Dan Rather
Dan Rather, 2007-08-14
Birth name	Daniel Irvin Rather Jr.
Born	October 31, 1931 (1931-10-31) (age 76)
Birth place	Wharton, Texas, USA
Circumstances
Occupation	Journalist, Anchor
Notable credit(s)	CBS Evening News anchor (1981–2005) 60 Minutes correspondent (1968–1981; 1999–2006)

Daniel Irvin Rather, Jr. (born October 31, 1931) is a former news anchor for the CBS Evening News and is now managing editor and anchor of a television news magazine, Dan Rather Reports, on the cable channel HDNet. Rather was anchor of the CBS Evening News for 24 years, from March 9, 1981 to March 9, 2005. He also contributed to CBS' 60 Minutes. Rather left CBS Evening News in 2005 and the network itself in 2006. On September 19, 2007, Rather filed a $70 million lawsuit against the network, its former parent company Viacom Inc., and three of his former bosses. Rather said he was denied airtime on 60 Minutes, among other complaints outlined in the lawsuit, CBS Radio reported. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,200 × 1,600 pixels, file size: 501 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 226th day of the year (227th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Wharton is a city in Wharton County, Texas, United States. ... For other uses, see Journalist (disambiguation). ... “Anchorman” redirects here. ... CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS. The network has broadcast this program since 1948, and has used the CBS Evening News title since 1963. ... This article is about the CBS news magazine. ... is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... “Anchorman” redirects here. ... CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS. The network has broadcast this program since 1948, and has used the CBS Evening News title since 1963. ... HDNet is a general interest television channel in the United States, broadcasting exclusively in high-definition format, and available via cable and satellite television. ... CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS. The network has broadcast this program since 1948, and has used the CBS Evening News title since 1963. ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the CBS news magazine. ... Viacom (short for Video & Audio Communications) (NYSE: VIA) is an international media conglomerate. ...

Biography

Early life

Rather was born in Wharton, Texas, the son of Daniel Irvin Rather Sr. and his wife, the former Byrl Veda Page. After moving to Houston, Texas, Rather attended Love Elementary School, Hamilton Middle School, and Reagan High School. In 1953, he received a bachelor's degree in journalism from Sam Houston State University where he was editor of the school newspaper, The Houstonian. Also at Sam Houston, he was a member of the Caballeros, which was the founding organization of the currently active Epsilon Psi chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity.^{[citation needed]} After obtaining his bachelor's, he briefly attended South Texas College of Law, which later awarded him an honorary JD in 1990. Wharton is a city in Wharton County, Texas, United States. ... Houston redirects here. ... Reagan High School John H. Reagan High School is a secondary school located at 413 East 13th Street in Houston, Texas with a zip code of 77008. ... A bachelors degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years. ... Journalism is a discipline of gathering, writing and reporting news, and broadly it includes the process of editing and presenting the news articles. ... Sam Houston State University, (known as SHSU and Sam, for short) founded in 1879, is a public university located in Huntsville, Texas. ... Sigma Chi (ΣΧ) is one of the largest and oldest all-male, college, Greek-letter social fraternities. ... South Texas College of Law is a private American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). ...

Start of his career

Rather began his career in 1950 as an Associated Press reporter in Huntsville, Texas. Later, he was a reporter for United Press International (1950–1952), several Texas radio stations, and the Houston Chronicle (1954–1955). In 1959, he entered television as a reporter for KTRK-TV in Houston. Rather was promoted to the director of news for KHOU-TV, the CBS affiliate in Houston. Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... 66 Foot Tall Statue of Sam Houston in Huntsville, Texas. ... Front of UPI Headquarters, Washington, D.C. “UPI” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... The Houston Chronicle is a daily newspaper in Houston, Texas, United States. ... KTRK TV is a television station in Houston, Texas, affiliated with the American Broadcasting Company network. ... Houston redirects here. ... KHOU could refer to two articles about Houston, Texas in the United States: KHOU-TV channel 11, a television station affiliated with CBS The ICAO airport code for William P. Hobby Airport Category: ... Houston redirects here. ...

In early September 1961, Rather reported live from the Galveston Seawall as Hurricane Carla threatened the Texas coastline. This action, which has been imitated by countless other reporters, impressed the network executives at CBS, and they hired him as a CBS News correspondent in 1962. In his autobiography, Rather notes that back then TV stations didn't have their own radar systems, and of course nobody then had the modern computerized radar that combines the radar image with an outline map. So he took a camera crew to a National Weather Service radar station located on the top floor of the Post Office Building on 25th Street in Galveston, where a technician drew a rough outline of the Gulf of Mexico on a sheet of plastic, and held that over the black and white radar display to give Rather's audience an idea of the storm's size and position of the storm's eye. Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Galveston Seawall during construction The Galveston Seawall, USA, constructed in 1902, is a seawall that was built after the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 for protection from future hurricanes. ... Hurricane Carla, a Category 5 at peak intensity, was one of the most powerful storms to ever strike the United States. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... This article is about the broadcast network. ... CBS News logo, used from Sept. ... A journalist is a person who practices journalism. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Weather Service (NWS) is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States government. ... Galveston redirects here. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... Eye of the storm redirects here. ...

At CBS News

The newsman has been the subject of controversy sporadically throughout his career. As he wrote in an autobiography, Rather was the first network television journalist to report that U.S. President John F. Kennedy died in the November 22, 1963 shooting in Dallas. He was also one of the first to see the Zapruder film taken by an eyewitness to the passing Dallas motorcade and reported that JFK's head went "violently forward" when he was hit. It in fact went violently backwards, after jerking forward briefly. John Kennedy and JFK redirect here. ... is the 326th day of the year (327th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... President Kennedy with his wife, Jacqueline, and Texas Governor John Connally in the presidential limousine just moments before his assassination The assassination of John F. Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, took place on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, USA at 12:30 p. ... Dallas redirects here. ... Frame 150 from the Zapruder Film The Zapruder film is a silent, 8 mm color home movie, shot by a private citizen named Abraham Zapruder, of the presidential motorcade of John F. Kennedy through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. ...

