Dan Rather

Photo of Dan Rather

Biography

Though he never saw a television set until the age of 18, Rather went on to become one of the leading television journalists in history, reporting on groundbreaking stories - from the assassination of President Kennedy to the Vietnam War. Serving as anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News" (CBS, 1962- ) for 24 years, Rather was named one of the "Big Three" - alongside peers Peter Jennings (ABC) and Tom Brokaw (NBC) - of network …
Read More »

Job Title

Actor, Writer

Born

October 31, 1931

Career Milestones

2006

Offically resigned from CBS News after failing to reach a deal to extend his contract for "60 Minutes," where he had been contributing segments since retiring from the anchor desk

2005

Resigned as anchor of CBS Evening News after 44 years with the network

1998

Signed contract to remain with CBS through the year 2002

1997

Launched a syndicated weekly newspaper column, "Part of Our World", now called "Dan Rather Reporting"

Named as one of the correspondents for "60 Minutes II"

1995

Became sole anchor of "CBS Evening News"

Shared anchoring duties on the "CBS Evening News" with Connie Chung

1988

Anchored and reported for the CBS news magazine "48 Hours"

1988

Had a stormy pre-election interview with then Vice-President George Bush on Jan. 25, 1988

1981

Managing editor and anchorman of "CBS Evening News with Dan Rather"

Anchored Saturday edition of "CBS Evening News"

1975

Named co-editor of "60 Minutes"

1974

Promoted to anchorman for "CBS Reports"

1964

Appointed as CBS's White House correspondent

1961

Signed with CBS

1960

Joined KHOU-TV in Houston

1956

Served as news director of KTRH

1950

Associate Press reporter in Huntsville, Texas

1940

Worked as newsboy selling the "Houston Chronicle" at age nine (date approximate)

Grew up in the Heights Annex, Houston neighborhood