#2: Dan Rather
Dan Rather succeeded Walter Cronkite in 1981 and brought a more restless, field-tested energy to the CBS Evening News. Before taking the desk, he had reported from hurricanes, the White House, Vietnam, and countless political battles. Rather’s Texas-flavored delivery, unusual sign-offs, and willingness to confront powerful figures made him distinctive for more than two decades. He occasionally became part of the story himself, which is occupational trouble when millions are watching every eyebrow movement closely.