Later, he reported that some schoolchildren in Dallas had applauded when they were notified of the president's death. Administrators said, in fact, the thrust of the announcement was that school was to be dismissed early (making the students' delight more understandable). This story infuriated local journalists at then-CBS affiliate KRLD-TV (now KDFW-TV), who temporarily threw the CBS News staff out of their workspace. KDFW (FOX4 - The News Station) is the FOX owned and operated television station in the Dallas, Texas/Fort Worth, Texas DMA. Its transmitter is located in Cedar Hill. ...

Rather's reporting during the national mourning period following the Kennedy assassination and subsequent events brought him to the attention of CBS News management, which rewarded him in 1964 with the network's White House correspondent position. After serving as a foreign correspondent for CBS News, he drew the assignment as primary anchor for the CBS Sunday Night News, while serving as White House correspondent during the Richard Nixon presidency. He covered the Watergate investigation as well as the impeachment proceedings. For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... Nixon redirects here. ... Watergate redirects here. ... Depiction of the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson, then President of the United States, in 1868. ...

After President Nixon's resignation, Rather took the assignment of chief correspondent for the documentary series CBS Reports. He later became a correspondent of the long-running Sunday night news show 60 Minutes, just as the program was moved from a Sunday afternoon time-slot to primetime. Success there (and a threat to bolt to another network) helped Rather pull ahead of longtime correspondent Roger Mudd in line to succeed Walter Cronkite as anchor and Managing Editor of The CBS Evening News.

Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to document reality. ... This article is about the CBS news magazine. ... PrimeTime is a television newsmagazine from ABC News. ... Roger Mudd, born February 9, 1928 in Washington, is a U.S. television journalist. ... Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. ... CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS. The network has broadcast this program since 1948, and has used the CBS Evening News title since 1963. ...

Rather assumed the position upon Cronkite's retirement, making his first broadcast on March 9, 1981. From the beginning of his tenure, it was clear that Rather had a significantly different style of reporting the news. In contrast to the avuncular Cronkite, who ended his newscast with "That's the way it is", Rather searched to find a broadcast ending more suitable to his tastes. For one week during the mid-1980s, Rather tried ending his broadcasts with the word "courage" and was roundly ridiculed for it. He eventually found a wrap-up phrase more modest than Cronkite's and more relaxed than his own previous attempt; for nearly two decades, Rather ended the show with "That's part of our world tonight." CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS. The network has broadcast this program since 1948, and has used the CBS Evening News title since 1963. ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ...

While Rather had inherited Cronkite's ratings lead, the success of the Evening News with him at the helm fluctuated wildly. After a dip to second place, Rather regained the top spot in the mid-1980's. However, by the 90's, the Evening News had fallen to third place, where it remains to this day.

The traditionally strong journalistic bench of CBS News was weakened in 1984, when new owner Lawrence Tisch oversaw layoffs of thousands of CBS News employees, including correspondents David Andelman, Fred Graham, Morton Dean and Ike Pappas. Fewer videotape crews were dispatched to cover stories and numerous bureaus were closed. Reporting by Peter Boyer of the New York Times indicates that Rather did relatively little to stop this, having already chosen to marginalize the people he considered to be "B" level correspondents. David A. Andelman is an executive editor at Forbes. ... Fred Graham is the chief anchor and managing editor of Court TV. He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on October 6, 1931. ... Morton Dean (born August 22, 1935, Fall River, Massachusetts) is an American television news journalist who has worked for several networks since the mid-1960s. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ...

For a short time from 1993 to 1995, Rather co-anchored the evening news with Connie Chung. Chung had previously been a Washington correspondent for CBS News and anchored short news updates on the west coast. On joining the CBS Evening News, however, she worked to report "pop news" stories that didn't fit the style of the broadcast. In one incident she was on an airplane interviewing Tonya Harding, who was accused of being behind the plot to injure fellow Olympic ice skater Nancy Kerrigan. Chung ultimately left the network, and Rather went back to doing the newscast alone. Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Constance Yu-Hwa Chung Povich (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; born August 20, 1946) is an American journalist who has appeared on many USA television news networks. ... Tonya Harding performs a triple axel jump at the 1991 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. ... Nancy Kerrigan (born October 13, 1969 in Stoneham, Massachusetts) is a two-time American Olympic figure skating medalist and 1993 U.S. champion. ...

At the end of Rather's time as anchor, the CBS Evening News was behind the NBC Nightly News and ABC World News Tonight in the ratings, although it was still drawing approximately 7 million viewers a night. Criticism of Rather reached a fever pitch after 60 Minutes II ran his report about Bush's military record; numerous critics questioned the authenticity of the documents upon which the report was based. Rather retired under pressure as the anchor of the CBS Evening News at 7:00 eastern time, 9 March 2005. NBC Nightly News is the flagship evening news program for NBC News and broadcasts from the GE Building, Rockefeller Center in New York City. ... ABC World News Tonight (often abbreviated as WNT) is the ABC television networks flagship evening news program. ... 60 Minutes II, also known as 60 Minutes Wednesday and 60 Minutes (see #Name changes), was a weekly primetime newsmagazine television program intended to replicate the signature style, journalistic quality and integrity of the original 60 Minutes series. ... 1st Lt. ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Other current notes

In 2006, Dan Rather donated $2 million to his alma mater, Sam Houston State University, the largest single monetary gift in the school's 127-year history.^[specify] The University renamed its mass communications building after Rather in 1994. The building houses The Houstonian and KSHU, which refers to the radio and television stations which are both run by students. Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sam Houston State University, (known as SHSU and Sam, for short) founded in 1879, is a public university located in Huntsville, Texas. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

In May, 2007, Rather received a honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Siena College in Loudonville, New York for his lifetime contributions to journalism. For other uses, see May (disambiguation). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Siena College is a nationally recognized independent Catholic Liberal Arts College situated on US 9 in the suburban community of Loudonville, New York, two miles (3. ... Loudonville is a hamlet located in the town of Colonie, Albany County, New York, in the USA. Siena College, a liberal arts college, is located in the hamlet. ...

