"Legendary Dan Rather Reflects on 92 Years of Uncovering the News"

Almost two decades have passed since Dan Rather bid farewell to the anchor desk at CBS News. As one of the "Big Three" TV anchormen during his time, with an audience of around 50 million viewers each night, Rather held the position the longest, spanning nearly a quarter of a century.

However, in 2006, just over a year after stepping down from his anchor role, Rather parted ways with CBS itself. Reflecting on this departure, he remarked, "Dan Rather, CBS News, became sorta all part of my name, a part of my identity."

This recent appearance marks his return to the network, as he expressed, "Without apology or explanation, I miss CBS. I've missed it since the day I left there."

Even at 92 years old, the circumstances surrounding his exit still evoke a sense of pain. Rather shared, "In the heart of every reporter worthy of their name, Lee, there's a message that news, real news is what somebody somewhere — particularly somebody in power – doesn't want you to know. That's news."

It was this commitment to uncovering the truth that led to his downfall.

On September 20, 2004, Rather broadcast an apology. "It was a mistake," he said. "CBS News deeply regrets it. Also, I want to say, personally and directly, I'm sorry."

Asked if that was his lowest point, Rather replied, "Of course, it was the lowest point. I gave CBS News everything I had. They had smarter, better, more talented people, but they didn't have anybody who worked any harder than I did."

I'd only been at CBS a few years by then, during which Dan Rather had kindly and unexpectedly taken me under his wing. He made me feel welcome.

Minus the suspenders and his cigars, Rather remains just as I remember him: an intently curious, thoughtful, well-read skeptic, who wants nothing more than to wear out his shoe-leather chasing the next headline.

"You still do that?"

"I do."

"And it doesn't matter how big or small the audience is?"

"No," he replied.

Asked to rate where journalism is today, Rather … paused.

"Let the record show that I paused!" he laughed, before answering: "The people who are practicing journalism today are so much better than those of us who came up at another time. They're better educated, they're more knowledgeable about the world. They wanna do the right thing; they're doing the best they can."

In his time, he knew his best wasn't to try to be his predecessor, Walter Cronkite; instead, he tried to be the best Dan Rather he could be … which came with price tags, some professional, many of them personal.

Back in 1963, amidst the nation's grief over John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, Rather found himself unable to mourn. "I didn't allow myself that luxury," he reflected, "because I felt it was my professional duty. I recall phoning my wife Jean, who was in Houston at the time of the tragedy, and she wisely advised me: 'Dan, at some point, you'll need to make space for your own feelings.'

Then came the Vietnam War. "There's a misconception about what soldiers fear most in war," he explained. "Naturally, they fear death. But that's not their greatest fear. The men and women in combat are most afraid of failing their comrades on the left or right. Race was seldom a concern. Among the troops, there's a saying: 'Same mud, same blood.' And that ethos prevailed."

Those days are far behind now. These days, you can find him relaxing under the shelter of a majestic old oak tree, not too far from his residence in Austin, Texas. Known as the Treaty Tree, it has withstood Spanish invasions, the Civil War, and even urban development.

Within the twisted branches, Dan Rather finds reflections of himself. "Surviving almost 600 years requires having roots that run deep," he reflected.

"When it comes to legacy, it's not about dwelling on your professional accomplishments," he continued. "It's about reflecting on your identity as a person. The real questions to ponder are: Who am I? Why am I here? What can I contribute? Those are the profound questions, not the success or failures as an anchor or managing editor of the 'CBS Evening News.'

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