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.
January 1986: Reports on Space Shuttle Delays
In January 1986, Dan Rather reported on NASA's repeated delays in launching the Space Shuttles Columbia and Challenger.
September 1986: Dan Rather Uses "Courage" Sign-Off
For one week in September 1986, Dan 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.
September 1986: Experimenting with "Courage" Sign-Off
In September 1986, while CBS faced potential ownership changes, Dan Rather attempted to end his broadcasts with the word "courage." This experiment was met with widespread ridicule.
October 4, 1986: Dan Rather Assaulted in New York City
On October 4, 1986, while walking along Park Avenue to his New York apartment, 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.
September 11, 1987: Rather Walks Off Set
On September 11, 1987, Dan Rather walked off the set of the CBS Evening News in anger after a U.S. Open tennis match ran long and into the newscast's timeslot. This resulted in over 100 CBS affiliate stations being forced to broadcast six minutes of dead air.
1987: CBS News Layoffs Under Laurence Tisch
In 1987, under the direction of new CBS owner Laurence Tisch, CBS News underwent significant restructuring, including layoffs of hundreds of employees. This move resulted in the departure of prominent correspondents and the closure of numerous bureaus, impacting the network's newsgathering capabilities and contributing to its decline in ratings.
1987: Game Theory Releases Song Referencing Dan Rather Assault
The opening track of the 1987 album Lolita Nation by California power pop group Game Theory is titled "Kenneth, What's the Frequency?" This is in reference to the assault on Dan Rather in 1986.
January 1988: Host of 48 Hours
In January 1988, Dan Rather took on the role of host for the newly established news program 48 Hours.
1988: Bush Confronts Rather on Iran-Contra
In 1988, during a live interview, Vice President George H.W. Bush confronted Dan Rather about his 1987 walk-off incident when Rather asked Bush about his role in the Iran-Contra affair. Bush's response, suggesting Rather's career be judged by the walk-off, benefited Bush's presidential campaign.
1989: Losing Top Spot to ABC's World News Tonight
In 1989, The CBS Evening News, with Dan Rather as anchor, lost its leading position in the ratings to ABC's World News Tonight, anchored by Peter Jennings.
1994: Attack on Dan Rather
In 1994, Dan Rather was attacked by William Tager. Tager believed television networks were beaming signals into his brain, and he was trying to force his way into an NBC studio to find the frequency being used.
1994: Sam Houston State University Renames Building After Dan Rather
In 1994, Sam Houston State University renamed its mass communications building after Dan Rather. The building houses The Houstonian and KSHU, the student-run radio and television stations.
1994: R.E.M. Releases Song and Performs with Dan Rather
In 1994, the band R.E.M. released the song "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" on their album Monster. This song is in reference to the assault on Dan Rather in 1986. 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.
1997: Tager's Identity Revealed
In 1997, a TV critic published a photo of William Tager, identifying him as the man who had attacked Dan Rather in 1994. Rather confirmed the story, and New York District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau confirmed Tager's identity as the attacker.
1998: Rocked by Rape Mashup Song
In 1998, the Evolution Control Committee released "Rocked by Rape," a mashup song parodying TV news by using phrases uttered by Dan Rather on air, focusing on negative events.
1998: Publication of 'Stolen Valor'
In 1998, the book 'Stolen Valor' by B.G. Burkett was published, alleging that veterans featured in Dan Rather's 'The Wall Within' had falsified their war experiences.
January 1999: Correspondent for 60 Minutes II
In January 1999, Dan Rather joined the team of the new program 60 Minutes II as a correspondent.
2000: Ratherisms
Dan Rather was known for his colorful analogies and descriptions, often referred to as "Ratherisms," "Texanisms," or "Danisms." These were frequently used during his live broadcasts and became part of his signature style.
2000: CBS Sends Cease and Desist
In 2000, CBS sent a cease and desist letter to the Evolution Control Committee over their song "Rocked by Rape." However, after responses regarding fair use, CBS desisted. The song was later played at a roast for Dan Rather and on C-SPAN.
April 2001: Dan Rather Speaks at Democratic Fundraiser
In April 2001, according to a front-page story in The Washington Post, Rather spoke at a Democratic party fundraiser in Austin, where he was the featured speaker. Rather said that he did not realize that the event was a partisan fundraiser, although he did realize that after he arrived at the event.
2001: Rather Addresses Nation After 9/11
Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, Dan Rather addressed the nation, emphasizing the importance of courage during challenging times.
