From The Conversation · Walter Podrazik · · 1m 50s
Dan Rather's 75-Year Journalism Journey
Dan Rather's 75-year career shows journalism's evolution from reporter to social media commentator.
In brief
Dan Rather's 75-year career shows journalism's evolution from reporter to social media commentator. Dan Rather, a CBS News anchor for 24 years, has spent 75 years reporting on major events and remains active in journalism despite controversies. Originally reported by The Conversation.
Dan Rather's early career
Dan Rather began as a regional reporter in Texas and became CBS's chief of the Southern bureau in 1963.
Kennedy assassination coverage
Rather reported on President John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.
Nixon administration reporting
Rather covered the Nixon White House and Watergate break-in during the 1970s.
1968 Democratic convention
Rather was knocked down by security guards while interviewing a Georgia delegate at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
CBS anchor role
Rather took over CBS Evening News anchor role from Walter Cronkite on March 9, 1981, holding it for 24 years.
Afghanistan reporting
Rather and his team crossed into Afghanistan in 1980 to cover the Russian occupation firsthand.
Rathergate controversy
Rather faced backlash after CBS reported on George W. Bush's Texas Air National Guard service in 2004.
Exit from CBS
Rather left CBS News in 2005 after CBS failed to authenticate documents in the 2004 'Rathergate' report.
Social media presence
Rather built a social media following on Facebook, X, and Steady with hundreds of thousands of followers.
Trump administration criticism
Rather criticized Trump's attacks on media as 'waging war on the mainstream media'.
CBS media changes
CBS adopted new rules in 2025 to bar editing interviews after paying Trump $16 million for a Harris interview.
Rather's warning
Rather warned CBS had 'tipped over the precipice' by prioritizing financial gain over independent journalism.
At a glance
Dan Rather, a CBS News anchor for 24 years, has spent 75 years reporting on major events and remains active in journalism despite controversies.
