We'd Rather

The reporting legend discusses JFK's final day

Comments (0) By Jennifer Elaine Davis Thursday, Nov 20 2008

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Dan Rather is a cultural icon--a man whose voice takes us back to the golden age of television news when it took more than a good head of hair and expensive dental work to be a network reporter. Most of us know Rather as a stately figure, a man whose calm voice and magnetic presence greeted us nightly as he delivered the news from the anchor desk of CBS. But Rather was an indelible part of television news history long before his 24-year tenure as anchorman--he is widely credited as being the first reporter to break the news of the death of President John F. Kennedy. Walter Cronkite's heartbreaking declaration was actually informed by Rather's report from Dallas. Today, reporting breaking news is something of a given, but at the time of Kennedy's assassination, Rather's up to the minute reporting was flat-out groundbreaking. His work during those dark days in November established live television as a virtual arena for a shared American experience and culture. To mark the 45th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination, Rather presents a keynote speech detailing the events surrounding the death of President Kennedy as the culmination of the Impressions of Jack Kennedy series at the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, 311 Elm St. The program begins at 8 p.m. and admission is free. Reservations are required, and may be made by calling 214-747-6660.
Sat., Nov. 22, 8 p.m., 2008