2001: Dan Rather Receives Golden Plate Award
In 2001, Dan Rather received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.
June 2002: Andy Rooney Comments on Dan Rather's Political Views
In a June 2002 interview with Larry King, Andy Rooney, Dan Rather's long-time co-worker, stated that Rather is "transparently liberal."
2002: Bernard Goldberg Accuses Dan Rather of Liberal Bias
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 anchorman with a liberal bias.
February 24, 2003: Interviews Saddam Hussein
On February 24, 2003, Dan Rather interviewed Saddam Hussein before the U.S. invasion of Iraq, in which Hussein proposed a live debate with President Bush.
September 8, 2004: Reports on President Bush's Military Documents
On September 8, 2004, Dan Rather reported on 60 Minutes Wednesday about memos concerning President Bush's Air National Guard service record. The documents were quickly questioned for potential forgery.
September 20, 2004: CBS Retracts Story
On September 20, 2004, CBS retracted the story about President Bush's military documents. Dan Rather acknowledged that he wouldn't have used the documents if he had known their questionable authenticity.
2004: Controversial Report on President Bush's Military Record
In 2004, Dan Rather reported on 60 Minutes II about President Bush's military record, which sparked controversy over the authenticity of the documents used.
2004: Rather Featured in Barbecue Documentary
In 2004, Dan Rather was featured in the documentary film Barbecue: A Texas Love Story, directed by Chris Elley.
2004: Dan Rather Inducted into Television Hall of Fame
In 2004, Dan Rather was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
2004: 'The First Rathergate' Published
In 2004, National Review published an article by Anne Morse titled 'The First Rathergate', questioning the authenticity of veteran accounts presented in Dan Rather's 1988 special 'The Wall Within'.
2005: Leaves CBS Anchor Desk
Dan Rather leaves the CBS Evening News anchor desk in 2005 following the Killian documents controversy, where he presented unauthenticated documents in a news report on President George W. Bush's Vietnam War-era service in the National Guard.
2005: Ratings Fluctuation and Interim Anchor
In 2005, during Bob Schieffer's tenure as interim anchor between Dan Rather and Katie Couric, The CBS Evening News experienced fluctuations in ratings. It briefly surpassed ABC World News Tonight following Peter Jennings' death but remained behind NBC Nightly News.
2005: Walter Cronkite Comments on Dan Rather's Time at CBS
During an appearance on CNN's American Morning in 2005, 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."
January 24, 2006: Rather Speaks Out About Lack of Courage in Journalism
On January 24, 2006, Dan Rather spoke to a Seattle audience about his perception of a lack of courage by American journalists, stating that many reporters have adopted a 'go along, get along' attitude.
June 2006: Reports Surface of CBS Not Renewing Rather's Contract
In June 2006, reports surfaced that CBS News would most likely not renew Dan Rather's contract, with sources stating that network executives saw no future role for him.
June 20, 2006: Dan Rather Leaves CBS News After 44 Years
On June 20, 2006, CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus announced Dan Rather's departure from the network after 44 years. Rather issued a separate statement accompanying the news.
2006: Rather Joins AXS TV
Following his departure from CBS in 2006, Dan Rather joined Mark Cuban's cable network AXS TV (then called HDNet) to host and produce the weekly news show Dan Rather Reports.
2006: Begins Hosting 'Dan Rather Reports'
Dan Rather begins hosting 'Dan Rather Reports', a 60 Minutes-style investigative news program, on the cable channel AXS TV (then called HDNet) in 2006.
2006: Fired from CBS
Dan Rather continues to work with CBS until 2006, when he is abruptly fired.
May 2007: Honorary Doctorate from Siena College
In May 2007, Dan Rather received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Siena College in Loudonville, New York, for his lifetime contributions to journalism.
September 2007: Lawsuit Against CBS and Viacom
Dan Rather files a $70 million lawsuit against CBS and its former parent company Viacom in September 2007, accusing them of making him a 'scapegoat' in the Killian documents story.
September 19, 2007: Rather Files Lawsuit Against CBS
On September 19, 2007, Dan Rather filed a $70 million lawsuit against CBS, Viacom, Leslie Moonves, Sumner Redstone, and Andrew Heyward, alleging they made him a scapegoat in the Killian story.
September 20, 2007: Rather Defends 2004 Story
On September 20, 2007, Dan Rather was interviewed on Larry King Live, where he maintained that the documents in the 2004 report about President Bush's military record hadn't been proven fraudulent.