Rather is also a columnist whose work is distributed by King Features Syndicate. A columnist is a journalist who produces a specific form of writing for publication called a column. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and the Internet. ... King Features 1951 Christmas card King Features Syndicate, a print syndication company owned by The Hearst Corporation, distributes about 150 comic strips, newspaper columns, editorial cartoons, puzzles and games to nearly 5000 newspapers around the world. ...

His daughter, Robin, is an environmentalist and community activist in Austin, Texas. Bold textHello ... Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Travis County. ...

On May 28, 2007 Rather compared historical events to events in the Star Wars films in the History Channel special, "Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed". is the 148th day of the year (149th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Journalistic history and influence

Nixon

During the presidency of Richard Nixon, critics accused Rather of biased coverage. At a Houston news conference in March 1974, Nixon fielded a question from Rather, still CBS's White House correspondent, who said, "Thank you, Mr. President. Dan Rather, of CBS News. Mr. President..." The room filled with jeers and applause, prompting Nixon to joke, "Are you running for something?" Rather replied "No, sir, Mr. President. Are you?"^[1] Nixon redirects here. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ...

CBS apparently considered firing Rather; its news president met with administration official John Ehrlichman to discuss the situation.^[specify] According to NBC’s Tom Brokaw, the network considered hiring him, Brokaw, as its White House correspondent to replace Rather. But these plans were scrapped after word was leaked to the press. The controversy did little to dent Rather's overall tough coverage of the Watergate scandal, which helped to raise his profile. John D. Ehrlichman as Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs, May 13, 1969. ... This article is about the television network. ... Thomas John Brokaw (born February 6, 1940 in Webster, South Dakota) is a popular American television journalist, Previously working on regularly scheduled news documentaries for the NBC television network, and is the former NBC News anchorman and managing editor of the program NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. ...

Afghanistan, Reagan, and George H.W. Bush

During the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, Rather was on camera wearing a traditional Mujahadeen headdress and garments while reporting from near the front lines. These reports helped Rather gain prominence with the Evening News audience (and the nickname "Gunga Dan"; Rather's reports were also spoofed by the comic strip Doonesbury). Rather's energy and spirit helped him out-compete Roger Mudd for the anchor spot on the Evening News. Mudd was a more senior correspondent and a frequent substitute anchor for Walter Cronkite on the Evening News, and he also anchored the Sunday evening broadcast. But it was Rather who traveled through Afghanistan when the news led there. A few years into his service as anchorman, Rather began wearing sweaters beneath his suit jacket to soften and warm his on-air perceptions by viewers^{[citation needed]}. A Soviet soldier on guard in Afghanistan in 1988. ... Mujahideen (مجاهدين; also transliterated as mujāhidīn, mujahedeen, mujahedin, mujahidin, mujaheddin, etc. ... Doonesbury is a comic strip by Garry Trudeau, popular in the United States and other parts of the world. ... Roger Mudd, born February 9, 1928 in Washington, is a U.S. television journalist. ...

Later during the 1980s, Rather gained further renown for his forceful and skeptical reporting on the Iran-Contra Affair, which eventually led to an on-air confrontation with then Vice President George H. W. Bush: Bush referred to Rather's "dead air incident" saying, "I want to talk about why I want to be President, why those 41 percent of the people are supporting me. And I don't think it's fair to judge my whole career by a rehash on Iran. How would you like it if I judged your career by those seven minutes when you walked off the set in New York?" Rather ignored the swipe and continued his line of questioning. The Iran-Contra Affair was a political scandal occurring in 1987 as a result of earlier events during the Reagan administration in which members of the executive branch sold weapons to Iran, an avowed enemy, and illegally used the profits to continue funding anti-Communist rebels, the Contras, in Nicaragua. ... The Vice President of the United States (sometimes referred to as VPOTUS[1] or Veep) is the first in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of the United States upon the death, resignation, or removal of the president. ... George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12, 1924) was the 41st President of the United States, serving from 1989 to 1993. ... Daniel Irvin Rather, Jr. ...

This incident was believed to have been a notable event^{[citation needed]} in Bush's campaign to win the presidency in the 1988 election. It also marked the beginning of Rather's ratings decline, a slump from which he never recovered. Bush never forgave him, and Rather was the only anchor of the "Big Three" never to be granted an interview by Bush during his administration. His son, George W. Bush, followed suit and never granted Rather an interview during his presidency. The election was held on November 8, 1988. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America, originally inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ...

Shortly after Iraq invaded Kuwait, Rather secured an interview with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, which, among other things, captured the flavor of Saddam's bravado concerning the U.S. ^{[citation needed]} Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was the fifth President of Iraq and Chairman of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council from 1979 until his overthrow by US forces in 2003. ...

On February 24, 2003, Rather conducted another interview with Hussein before the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. In the interview, Hussein invited Rather to be the moderator of a live television debate between himself and George W. Bush. The debate never took place. is the 241st day of the year (242nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Saddam interview refers to a famous television interview that occurred between President of Iraq Saddam Hussein and American news anchor Dan Rather on February 24, 2003, very shortly before the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. ... This article is about the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ...

The Wall Within

On June 2, 1988, Rather hosted a CBS News special, The Wall Within. In it, he interviewed six former servicemen, each of whom said he had witnessed horrible acts in Vietnam. Two of the men said that they had killed civilians, and two others said that they had seen friends die. Each talked about the effects the war had upon their lives — including depression, unemployment, drug use and homelessness. is the 153rd day of the year (154th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... On the Threshold of Eternity. ... CIA figures for world unemployment rates, 2006 Unemployment is the state in which a worker wants, but is unable, to work. ... Recreational drug use is the use of psychoactive drugs for recreational rather than medical or spiritual purposes, although the distinction is not always clear. ... A homeless person in Paris. ...

