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What Happened to Dan Rather? Why is Dan Rather Disgraced?

Discover the intriguing story of Dan Rather's departure and comeback to CBS News, explore the circumstances behind his exit after 44 years, his return after 18 years, and the impact of his legacy in journalism

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Updated Apr 30, 2024

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What Happened to Dan Rather? Why is Dan Rather Disgraced?

What Happened to Dan Rather?

Dan Rather came back to CBS News after not being on it for 18 years. He talked about his past in an interview on "CBS Sunday Morning" before a documentary about him comes out on Netflix. He worked at CBS for 44 years, and he was the anchor of the "CBS Evening News" for 24 of those years. He left because of a mistake in a story about President George W. Bush's military record. He left CBS in March 2005 after being the anchor for 15 months.

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After leaving CBS, Rather didn't retire. Instead, he did investigative journalism and interviewed rock stars for HDNet, a digital TV network. Recently, he's gained popularity among a younger audience for his outspoken presence on social media.

The Netflix documentary follows Rather's career from covering JFK's assassination to the Vietnam War and Watergate, and beyond. It includes some strange incidents, like being assaulted in New York City and later appearing onstage with R.E.M. during their song "What's the Frequency, Kenneth." Despite being asked about his legacy in both the documentary and the CBS interview, Rather avoids talking about it.

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Who is Dan Rather?

Dan Rather is an American journalist and commentator. He used to be the main news anchor on TV in the evenings. He started his career in Texas. People all over the country knew him after he reported on Hurricane Carla in September 1961 and helped save many lives. He is well-known for covering John F. Kennedy's Assassination in 1961.

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Rather came up with the idea to use radar images to show the weather on TV. He put a clear map over a radar image of Hurricane Carla. When he reported this on national TV for the first time, it led to 350,000 people being evacuated safely. He talked about many important events in recent history, like when the Berlin Wall fell, the Gulf War, 9/11, the Iraq War, and the fight against terrorism.

Specifications

Details

Name Daniel Irvin Rather Jr.
Born October 31, 1931
Born Place Wharton, Texas, U.S.
Age 92
Education Sam Houston State University (BA)
Occupations Journalist, news presenter, reporter, and correspondent
Years active 1950–present
Spouse Jean Goebel (m. 1957)
Children 2

Dan Rather Career

Dan Rather started his journalism career in 1950 in Texas. He worked for different newspaper companies before joining television in 1959. He gained attention for his coverage of Hurricane Carla in 1961, which helped save many lives. Later, he moved to New York City to work for CBS. He reported on various important events, including accidents and natural disasters. Eventually, he became well-known for his reporting across the United States.

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Dan Rather reported from Dallas when President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, earning a promotion at CBS News. He covered the White House and served as a correspondent in London and Vietnam. Later, he reported on President Nixon's trips and the Watergate scandal.

In 1981, Rather became the news anchor for CBS Evening News, where he stayed for 24 years. He was one of the main news anchors alongside Peter Jennings and Tom Brokaw. He often appeared on CBS's show, 60 Minutes.

Rather stopped being the anchor in 2005 because of the controversy over the Killian documents. These documents were about President George W. Bush's time in the National Guard during the Vietnam War, but they weren't proven to be real. He left CBS in 2006 after being fired suddenly.

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Dan Rather Early Life

Dan Rather was born on October 31, 1931, in Wharton County, Texas. His dad worked as a ditch digger and pipe layer. They moved to Houston when he was young, and he went to Lovett Elementary School and Hamilton Middle School. He graduated from John H. Reagan High School in 1950.

In 1953, Rather got a journalism degree from Sam Houston State Teachers College. He edited the school newspaper and was part of the Sigma Chi fraternity. During college, he worked for a radio station, calling football games. After that, he briefly went to South Texas College of Law in Houston. In January 1954, Rather joined the United States Marine Corps in San Diego. But he was discharged shortly after because he had rheumatic fever when he was young, which he didn't mention when he enlisted.

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Dan Rather Marital Life

In 1957, Rather got married to Jean Goebel. They have a son and a daughter. They live in both New York City and Austin, Texas. Their daughter, Robin, works for the environment and helps her community in Austin. Their son, Dan, works as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan, New York.

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Dan Rather Net Worth

Dan Rather Net Worth is $70 million. He earns income primarily from his work as a journalist, commentator, and television personality. Additionally, he may receive royalties or fees from books, appearances, and other related ventures.

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