# Dan Rather's 75-Year Journalism Journey

> Dan Rather's 75-year career shows journalism's evolution from reporter to social media commentator.
- Title: Dan Rather's 75-Year Journalism Journey · The Conversation
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: dan rather, cbs news, president george w bush, trump administration, 60 minutes, news reporting, us journalism, freedom of press, vietnam war, cable news, social media, media ethics
- Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/dan-rather-has-followed-the-news-wherever-he-goes-in-a-career-that-highlights-75-years-of-evolving-journalism-265967
- Author: Walter Podrazik
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: dan rather, cbs news, president george w bush, trump administration, 60 minutes, news reporting, us journalism, freedom of press, vietnam war, cable news, social media, media ethics
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Dan Rather, a CBS News anchor for 24 years, has spent 75 years reporting on major events and remains active in journalism despite controversies.