In their book Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of its Heroes and its History, authors B. G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley said they had obtained the service records of all six men, documenting where each was stationed during the Vietnam War. According to the records, the authors said, only one of the men was actually in Vietnam; he claimed to have been a 16-year-old Navy SEAL but, said Burkett and Whitley, the records listed him as an equipment repairer. Stolen Valor is a book which is critical of what it claims are misinterpretations and distortions of Americas involvement in the Vietnam War. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Killian documents

Main article: Killian documents

On September 8, 2004, Rather reported on 60 Minutes Wednesday that a series of memos critical of President George W. Bush's Texas Air National Guard service record had been discovered in the personal files of Lt. Bush's former commanding officer, Lt. Col. Jerry B. Killian.^[3] The authenticity of these documents, initially based on their being proportionally printed, was quickly called into question by a small group of conservative bloggers, leading to claims that the memos were forgeries^[4]. The accusations then spread over the following days into mainstream media outlets including The Washington Post^[5], The New York Times^[6], and the Chicago Sun-Times.^[7] One of the Killian documents. ... is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 60 Minutes II, also known as 60 Minutes Wednesday and 60 Minutes (see #Name changes), was a weekly primetime newsmagazine television program intended to replicate the signature style, journalistic quality and integrity of the original 60 Minutes series. ... One of the Killian documents. ... The Air National Guard (ANG) is part of the United States National Guard and a reserve component of the United States Air Force (USAF). ... Lieutenant Colonel Jerry B. Killian was a commanding officer in the Texas Air National Guard in the early 1970s. ... The Washington Post is the largest newspaper in Washington, D.C.. It is also one of the citys oldest papers, having been founded in 1877. ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago. ...

Rather and CBS initially defended the story, insisting that the documents had been authenticated by experts^[8]. CBS was contradicted by some of the experts it originally cited^[9], of the four experts they claimed, they all retracted later.^{[citation needed]} CBS later reported that their source for the documents, former Texas Army National Guard officer Lt. Col. Bill Burkett, had misled the network about how he had obtained them^[10]. Bill Burkett was the CBS source in the allegedly unsubstantiated Killian documents affair of 2004. ...

On September 20, CBS retracted the story. Rather stated, "if I knew then what I know now, I would not have gone ahead with the story as it was aired, and I certainly would not have used the documents in question."^[11]The controversy has been referred to by some as "Memogate" and "Rathergate."^[12] One of the Killian documents. ...

Following an investigation commissioned by CBS ^[13][14][15], CBS fired story producer Mary Mapes and asked three other producers connected with the story to resign. Many believe Rather's retirement was hastened by this incident.^[16] Mary Mapes is an American journalist and television news producer. ...

Conservative blog sites, especially the Free Republic ^[17] and Little Green Footballs,^[18][19] widely believe and have repeatedly claimed that the documents are forgeries that were created in Microsoft Word and then repeatedly photocopied or faxed to make them look aged.^[20] On Thursday, September 20, 2007, Rather was interviewed on Larry King Live commenting "Nobody has proved that they were fraudulent, much less a forgery. ... The truth of this story stands up to this day."^[21] Free Republic is a for-profit, non-tax exempt [1] moderated Internet forum, activist and chat site for conservatives, primarily within the United States. ... Little Green Footballs (LGF) is a political blog run by California web designer Charles Johnson. ... Microsoft Word is Microsofts flagship word processing software. ... is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Larry King Live is a nightly CNN interview program hosted by broadcaster and writer Larry King. ...

Retirement from the Evening News

Rather retired as the anchorman and Managing Editor of the CBS Evening News in 2005; his last broadcast was Wednesday, March 9, 2005. He worked as the anchorman for 24 full years, the longest tenure of anyone in American television history, and for a short time continued to work as a correspondent for 60 Minutes. Bob Schieffer, a fellow Texan and host of Face the Nation, took over Rather's position on an interim basis, and Katie Couric has replaced Schieffer in 2006. is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Anchorman may refer to: News anchor, someone who works in radio who hosts a regular news program Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, a 2004 American comedy movie This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Bob Schieffer Bob Lloyd Schieffer (born February 25, 1937 in Austin, Texas) is an American journalist who has been with CBS News since 1969, serving 23 years as anchor on the Saturday edition of CBS Evening News from 1973-1996; chief Washington correspondent since 1982, moderator of the Sunday public... Face The Nation logo, used until 2002. ... Katherine Anne Katie Couric (born January 7, 1957) is an American media personality who became well-known as co-host of NBCs Today. ...

Since retiring, he has spoken out strongly about what he perceives as a lack of courage by American journalists. On January 24, 2006, Rather spoke to a Seattle audience. Before the speaking engagement, he told a newspaper reporter, "In many ways on many days, [reporters] have sort of adopted the attitude of 'go along, get along.'" is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... City nickname Emerald City City bird Great Blue Heron City flower Dahlia City mottos The City of Flowers The City of Goodwill City song Seattle, the Peerless City Mayor Greg Nickels County King County Area   - Total   - Land   - Water   - % water 369. ...

"What many of us need is a spine transplant", Rather added. "Whether it's City Hall, the State House, or the White House, part of our job is to speak truth to power."^[22]

Retirement from CBS News

In June 2006, reports surfaced that CBS News would most likely not renew Dan Rather's contract.^[23] According to a Washington Post article, sources from CBS said that executives at the network decided "there is no future role for Rather".

On June 20, 2006, CBS News president Sean McManus announced that Rather would be leaving the network after 44 years.^[24][25] Rather issued a separate statement which accompanied the news of the departure:^[26] is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Rather has since resumed his career with HDNet, a high-definition cable television station as a producer and hosts a weekly one-hour show called Dan Rather Reports as of October 24, 2006. Rather also has contributed as a guest on The Chris Matthews Show. HDNet is a general interest television channel in the United States, broadcasting exclusively in high-definition format, and available via cable and satellite television. ... High-definition television (HDTV) is a digital television broadcasting system with greater resolution than traditional television systems (NTSC, SECAM, PAL). ... Coaxial cable is often used to transmit cable television into the house. ... is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Chris Matthews Show is a half-hour weekend news and political roundtable program produced by NBC News in Washington, D.C., and nationally syndicated by NBC Universal Television Distribution. ...

