Editing Dan Rather (section)

== Journalistic history and influence ==

=== Nixon ===
During [[Richard Nixon]]'s presidency, critics accused Rather of biased coverage against him. 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." The room filled with jeers and applause, prompting Nixon to joke, "Are you running for something?" Rather replied, "No, sir, Mr. President. Are you?"<ref name="nixon">{{cite web |url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=4391 |title=Richard Nixon: Question-and-Answer Session at the Annual Convention of the National Association of Broadcasters, Houston, Texas
|date=March 19, 1974 |publisher=American Presidency Project}}</ref> He questioned whether Nixon was cooperating with the grand jury investigation and House Judiciary Committee in relation to the Watergate scandal.<ref name="nixon" />

[[NBC]]'s [[Tom Brokaw]] has said the network considered hiring him to replace Rather as its White House correspondent, but dropped it after word was leaked to the press. Rather was believed to have provided tough coverage of the [[Watergate scandal]], raising his profile.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stanley |first1=Alessandra |title=Even Humbled by Error, Dan Rather Has His Thorns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/21/politics/campaign/even-humbled-by-error-dan-rather-has-his-thorns.html |newspaper=The New York Times  |date=September 21, 2004 |access-date=September 1, 2019}}</ref>

=== Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' disaster ===
{{Main|Space Shuttle Challenger disaster}}
In January 1986, [[NASA]] faced repeated delays in the preparations to launch the [[Space Shuttle]]s [[Space Shuttle Columbia|''Columbia'']] and [[Space Shuttle Challenger|''Challenger'']] in close sequence. Rather described the January 10 delay of ''Columbia'' as: 
<blockquote>star-crossed space shuttle ''Columbia'' stood ready for launch again today, and once more, the launch was scrubbed. Heavy rain was the cause this time. The launch has been postponed so often since its original date, December 18, that it's now known as mission impossible.</blockquote>
This was considered an example of the "biting sarcasm" the media used related to NASA's scheduling.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mahler|first=Julianne G.|title=Organizational Learning at NASA: The Challenger and Columbia Accidents|year=2009|publisher=Georgetown University Press|location=Washington DC|isbn=978-1-58901-602-6|pages=112–113|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wHP8dOegz0AC&q=dan%20rather%20%22high%20tech%20low%20comedy%22&pg=PA113}}</ref> ''Columbia'' launched on January 12.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jan. 12, 1986 Early Morning Space Shuttle Launch |url=https://www.nasa.gov/content/jan-12-1986-early-morning-space-shuttle-launch |website=nasa.gov |publisher=NASA |access-date=August 11, 2019 |date=February 19, 2015}}</ref>

On January 27, Rather's reporting of the expected ''Challenger'' launch began as follows:
{{blockquote|Yet another costly, red-faces-all-around space-shuttle-launch delay. This time, a bad bolt on a hatch and a bad-weather bolt from the blue are being blamed.  What's more, a rescheduled launch for tomorrow doesn't look good either.  Bruce Hall has the latest on today's high-tech low comedy.|Dan Rather, January 27, 1986<ref>{{cite book |last=Johnson-Freese |first=Joan|title=Space, the Dormant Frontier: Changing the Paradigm for the 21st Century|year=1997|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|page=88|author2=Roger Handberg |access-date=August 22, 2013 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pASf_x0xnmUC&q=dan%20rather%20%22high%20tech%20low%20comedy%22&pg=PA88 |isbn=9780275958879}}</ref>|title=|source=}}

On January 28, ''Challenger'''s explosion and destruction occurred 73 seconds after launch.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Berkes |first1=Howard |title=Challenger: Reporting a Disaster's Cold, Hard Facts |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5175151 |website=npr.org |date=January 28, 2006 |publisher=National Public Radio, Inc. |access-date=August 11, 2019}}</ref>

=== Afghanistan, Reagan, and George H. W. Bush ===
[[File:Beam-Caldwell-Rather at Camp Eggers in 2011.jpg|thumb|250px|Rather speaking with Lt. Gen. [[William B. Caldwell IV]] and Sergeant Maj. Beam about the [[Afghan National Security Forces]] training mission and other issues at [[Camp Eggers]] in Kabul, Afghanistan, on July 26, 2011]]
During the [[Soviet–Afghan War]], Rather was filmed reporting near the front lines while wearing a traditional [[mujahideen]] headdress and garments. Rather attracted an ''Evening News'' audience (and was nicknamed "Gunga Dan"). The American comic strip ''[[Doonesbury]]'' spoofed his actions.

