Publisher's Synopsis
Introduction I was fascinated and felt shame when I learned that Dan Rather Reported some Schools celebrated after learning President had been assassinated in Dallas. I admired his courage to report an article on such an embarrassing subject about some true feeling of some residents had about President Kennedy death. Rather had only recently moved from Dallas to New Orleans by Novemberand would not have been in Dallas except for the need to get the film to Dallas CBS affiliate KRLD-TV (now KDFW) to feed to New York. His job was to fetch a film drop from a camera truck at that location and take it to the station for editing. He did not witness the shooting and heard no shots, he said. He heard nothing of what may have caused the commotion until he reached KRLD, running all the way, through Dealey Plaza: "The moment I cleared the Railroad tracks I saw a scene I will never forget. Some people were lying on the grass, some screaming, some running, some pointing. Policemen swarmed everywhere." Later Rather Reported that some Dallas Schoolchildren had applauded when they were notified of the President's death. However, teacher Joanna Morgan confirmed that students had cheered at the News that Kennedy was shot. This story infuriated local Journalists at then-CBS affiliate KRLD-TV. DuringRichard Nixon's Presidency, critics accused Rather of biased coverage against him. At a Houston News Conference in March 1974, Nixon fielded a question from Rather, still CBS's White House Correspondent, who said, "Thank you, Mr. President. Dan Rather, of CBS News." The room filled with jeers and applause, prompting Nixon to joke, "Are you running for something?" Rather replied, "No, sir, Mr. President. Are you?" In his question, Rather accused Nixon of not cooperating with the Grand Jury investigation and the House Judiciary Committee in relation to the Watergate scandal. The controversy did little to dent Rather's overall tough coverage of the Watergate scandal, which helped to raise his profile. The rest is history. Therlee Gipson"