He has also formed an independent company called News and Guts Media and is reportedly working on a book.^[27]

Lawsuit

This article documents an ongoing lawsuit. Information may change rapidly as the suit progresses.

On September 19, 2007, Rather filed a $70 million lawsuit against CBS, its former parent company Viacom, CBS President and CEO Leslie Moonves, Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone and Andrew Heyward, former president of CBS News. Rather accused the network and its ownership and management of making him a "scapegoat" in the Killian story. A CBS spokesman claimed that the lawsuit was "old news" and "without merit". Viacom did not immediately respond.^[28] Image File history File links Gnome_globe_current_event. ... It has been suggested that civil trial be merged into this article or section. ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Viacom (NYSE: VIA) (NYSE: VIAb) is an American media conglomerate with various worldwide interests in cable and satellite television networks (MTV Networks and BET), and movie production and distribution (the Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks movie studios). ... Leslie Moonves (born December 23, 1948 in New York City) is President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corporation. ... Sumner Murray Redstone (born Sumner Murray Rothstein on May 27, 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts) is majority owner and Chairman of the Board of the National Amusements theater chain. ... Andrew Heyward - Former President of CBS News Andrew Heyward is a former President of CBS News, serving from January of 1996 until early November 2005. ... CBS News logo, used from Sept. ... The Scapegoat by William Holman Hunt, 1854. ...

Awards

Rather is one of the most awarded figures within the journalism community.^{[citation needed]} He has received numerous Emmy Awards, several Peabody Awards, and various honorary degrees from universities. An Emmy Award. ... The George Foster Peabody Awards, more commonly referred to as the Peabody Awards, are annual international awards given for excellence in radio and television broadcasting. ...

Criticisms of Rather

As one of the last broadcast news journalists from the era of the "Big Three" network news primacy, Rather was highly regarded within his profession by many long-serving journalists. Rather has, however, been subject to criticism from conservatives, who accuse him of having a liberal bias, and others, including longtime colleague Bernard Goldberg. Still others have expressed dislike for Rather's on-air delivery or argued that Rather was too "ham-handed", "pseudo-folksy" or "old-fashioned." American conservatism is a constellation of political ideologies within the United States under the blanket heading of conservative. ... Bernard Bernie Goldberg (born 1945) is an American writer, journalist, and political commentator. ...

Claims of liberal bias

Rather has been accused of having a liberal bias for much of his career.^[29][30] Media Research Center, a conservative organization which claims to expose liberal bias in the media, has a file devoted to what they say are examples of Rather's bias.^[31] The phrase "rather biased" (an obvious pun on Rather's name) has become a catchphrase used frequently by those who believe he is.^[32] Image:BBozell. ... Liberal bias is a common phrase used in American political discourse to express the view that the American media generally has a liberal bias. ...

Rather was criticized for speaking as part of a Democratic Party fundraiser in Texas in 2001. Rather said afterwards that he did not realize it was a fundraiser for the party.^[33]

Critics claim Rather has a double standard on how and which news stories to report, the Killian documents being the most famous example of this.^[34][35] During the weeks following the Killian documents, Rather received widespread criticism from other journalists and historians^[36] for his approach on reporting and confirmation of the documents' authenticity, as well as his continued insistence of standing by them. They also claim many of his interviews of public officials reflect a liberal bias, either being overly harsh (when interviewing a conservative) or "soft-ball" (when interviewing a liberal).^[37] Rather's on-screen comments and election night reporting have specifically come under attack as well, dating back to Richard Nixon's presidency. In a June 2002 interview with Larry King, his long-time co-worker (and self-described liberal) Andy Rooney stated that Rather is "transparently liberal".^[38]In an interview with commentator Bill Maher, Rather accused Fox News Channel of receiving "talking points" from the Republican controlled White House. Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly, who had defended Rather during the Memogate incident, criticized Rather heavily for not offering any evidence to support the claim: One of the Killian documents. ... Nixon redirects here. ... Larry King (born November 19, 1933) is an award-winning American writer, journalist and broadcaster. ... plutoniym card This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... William Maher, Jr. ... Fox News redirects here. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Bill OReilly political beliefs and points of view be merged into this article or section. ... The Killian documents (often referred to as the CBS documents during the 2004 US presidential campaign) were memos purportedly written by the late Lieutenant Colonel Jerry B. Killian. ...

"As you may remember, I defended Rather in the Bush National Guard debacle. I said Rather did not intentionally put on a bogus story. He just didn't check it out, he was too anxious for the story to be true. Now many of you criticized me for that defense, but I'm a fact-based guy. And there's no evidence Dan Rather fabricated anything. It was sloppy reporting that did him in. But now the fabrication word is in play again. If Dan Rather has evidence of White House dictums coming to FOX News employees, he needs to display that evidence. We are awaiting his appearance. We'll let you know when it is.^[39]"

Chandra Levy-Elizabeth Smart reporting

On July 12, 2001, Brent Bozell of the conservative Media Research Center issued a press release stating that the failure of CBS News to run a single story regarding the disappearance of former Congressional intern Chandra Levy was evidence of "media bias".^[40] This press release was featured prominently by several conservative news organizations. Rather then appeared on the Don Imus radio show to defend himself against the allegations of the press release, arguing that a single missing person incident did not merit mention on a national newscast. CBS News eventually ran a single story about the Levy disappearance the following week. is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Leo Brent Bozell III[1] (born July 14, 1955 in Washington, DC[1]), better known as L. Brent Bozell III[2], L. Brent Bozell, or simply Brent Bozell[3], is the founder and president of the Media Research Center, the Conservative Communications Center, and the Cybercast News Service. ... Image:BBozell. ... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives President of the Senate President pro tempore Dick Cheney, (R) since January 20, 2001 Robert C. Byrd, (D) since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Chandra Levy Chandra Ann Levy (April 14, 1977 – 2001) was an intern who worked at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington, D.C., who disappeared in the summer of 2001 and was subsequently found murdered in Rock Creek Park. ... John Donald Don Imus, Jr. ...