Rather's reports were later revealed to have influenced Congressman [[Charles Wilson (Texas politician)|Charlie Wilson]] (D-Texas), who led an effort to help the mujahideen which included the [[Taliban]]. The Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan in the late 1980s, shortly before the collapse of the USSR.<ref>{{cite news |access-date=March 8, 2008 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/20/AR2007122002416.html |title='Charlie Wilson': Firing on All Cylinders |first=Stephen |last=Hunter |date=December 21, 2007 |page=C01 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

Rather was promoted to the anchor spot on the ''Evening News''. He was competing with [[Roger Mudd]], a more senior correspondent and a frequent substitute anchor for [[Walter Cronkite]] on ''Evening News''. Mudd had also anchored the Sunday evening broadcast, but Rather traveled through Afghanistan when news led there. A few years into his service as anchor, Rather began wearing sweaters beneath his suit jacket to soften his on-air appearance for viewers.<ref name="NYT_Dowd_20040111">{{cite news |access-date=March 8, 2008
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/11/opinion/the-argyle-general-910791.html |title=The Argyle General |first=Maureen |last=Dowd |date=January 11, 2004 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

During the 1980s, Rather gained further renown for his forceful and direct reporting of the [[Iran–Contra affair]]. He questioned Vice President [[George H. W. Bush]] in an on-air interview during the latter's presidential campaign. Bush referred to Rather's "[[Dead air|dead air incident]]" saying: 
<blockquote>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?<ref name="Shouting">{{cite news |last=Boyer |first=Peter J. |title=Rather's Questioning of Bush Sets Off Shouting on Live Broadcast |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/26/us/rather-s-questioning-of-bush-sets-off-shouting-on-live-broadcast.html |work=The New York Times |date=January 26, 1988 |access-date=November 6, 2008}}</ref></blockquote>

Shortly after [[Iraq]] invaded [[Kuwait]], Rather secured an interview with Iraqi leader [[Saddam Hussein]].
{{blockquote|There is no powerful and quick strike that a people could deliver, whatever their overall power. The United States depends on the Air Force. The Air Force has never decided a war in the history of wars.|Saddam Hussein in an interview with Dan Rather on August 29, 1990<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/bibs/pgwar/pergul1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010415010745/http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/bibs/pgwar/pergul1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 15, 2001 |title=Persian Gulf Region |publisher=Air University, United States Air Force}}</ref>|title=|source=}}

On February 24, 2003, Rather conducted another [[February 2003 Saddam Hussein interview|interview with Hussein]] before the United States' [[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.

=== ''The Wall Within'' ===
On June 2, 1988, Rather hosted a CBS News special, ''The Wall Within''. In it, he interviewed six veterans, each of whom said he had witnessed horrible acts in [[Vietnam War|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, [[Recreational drug use|drug use]], and [[homelessness]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whitley |first1=Glenna |title=Burkett |url=http://legacy.earlham.edu/~herdda/Burkett.htm |website=legacy.earlham.edu |publisher=Texas Monthly, Inc. |access-date=August 11, 2019}}</ref>

In 2004, ''[[National Review]]'' ran an article by Anne Morse entitled "The First Rathergate". She said that almost nothing claimed by participants in ''The Wall Within'' was true. Citing the self-published book ''[[Stolen Valor]]'' (1998) by veteran [[B. G. Burkett]], and investigative journalist Glenna Whitley, Morse said that military records revealed that the six former servicemen had lied about their experiences. Only one served in combat, and two had never been in Vietnam.<ref>Morse, Anne (September 15, 2004), [https://www.nationalreview.com/2004/09/first-rathergate-anne-morse/ "The First Rathergate"], ''National Review''.</ref>

