Dan Rather

Dan Rather is married to Jean Goebel since 1957. They currently spend their time between New York City and Austin. They couple has two children: Robin and Dan.

As an ode to Rather’s career, the Briscoe Center for American History at University of Texas released a digital humanities project that chronicled and celebrated his life and it was titled ‘Dan Rather: American Journalist’ (2017).

His style of speaking and mannerisms which are colorful and involve many analogies have been often referred as ‘Ratherisms’, proving his everlasting presence among his audiences.

Dan Rather was born on October 31, 1932 to Byrl and Daniel Irvin Rather Sr. in Wharton, Texas. His father’s interest in reading and news sparked an early inclination in Dan Rather towards journalism. He used to listen to radio broadcasts ardently as a child.

He attended Love Elementary School and later attended Hamilton Middle School. He graduated from John H Reagan High School. In 1953, Rather earned a degree in journalism from Sam Houston State College, Texas.

While studying, he worked at the local radio station KSAM and learnt his initial reporting skills. He also wrote many articles and worked as an editor for the university’s local paper ‘The Houstonian’.

He also worked as a reporter for Associated Press and United Press International. After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps but was discharged because he was sick.

Dan Rather’s first full-time job as a reporter was with ‘The Houston Chronicle’, in 1954, where he scripted newscasts, reported, and was involved in broadcasting. He later started hosting a weekly show titled ‘Coaches Show’ for the University of Houston’s radio station KTRH.

In 1956, he became the news director of KTRH and later worked as a television reporter for KTRK-TV. He continued reporting from the ground as well as lead broadcasts.

He joined KHOU, a CBS affiliate station, in 1960 as its news director. He became famous for his coverage of Hurricane Carla (1961), so much so that CBS decided to absorb him in their main roster.

In 1962, CBS appointed Rather as the Bureau Chief of CBS News Southwest Bureau in Dallas in 1962. He was subsequently shifted to the Southern Bureau in New Orleans. He reported on the Civil Rights Moment and interviewed personalities such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Vivian Malone.

In 1964, CBS appointed him as the White House Correspondent. In 1965, he moved to London and become CBS News’s Bureau Chief. He decided to move to Vietnam to work as a war correspondent.

While Dan Rather is a popular face in the news segment, his role as the anchor for CBS Evening News, a flagship evening news program, was his most popular and memorable stint. He was the anchorman of the show for 24 years, the longest tenure by any newsman in American TV industry.