In 2002, the American press began focusing on kidnappings (especially of children like Elizabeth Smart). This time, Rather followed suit in reporting the story. His defenders interpreted the move as an indication that Rather's authority within CBS News had declined, and that he was unable to insist on a more traditionalist approach.^{[citation needed]} His critics interpreted this as his partisanship for refusing to report the Levy story.^{[citation needed]} Elizabeth Ann Smart (born 1987) was abducted from her Salt Lake City, Utah bedroom on June 5, 2002 at the age of 14. ...

Criticism from Walter Cronkite

During a March 7, 2005 appearance on CNN, 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." Cronkite also stated that Bob Schieffer's succession was long overdue. For his part, Rather said he would not respond to Cronkite's "mudslinging."^{[citation needed]} is the 66th day of the year (67th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. ... Bob Schieffer Bob Lloyd Schieffer (born February 25, 1937 in Austin, Texas) is an American journalist who has been with CBS News since 1969, serving 23 years as anchor on the Saturday edition of CBS Evening News from 1973-1996; chief Washington correspondent since 1982, moderator of the Sunday public...

Notable incidents

1968 Democratic convention

During live coverage of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, Rather attempted to interview a delegate who appeared as though he was being forcibly removed by men without identification badges. The 1968 National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1968, for the purposes of choosing the Democratic nominee for the 1968 U.S. presidential election. ...

As Rather approached the delegate to question the apparent strong-arm tactics of the Chicago political machine, he was punched in the stomach by one of the men, knocking him to the ground. "He lifted me right off the floor and put me away. I was down, the breath knocked out of me, as the whole group blew on by me...In the CBS control room, they had switched the camera onto me just as I was slugged." Nickname: Motto: Urbs in Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country State Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City 234. ... In this 1899 cartoon from Puck, all of New York City politics revolves around boss Richard Croker A political machine is an unofficial system of a political organization based on patronage, the spoils system, behind-the-scenes control, and longstanding political ties within the structure of a representative democracy. ...

"Kenneth, what is the frequency?"

On October 4, 1986, as Rather was walking along Park Avenue in Manhattan to his apartment, he was attacked and punched from behind by a man who demanded to know, "Kenneth, what is the frequency?", while a second assailant also chased and beat him. As the assailant pummeled and kicked Rather, he kept repeating the question over and over again. In describing the incident, Rather said, "I got mugged. Who understands these things? I didn't and I don't now. I didn't make a lot of it at the time and I don't now. I wish I knew who did it and why, but I have no idea." is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Park Avenue in the Upper East Side (2004) Park Avenue, looking north toward the Metlife building from the Union Square Area Park Avenue (formerly Fourth Avenue) is a wide boulevard that carries traffic north and south in Manhattan in New York City. ... For other uses, see Manhattan (disambiguation). ...

The incident and Rather's account led some to doubt the veracity of Rather's story, although the doorman and building supervisor who rescued Rather fully confirmed his version of events. The story entered popular lore and remained unsolved for some time. The incident inspired a song called "Kenneth, What's the Frequency?" by the band Game Theory in 1987, and in 1994 the band R.E.M. released the more widely-known song "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" on the album Monster. It became the subject of many jokes over the years and slang for a confused or clueless person. Rather was a good sport about it, and actually sang with the band when they performed the song on The Late Show with David Letterman. Game Theory was an American rock and roll band from 1981 to 1989. ... R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia in 1980 by Bill Berry (drums), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass guitar), and Michael Stipe (vocals). ... Whats the Frequency, Kenneth? is a song by the rock group R.E.M. from their 1994 album Monster. ... Monster is R.E.M.s ninth album, and their fourth major label release for Warner Bros. ... Late Show with David Letterman is an hour-long weeknight comedy and talk show broadcast by CBS from the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway in New York City. ...

In 1997, a TV critic writing in the New York Daily News claimed to have solved the mystery, and published a photo of the alleged assailant, William Tager. Rather confirmed the story: "There's no doubt in my mind that this is the person." Tager is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for killing NBC stagehand Campbell Montgomery outside The Today Show studio in 1994. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In October 1986, as Dan Rather was walking along Park Avenue in Manhattan to his apartment, he was attacked and punched from behind by a man (later identified as William Tager) who demanded to know, Kenneth, what is the frequency? As the assailant pummeled and kicked Rather, he kept repeating... Today, commonly referred to as The Today Show to avoid ambiguity, is an American morning news and talk show airing weekday mornings on the NBC television network. ...

In the December 2001 issue of Harper's Magazine, writer Paul Limbert Allman concluded that Professor Donald Barthelme (who died in 1989) had somehow orchestrated the attack through other unnamed persons, citing unusual passages in Barthelme's writing, including the phrase "What is the frequency?", a recurring character named Kenneth, and a short story about a pompous editor named Lather.^[41] The article was adapted into two plays, both entitled "Kenneth, What is the Frequency?" The first was by Ian Allen and Monique LaForce and debuted in Washington, D.C., in 2003.^[42] The second, written by Allman himself, premiered in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2004^[43]. Harpers redirects here. ... Donald Barthelme (April 7, 1931 - July 23, 1989) was an American author of short fiction and novels. ...

"Courage"

For one week in September 1986, Rather signed off his broadcasts to CBS with the single word "Courage".^[44] Apparently it was just a signature line and had nothing to do with the news at the time (which included the Joseph Cicippio abduction and a threat by Arab extremists to "become familiar with your skyscrapers and extend the terror campaign to the United States"), although TV critic Peter Boyer suggested it may have been in response to recent staff cutbacks at CBS News. Other newscasters ridiculed and parodied him, and he dropped it. Afterwards, Rather said "And that's part of our world." On his last CBS Evening News broadcast, he once again signed off with "Courage", this time linking it to the September 11, 2001 attacks as well as courage shown by fellow journalists. A sequential look at United Flight 175 crashing into the south tower of the World Trade Center The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11—pronounced nine eleven or nine one one) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly...