=== Killian documents ===
{{Main|Killian documents controversy}}
On September 8, 2004, Rather reported on ''[[60 Minutes II|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]].<ref>{{cite news |title=New Questions On Bush Guard Duty |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-questions-on-bush-guard-duty-08-09-2004/ |access-date=October 11, 2007 |work=CBS News |date=September 8, 2004}}</ref> Once copies of the documents were made available on the Internet, their authenticity was quickly called into question. Much of this was based on the fact that the documents were proportionally printed and displayed using other modern typographic conventions usually unavailable on military typewriters of the 1970s. The font used on the documents has characteristics that exactly or almost exactly match standard font features of [[Microsoft Word]]. This led to claims that the memos were forgeries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/640pgolk.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040920001008/http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/640pgolk.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 20, 2004 |title=What Blogs Have Wrought |publisher=Weeklystandard.com |date=September 27, 2004 |access-date=June 4, 2012}}</ref> The accusations then spread over the following days into mainstream media outlets, including ''[[The Washington Post]]'',<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12809-2004Sep10.html Rather Defends CBS Over Memos on Bush] ''The Washington Post'' September 10, 2004.</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'',<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/15/politics/campaign/15guard.html Memos on Bush Are Fake but Accurate, Typist Says] ''The New York Times''</ref> and ''[[The Chicago Sun-Times]]''.<ref>[http://www.suntimes.com/output/steyn/cst-edt-steyn12.html "CBS falls for Kerry campaign's fake memo"], ''Chicago Sun-Times'', September 12, 2004 (requires archive access).</ref>

Rather and CBS initially defended the story, insisting that the documents had been authenticated by experts.<ref>{{cite web|last=Memmott |first=Mark |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-09-12-cbs-media_x.htm |title=– Amid criticism, CBS stands by its reports |work=USA Today |date=September 13, 2004 |access-date=June 4, 2012}}</ref> CBS was contradicted by some of the experts it originally cited,<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18982-2004Sep13.html Expert Cited by CBS Says He Didn't Authenticate Papers] ''The Washington Post'', September 14, 2004.</ref> and later reported that its source for the documents—former Texas Army National Guard officer Lt. Col. [[Bill Burkett]]—had misled the network about how he had obtained them.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rather-on-the-document-errors/ |work=CBS News |title=Rather On The Document Errors |date=September 20, 2004}}</ref>

On September 20, 2004, 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."<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dan-rather-statement-on-memos/ Dan Rather Statement On Memos], ''[[CBS]]'', September 20, 2004.</ref> The controversy has been referred to by some as "Memogate" and "Rathergate".<ref>Jack Shafer, [http://slate.com/id/2116498/ "Bloggers Freer Than Reporters?"] ''Slate'', April 8, 2005.</ref>

Following an investigation commissioned by CBS,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6807825 |title=CBS ousts 4 over Bush Guard story |work=NBC News |date=January 10, 2005 |access-date=June 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=background.view&backgroundid=0040 |title=Thornburgh report leaves some questions unanswered |publisher=Niemanwatchdog.org |access-date=June 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/complete_report/appendix_4.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050112042715/http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/complete_report/appendix_4.pdf |archive-date=2005-01-12 |url-status=live |work=CBS News |title=Appendix 4: Panel Observations Peter Tytell's Analysis of Typestyle Issues}}</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7313-2004Nov23.html Dan Rather to Step Down at CBS, Anchor's Decision Comes Amid Probe of Flawed Bush Report] ''The Washington Post'' November 23, 2004.</ref> On 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/21/rather.lkl/index.html?iref=newssearch |title=Rather: I was forced to step down |publisher=Cnn.com |date=September 21, 2007 |access-date=June 4, 2012}}</ref>

=== Departure from the ''CBS Evening News'' ===
{{blockquote|We've shared a lot in the 24 years we've been meeting here each evening, and before I say "Good night" ''this'' night, I need to say thank you. Thank you to the thousands of wonderful professionals at CBS News, past and present, with whom it's been my honor to work over these years. And a deeply felt thanks to all of ''you'', who have let us into your homes night after night; it has been a privilege, and one never taken lightly.

Not long after I first came to the anchor chair, I briefly signed off using the word, "Courage". I want to return to it now, in a different way: to a nation still nursing a broken heart for what happened here in 2001, and especially to those who found themselves closest to the events of September 11; to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, in dangerous places; to those who have endured the tsunami, and to all who have suffered natural disasters, and must now find the will to rebuild; to the oppressed and to those whose lot it is to struggle in financial hardship or in failing health; to my fellow journalists in places where reporting the truth means risking all; and to each of you, Courage.

