What Happened to Daniel Irvin Rather Jr.?

Dan Rather's illustrious career in journalism began in 1950, leading him to CBS News in 1962. He quickly rose to prominence with his impactful coverage of major events, including Hurricane Carla in 1961 and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, which cemented his reputation for on-the-ground reporting. He served as a White House correspondent during the Johnson and Nixon administrations, covering the Watergate scandal, and became a fixture on CBS's news programs, including '60 Minutes.'

In 1981, Rather succeeded Walter Cronkite as the anchor and managing editor of the 'CBS Evening News,' a role he held for 24 years, making him one of the longest-serving network anchors in American history. His tenure was marked by a commitment to hard-hitting journalism, though it also saw its share of challenges, including declining ratings and public scrutiny.

A pivotal turning point in Rather's career was the "Killian documents controversy," also known as "Rathergate," in September 2004. A '60 Minutes II' report, anchored by Rather, presented documents critical of President George W. Bush's Vietnam War-era service in the Texas Air National Guard. The authenticity of these documents was quickly challenged by bloggers and experts, leading to a major journalistic scandal. CBS later stated it could not authenticate the documents and acknowledged a mistake in judgment. Rather stepped down as anchor in March 2005 and left CBS News entirely in 2006, citing a desire to continue substantive reporting elsewhere.

Following his departure from CBS, Rather embarked on a new chapter in independent journalism. He hosted 'Dan Rather Reports,' a '60 Minutes'-style investigative program, and 'The Big Interview with Dan Rather,' a series of long-form interviews with celebrities, both on AXS TV (formerly HDNet). He also hosted an online newscast for The Young Turks in 2018 and, since 2021, has been writing his popular newsletter, "Steady," on Substack, offering commentary and perspective on current events. Rather has also authored several books, including his memoir 'Rather Outspoken' (2012) and 'What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism' (2017).

As of May 2026, Rather, at 94, remains a prominent public figure. A documentary about his life, "Rather," premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2023 and was released on Netflix in May 2024. In April 2024, he made a significant return to CBS airwaves for an interview on 'CBS Sunday Morning,' his first appearance on the network in 18 years, where he reflected on his career and the state of journalism. He continues to host "The Big Interview with Dan Rather" podcast and launched "Blinking Red - The Dan Rather Podcast," which was active in March 2026, providing his perspective on a turbulent news cycle. In April 2026, Rather was among over 200 journalists who signed an open letter urging the White House Correspondents' Association to address "unprecedented attacks on the free press." He maintains an active presence on social media, engaging with a new generation of audiences.