Dead air

On September 11, 1987, Rather marched off the set in anger just before a remote Evening News broadcast from Miami, where Pope John Paul II began a U.S. tour, when a U.S. Open tennis match threatened to cut into his broadcast. The Steffi Graf-Lori McNeil tennis match then ended sooner than expected at 6:32 p.m., but Rather was nowhere to be found. Over 100 affiliates were left scrambling with an embarrassing six minutes of dead air. By the time Rather was persuaded to return to the desk, most of the audience had already tuned out. Walter Cronkite was among those who criticized Rather, telling a reporter, "I would have fired him. There's no excuse for it." Rather issued a written statement later that week that stopped short of apologizing. In interviews years later, Rather suggested he didn't want to be forced to abbreviate their elaborate coverage of a papal visit and incorrectly thought his absence would force the sports department to fill up the rest of the hour. is the 254th day of the year (255th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Pope (from Latin... Official papal image of John Paul II. His Holiness Pope John Paul II, né Karol Józef Wojtyła (born May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland), is the current Pope — the Bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church. ... For other uses, see U.S. Open. ... For other uses, see Tennis (disambiguation). ... For the Austrian runner, see Stephanie Graf. ... Lori McNeil (born December 18, 1963, in San Diego, California) is a tennis coach and former professional tennis player from the United States. ... Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. ...

AIDS activists

On January 22, 1991, and unknown to Rather until just after the evening newscast began to air, three AIDS activists stormed the live studio, repeatedly shouting, "fight AIDS, not Arabs...fight AIDS, not Arabs...", just as the opening credits rolled. One of the activists was actually seen on the air. In embarrassment, Rather ordered producers to "break for a commercial", after which he apologized for the activists' actions (they were later detained by CBS security).^[45] is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see AIDS (disambiguation). ...

"Ratherisms"

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Dan Rather

Rather is known for his many off-the-cuff colorful analogies and descriptions while filling the air during live broadcasts. Very similar to those used by baseball announcer Red Barber, and cycling commentator Phil Liggett, these "Ratherisms" are also called "Texanisms" or "Danisms" by some. A few of the more colorful ones from the 2000 Election include:^[46] Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Wikiquote is one of a family of wiki-based projects run by the Wikimedia Foundation, running on MediaWiki software. ... This article is about the sport. ... Walter Lanier Red Barber (February 17, 1908 - October 22, 1992) was an American sportscaster. ... Police officer on a bicycle Cycling is a means of transport, a form of recreation and a sport. ... Phil Liggett MBE (born 1943) is a sports journalist and commentator on the Outdoor Life Network for the Tour de France and other bike races. ... Presidential electoral votes by state. ...

• "This race is shakier than cafeteria Jell-O."
• "This thing is as tight as the rusted lugnuts on a '55 Ford."
• "This race is tight like a too-small bathing suit on a too-long ride home from the beach."
• "He swept through the South like a tornado through a trailer park."
• "Don't bet the trailer money on it yet."
• "It's a ding-dong battle back and forth."
• "Look at that. Can't get a cigarette paper between 'em."
• "His chances are slim to none right now, and if he doesn't carry Florida, Slim will have left town."
• "If a frog had side pockets, he'd carry a hand gun."
• "Close only counts with hand grenades and horseshoes."

He spoofed his statements on Comedy Central's 2006 Daily Show / Colbert Report Midterm Midtacular on November 7, 2006: JELL-O is a brand name belonging to USA-based Kraft Foods for a number of gelatin desserts, including fruit gels, puddings and no-bake cream pies. ... This article is about the weather phenomenon. ... Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel in the United States. ... Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart on the set of The Daily Show The Daily Show (currently The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, also known as TDS to fans and staffers) is a half-hour satirical fake news program produced by and run on the Comedy Central cable television network in... Stephen Colbert, star of The Colbert Report The Colbert Report (, or possibly Colbert Réport) is a television program announced by Comedy Central that will star Stephen Colbert, currently best-known as a correspondent for The Daily Show. ... is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• "Ran away with it like a hobo with a sweet potato pie."
• "If you ain't got the yolk, you can't emulsify the hollandaise"
• "If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?" (A quote from Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall.")

Pink Floyd are an English rock band that initially earned recognition for their psychedelic rock music, and, as they evolved, for their progressive rock music. ... This article is about the three songs by Pink Floyd. ...

Pop culture figure

Though his popularity and ratings declined over the years, Rather's apparent affinity for the bizarre has made him into an ironic pop-culture icon. He has been lampooned numerous times by the television shows Saturday Night Live and Family Guy and many films. Samples of Rather's newscasts were used to create "Rocked By Rape", a single by the Evolution Control Committee which was subsequently banned by CBS; the song combined some of Rather's more dramatic headlines ("Gunned down / shooting death / blood drops / murderer") with a heavily edited recording of AC/DC's Back in Black. He also had a cameo appearance in the JibJab political cartoon, Good to Be in D.C.. This article is about the American television series. ... Family Guy is an Emmy Award-winning American animated television series about a dysfunctional family in the fictional town of Quahog, Rhode Island. ... An experimental music band from Columbus, Ohio founded by Mark Gunderson in the 1980s, the Evolution Control Committee (ECC) typically uses uncleared and illegal samples from various sources as a form of protest against copyright law. ... This article is about the band. ... Singles from Back in Black Released: 1980 Released: 1981 Released: 1981 For other uses, see Back in Black (disambiguation). ... The JibJab logo, with its Victorian era appearance, illustrates the influence of Terry Gilliam on the duos animation JibJab is a website featuring Flash cartoons. ... This early political cartoon by Ben Franklin was originally written for the French and Indian War, but was later recycled during the Revolutionary War An editorial cartoon, also known as a political cartoon, is an illustration or comic strip containing a political or social message. ...

