Dan Rather, at 92, on a life in news - CBS Sunday Morning

[Rhiannon12866]

It's been almost 20 years since Dan Rather signed off as anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News," at the network where he spent 44 years covering wars, politics, and the assassination of JFK – and where he mentored a young correspondent named Lee Cowan.

Rather, now 92, talks with Cowan about his illustrious career; about the story that gave him (and CBS) a black eye; and his post-CBS years, writing books and finding a new, younger audience on social media. - Aired on 04/28/2024.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Dan Rather was the best!

He got railroaded by the power he always sought to investigate. Fitting that he's still going. Odd that the interview failed to address our current predicament, but we did get all the news they were allowed to talk about.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. I know! He was my favorite too, agree that he was the best!

My job used to be writing the descriptions for CBS TV shows for the newspapers and his publicist was my news contact, liked her a lot. And on my first (phone) introduction to her she said that if her boss called, she'd have to immediately take the call and I told her that I certainly understood!

And I also still believe that he was correct in the news that prompted his removal and not one anchor who replaced him since is anywhere near as good, he's a legend!

[bucolic_frolic]

3. That's quite a niche detail, thanks for sharing.

My mom swooned over Dan Rather as far back as the 1960s. I see now, in that video retrospective, how he was almost George Clooney macho with the chiseled face, deep voice, quick mind, controlled hair, and in-shape too. Burly guy, he could have gone into acting. Thanks for the OP!

[TexasTowelie]

4. I see that the outdoor interview was at the Treaty Oak in Austin.

The tree is estimated to be 500 years old it was where Stephen F. Austin signed a peace treaty with the Comanche and Tonkawa tribes with a spread of 127 foot spread. It was recognized as the perfect example of a North American tree by the American Forestry Association. One year after I moved to Austin the tree was poisoned by vandals in 1989 and about one-half of the tree died afterwards. The tree is producing acorns again.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. Awww, geez! Why would anyone try to eradicate a 500-year-old American treasure??

I hope they faced legal consequences! I was on a thread the other day that complained about people chopping down trees and I said I felt the same way. But kudos to the tree for coming back. Here's hoping they erected an electric fence!

[TexasTowelie]

6. The criminal who poisoned the tree was trying to cast a spell and he served 9 years for felony criminal mischief.

FW IW, the head Wiccan priestess lived about a half-mile away.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Thanks! Not that it eradicated the damage to the irreplaceable tree, but that conveyed a lesson

And he sounds like a nut.