For more than 40 years, former CBS News anchor and 60 Minutes correspondent Dan Rather has been the embodiment of the intrepid broadcast journalist. From the Kennedy assassination—where he was the first to break the news that the president had been killed—to the Indian Ocean tsunami, he has covered every major story of our time, with distinction and a fierce dedication to hard news. For his unparalleled devotion to his craft, he was named the 2012 recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award for Lifetime Achievement.
A native son of Texas, Dan Rather is well-known for his colorful speaking style and the home-spun “Ratherisms” that he has used with greatest exuberance in his election coverage. During the wee hours of the 2000 Election Night marathon, Rather commented that “We don’t know whether to wind the watch or howl at the moon,” after noting earlier that “[Vice President Al] Gore’s got his back to the wall with his shirttails on fire in Florida.” Rather is also a prolific author, having written, co-written, or contributed to several books.
Rather’s latest journalistic venture is the hard-edged news show Dan Rather Reports, broadcasted on AXS TV, on which he acts as both host and managing editor. As a speaker, few can match the authority, experience, and perspective Rather offers on world events and the passion he displays in defense of journalism.