In 2004, he was featured in the documentary film "Barbecue: A Texas Love Story" by Austin-based director Chris Elley. Two years later, Rather and Elley educated a group of New Yorkers in Madison Square Park about the true meaning of BBQ and its significance to the identity of the Lone Star State. Rather began the discussion with a direct statement: "Let's get this straight folks. If it ain't beef and it ain't in Texas, then it ain't barbecue." An editor has expressed a concern that the subject of the article does not satisfy the notability guideline or one of the following guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia: Biographies, Books, Companies, Fiction, Music, Neologisms, Numbers, Web content, or several proposals for new guidelines. ... Madison Square, 1908. ...

Newspapers and magazines are fond of compiling Rather's expressions, and many people enjoyed tuning in to Rather's broadcasts in the hopes he'd say something amusing.

Rather has a cameo in the upcoming premire of the Fall 2007 drama Dirty Sexy Money on ABC television. Dirty Sexy Money is an American television series created by Craig Wright, who also serves as executive producer alongside Greg Berlanti, Bryan Singer, Matthew Gross, Peter Horton and Josh Reims, with Melissa Berman producing. ...

Illegal drugs

In a July 1980 interview with Ladies' Home Journal, Rather said that "in 1955 or '56, I had someone at the Houston police station shoot me with heroin so I could do a story about it. The experience was a special kind of hell. I came out understanding full well how one could be addicted to 'smack,' and quickly." A cover of Ladies Home Journal from 1906 Ladies Home Journal was first published February 16, 1883 as a womens supplement to the Tribune and Farmer. ... For other uses, see Heroin (disambiguation). ...

According to journalist Cliff Jahr, Rather said, "As a reporter - and I don't want to say that that's the only context - I've tried everything. I can say to you with confidence, I know a fair amount about LSD. I've never been a social user of any of these things, but my curiosity has carried me into a lot of interesting areas."^[47] Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly called LSD, LSD-25, or acid. ...

Ratings

In their last year of broadcasting, Tom Brokaw and his NBC Nightly News were ranked #1, Peter Jennings and World News Tonight were second, Dan Rather and the CBS Evening News were third. Rather was #1 in the early and mid-1980s; Jennings was #1 in the late '80s; and Brokaw took over as America's most-watched evening news anchor in the '90s and kept the spot until his retirement in 2004. Brian Williams has since kept NBC Nightly News, (nearly tied with ABCs World News with Charles Gibson) as the second most-watched broadcast or cable news program in the United States, second only to Spanish network Univision's 'Noticiero Univision'.^{[citation needed]} Thomas John Brokaw (born February 6, 1940 in Webster, South Dakota) is a popular American television journalist, Previously working on regularly scheduled news documentaries for the NBC television network, and is the former NBC News anchorman and managing editor of the program NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. ... NBC Nightly News is the flagship evening news program for NBC News and broadcasts from the GE Building, Rockefeller Center in New York City. ... Peter Charles Archibald Ewart Jennings, CM (July 29, 1938 – August 7, 2005) was a Canadian-American journalist and news anchor. ... ABC World News Tonight is the ABC television networks flagship evening news program. ... This article is about the American journalist. ... This article is about the American broadcast network. ... World News with Charles Gibson (previously known as World News Tonight and often abbreviated as WNT) is an American television news program. ...

Quotes

• "I cannot remember a time when I didn't want to be a reporter."
• "You can't be a good reporter and not regularly be involved in some kind of controversy."
• In reference to the CBS News, while referring to Katie Couric, Rather stated that "the mistake was to try to bring the 'Today' show ethos to the 'Evening News,' and to dumb it down, tart it up in hopes of attracting a younger audience."^[48]

Katherine Anne Katie Couric (born January 7, 1957) is an American media personality who became well-known as co-host of NBCs Today. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the broadcast network. ... is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the broadcast network. ... is the 166th day of the year (167th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the broadcast network. ... is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Christian Science Monitor (CSM) is an international newspaper published daily, Monday through Friday. ... The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd and edited in London. ... Image:BBozell. ... ... is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 204th day of the year (205th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Harpers redirects here. ... This article concerns the British newspaper. ... The Houston Press is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Houston, Texas. ... is the 336th day of the year (337th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Further reading

• News About The News, ISBN 0-375-71415-4. Contemporary history of American journalism. Candid interviews with Rather and many others.
• Rather, Dan. The Palace Guard, with Gary Gates
• Rather, Dan. The Camera Never Blinks, with Mickey Hershkowitz 1978. Ballantine Books.
• Rather, Dan. I Remember, with Peter Wyden.
• Rather, Dan with Herskowitz, Mickey. The Camera Never Blinks Twice. 1995. William Morrow.
• Rather, Dan. Deadlines and Datelines, Perennial, (Harper Collins), 1999, ISBN 0-688-17905-2 (pbk.)
• Boyer, Peter J. Who Killed CBS, St. Martin's Press. 1989. ISBN 0312915314
• 2nd Saddam interview

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Dan Rather. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Dan Rather

• CBS biography of Rather
• Dan Rather discusses the 2008 Presidential Campaign
• Dan Rather at the Internet Movie Database
• PDF of Dan Rather's lawsuit against CBS
• PDF of CBS' motion to dismiss Rather's lawsuit
• "Courage, Dan, things can't get any worse … or, can they?", Gary Dretzka, TV Barn, July 22, 2003.
• "It's running of the bull", Michael Goodwin, New York Daily News, 9 March 2005
• "Wrong from the Beginning", Phillip Chalk, Weekly Standard, March 14, 2005.
• "Dan Rather, What's the Frequency, Kenneth", A timeline with quotations.
• "Dan Rather's location at 12:30 pm on 11/22/63" — Discussion on JFK Lancer Research Forum
• Rather-CBS lawsuit