For the ''CBS Evening News,'' Dan Rather reporting. Good night.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cdn.emmys.tv/news/2005/march/ratherfarewell.php |title=Dan Rather Delivers Final Newscast CBS Anchor Signs Off After 24 Years |publisher=Academy of Television Arts and Sciences |date=March 10, 2005 |access-date=June 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115031132/https://www.emmys.com/news/2005/march/ratherfarewell.php|archive-date=15 November 2006}}</ref> |Rather's speech at the end of his farewell newscast|title=|source=}}

Rather retired as the anchorman and Managing Editor of the ''CBS Evening News'' in 2005; his last broadcast was Wednesday, March 9, 2005.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |work=NewsHour with Jim Lehrer |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/jan-june06/rather_06-20.html |title=Dan Rather Leaves CBS |publisher=PBS |date=June 20, 2006 |access-date=June 4, 2012 |archive-date=June 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601120812/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/jan-june06/rather_06-20.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He had 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,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Folkenflik |first1=David |title=Rather Leaves, Schieffer Arrives, Heyward Talks |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4528580 |website=npr.org |date=March 9, 2005 |publisher=National Public Radio, Inc. |access-date=August 11, 2019}}</ref> with [[Katie Couric]] replacing Schieffer in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=Katie Couric says she's leaving 'Today' |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/katie-couric-says-shes-leaving-today-wbna12137229 |website=today.com |date=April 5, 2006 |publisher=NBC Universal |access-date=August 11, 2019}}</ref>
Since retiring, Rather has spoken out 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.'"<ref name=demand>{{cite news |last1=Skolnik |first1=Sam |title=Demand solid news, Rather urges |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Demand-solid-news-Rather-urges-1193799.php |website= Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=January 25, 2006 |publisher=Hearst |access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref>

"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."<ref name=demand/>

=== Fired from CBS News ===
In June 2006, reports surfaced that CBS News would most likely not renew Rather's contract.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> According to a ''Washington Post'' article, sources from CBS said that executives at the network decided "there is no future role for Rather".<ref>{{cite web |title=No future role at CBS for Rather |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/entertainment/tv/amp/No-future-role-at-CBS-for-Rather-1206277.php |website= Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=June 16, 2006 |access-date=August 17, 2019}}</ref>

On June 20, 2006, CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus announced that Rather would leave the network after 44 years.<ref>{{cite news|author=David Bauder|url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dan-rather-signs-off/|title=Dan Rather Signs Off|work=CBS News|date=June 20, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622105927/https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/19/national/main1727285.shtml|archive-date=June 22, 2006}}</ref> Rather issued a separate statement which accompanied the news of the departure:<ref>{{cite web|last=Johnson |first=Peter |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-06-15-dan-rather_x.htm |title=Dan Rather will leave CBS after 44 years |work=USA Today |date=June 15, 2006|access-date=June 4, 2012}}</ref>

{{blockquote|I leave CBS News with tremendous memories. But I leave now most of all with the desire to once again do regular, meaningful reporting. My departure before the term of my contract represents CBS's final acknowledgement, after a protracted struggle, that they had not lived up to their obligation to allow me to do substantive work there. As for their offers of a future with only an office but no assignments, it just isn't in me to sit around doing nothing. So I will do the work I love elsewhere, and I look forward to sharing details about that soon.}}

==== Lawsuit over ouster from CBS Network ====
On September 19, 2007, Rather filed a $70&nbsp;million lawsuit in the [[New York Supreme Court]] before judge [[Ira Gammerman (judge)|Ira Gammerman]], against CBS, its former parent company [[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]; CBS President and CEO [[Leslie Moonves]]; [[Sumner Redstone]], chairman of both Viacom and CBS; 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".<ref name="Fox News"/> On September 21, 2009, Rather's lawyers claimed that Bush's military service would be proven to be a sham, and Rather would be vindicated.<ref name="Martinez"/> On September 29, 2009, a New York state appeals court dismissed Rather's lawsuit against CBS.<ref name="web.archive.org"/><ref name="Honan"/> On January 12, 2010, New York's top court refused to reinstate Rather's breach-of-contract lawsuit against CBS Corp. In his book titled ''Rather Outspoken,'' Rather claimed that the lawsuit "took a big whack out of my time, my psyche and my bank balance, but even so, it was worth it".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Byers|first=Dylan|title=Dan Rather: CBS lawsuit was 'worth it'|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/04/dan-rather-cbs-lawsuit-was-worth-it-121602|access-date=2020-12-15|website=POLITICO|date=April 25, 2012 |language=en}}</ref> On May 18, 2012, 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 the news corporations had been "very uncomfortable" running the story.<ref name="Verizon Media"/>