2007: Rather's Cameos
In 2007, Dan Rather made cameo appearances in the premiere of the ABC drama Dirty Sexy Money and in an episode of The Simpsons titled 'E Pluribus Wiggum.'
2008: Dan Rather Criticizes News Organizations at Free Press Conference
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."
2008: Rather in Boogie Man Documentary
In 2008, Dan Rather appeared in the award-winning documentary Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story.
May 2009: Rather 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 lunch.
September 2009: Lawsuit Dismissed
An intermediate New York state appeals court dismisses Dan Rather's lawsuit against CBS and Viacom in September 2009.
September 21, 2009: Rather's Lawyers Claim Bush's Military Service a Sham
On September 21, 2009, Dan Rather's lawyers claimed that George W. Bush's military service would be proven to be a sham, and that this would vindicate Rather.
September 29, 2009: Court Dismisses Rather's Lawsuit Against CBS
On September 29, 2009, a New York state appeals court dismissed Dan Rather's lawsuit against CBS.
January 12, 2010: Court Refuses to Reinstate Rather's Lawsuit
On January 12, 2010, New York's top court refused to reinstate Dan Rather's $70 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against CBS Corp.
January 2010: Appeal Denied
The New York Court of Appeals refuses to reinstate Dan Rather's lawsuit against CBS and Viacom in January 2010.
October 2010: William Tager Paroled
In October 2010, William Tager, who had been convicted of killing NBC stagehand Campbell Montgomery in 1994, was paroled. Tager had claimed he attacked Rather and Montgomery because he believed television networks were beaming signals into his brain.
May 18, 2012: Rather Claims He Was Fired for Reporting on George W. Bush
On May 18, 2012, Dan 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 news corporations were uncomfortable with the story.
2012: Rather Publishes Autobiography
In 2012, Dan Rather published his autobiography titled Rather Outspoken: My Life in the News.
2013: Rather Begins Hosting The Big Interview
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. He has also produced documentary specials under the banner Dan Rather Presents, covering topics like America's mental health crisis, the Secret Service, and international adoption.
2013: Rather Denies Anger Over Walk-Off
In his 2013 book, Dan Rather denied being angry or upset about the 1987 U.S. Open incident, stating he was misinformed about the timing of the match and not angry about the delay.
2013: Rather Ends Dan Rather Reports
Dan Rather hosted and produced Dan Rather Reports on AXS TV until 2013.
2013: Ends Hosting 'Dan Rather Reports'
Dan Rather ends his run as the host of 'Dan Rather Reports' on AXS TV in 2013.
2015: Rather Launches News and Guts Media
In 2015, Dan Rather launched News and Guts Media, an independent production company through which he produces The Big Interview and other projects.
2015: Rather Portrayed by Redford in Truth
In 2015, Robert Redford portrayed Dan Rather in the film Truth, and Rather himself appeared in the documentary series Facing, sharing his views on Saddam Hussein in the episode 'Facing Saddam.'
September 23, 2016: Rather Launches Dan Rather's America on SiriusXM Radio
On September 23, 2016, SiriusXM Radio announced a new weekly program, Dan Rather's America, airing on Radio Andy channel 102.
2017: Briscoe Center Launches Dan Rather: American Journalist Project
In the fall of 2017, the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas launched the Dan Rather: American Journalist project, a digital humanities project dedicated to Rather's career. The website features digitized documents, oral history interview excerpts, and video clips, offering a historical perspective through the lens of Rather's work.
January 2018: Begins Hosting 'The News with Dan Rather'
Dan Rather begins hosting an online newscast called 'The News with Dan Rather' on The Young Turks YouTube channel in January 2018.
January 21, 2018: Rather Launches The News with Dan Rather on The Young Turks
On January 21, 2018, Dan Rather launched a weekly newscast titled The News with Dan Rather on The Young Turks, airing on Mondays until June of that year.
2021: Begins Writing 'Steady' Newsletter
Dan Rather begins writing the newsletter 'Steady' on the Substack platform in 2021.
2023: Dan Rather Inducted into SXSW Hall of Fame
In 2023, Dan Rather was inducted into the SXSW Hall of Fame.
April 2024: Returns to CBS News
In April 2024, Dan Rather is interviewed by correspondent Lee Cowan on Sunday Morning, marking his first return to CBS News since departing from the network 18 years prior due to the controversial report on United States President George W. Bush's Vietnam War era military service.
2024: Rather Documentary on Netflix
In 2024, Netflix aired Rather, a documentary film directed by Frank Marshall, chronicling the life and career of Dan Rather.