Dan Rather Quotes (73 Quotes)

Are the Democrats going to dance the mandate Macarena?

I had someone at the Houston police station shoot me with heroin so I could do a story about it. The experience was a special kind of hell. I came out understanding full well how one could be addicted to 'smack,' and quickly.

I've tried everything. I can say to you with confidence, I know a fair amount about LSD. I've never been a social user of any of these things, but my curiosity has carried me into a lot of interesting areas.

Fear rules almost every newsroom in the country.

I gave it everything I had, I didn't hold anything back. I did the best newscast we were capable of doing.

A tough lesson in life that one has to learn is that not everybody wishes you well.

This week, former Evening News ... wouldn't let him do it.

Journalists should denounce government by public opinion polls.

To err is human but to really foul up requires a computer.

I've always tried to be fair, even-handed, not an advocate for any group.

Anyone who says network news cannot be profitable doesn't know what he is talking about. But anyone who says it must always, make money is misguided and irresponsible.

Those of you watching and listening, get a cup of coffee or a spot of tea and join us back here in just a few moments.

International coverage will continue to shrink unless those of us who believe it's important can make the case to the leadership and ownership that this is a public service. It may not help the demographics, it may not help the ratings. But it's the kind of coverage you have to have if you want to be a quality operation.

Beneath the outside eloquence beat the heart of a fierce competitor, ... Good Morning America.

If Mark Felt had not provided information to the Washington Post, I think they would have got away with it.

To the pilot of a deep sea submersible, upon finding out what would happen if the craft sprung a leak while submerged. I'll trust you to make sure that doesn't happen.

I'm all news, all the time. Full power, tall tower. I want to break in when news breaks out. That's my agenda. Now, respectfully, when you start talking about a liberal agenda and all the, quote, 'liberal bias' in the media, I quite frankly, and I say this respectfully but candidly to you, I don't know what you're talking about.

Don't taunt the alligator until after you've crossed the creek.

I'm proud to say I've never been anybody's lapdog.

I have been here through good times and not so good times. I have seen us overcome adversity before,

I have always been and remain a 'hard news' investigative reporter at heart, ... I now look forward to pouring my heart into that kind of reporting full time.

This race is hotter than a Times Square Rolex.

It's been one of television news' finest moments.

What I hope will not change is the understanding that news needs to serve the public interest as its primary goal. That is its greatest calling, to keep freedom and independence alive, and keep it honest.

They may have turned this up, whether you had the Paula Jones case or not. But again maybe not, but again that's like if a frog had side pockets he'd probably wear a handgun.

No doubt the CBS Evening News will be different. Katie is a superb person, and she's a great pro. I'll be rooting for her, and I wish her well.

If you liked this broadcast, we hope you'll watch it again tomorrow night and maybe tell your neighbors about it.

Those market researchers... are playing games with you and me and with this entire country. Their so-called samples of opinion are no more accurate or reliable than my grandmother's big toe was when it came to predicting the weather.

Make no mistake, inside that tall, handsome, elegant and eloquent exterior, inside that, beat the heart of a fierce but principled competitor.

Satire is particularly valuable in a country like ours.

I don't back down. I don't cave when the pressure gets too great from these partisan political ideological forces.

The public has lost interest. They'd much rather hear about the Robert Blake murder case or what is happening on Wall Street. A feeling is creeping back in that if you lead foreign, you die.

What I say or do here won't matter much, nor should it.

Only votes talk, everything else walks.

We saw a lot of these in the early '90s. These are the type of weapons that have been missing for the last five to seven years. But we are starting to see them again.

Be careful. Journalism is more addictive than crack cocaine. Your life can get out of balance.

For years Don Imus was just - boy, he was merciless in his criticism of me. Maybe it was justified, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt.

The reporting for Katrina has been fabulous, among the best I have seen, right across the board, ... Television is at its best when it commits itself to public service and this was a classic, almost pluperfect, example of television news as a public service.

Television sometimes has difficulty with depth and breadth, context and perspective, but what it does best is take you there. And this coverage took everybody there, up close and personal. You can see people hurting, you can see the response has been too

This is no big deal, but when you ask me about those specific quotes from those specific people, this is what I have to say, and it's all I have to say That the accomplishments of these men speak for themselves. Individually and collectively, they've had some of the truly great careers in television news, at CBS or anywhere else. Since that's the way they feel, they're entitled to express their opinions. They've earned the right to voice them. Period.

I don't want to be argumentative, Mr. Vice President.

An intellectual snob is someone who can listen to the William Tell Overture and not think of The Lone Ranger.

By more than two to one Americans do not consider what Kevorkian did, injecting a terminally ill patient with legal drugs at the patient's request, to be the same as murder. You may want to note that laws are not supposed to be enforced on the basis of public opinion polls.

This past summer, CBS and I began to discuss this matter in earnest -- and we decided that the close of the election cycle would be an appropriate time (to leave the broadcast.)

They were willing to speak truth to power.

He comes across as a man absolutely convinced that it's his destiny to survive,

Despite what many Americans think, most Soviets do not yearn for capitalism or Western-style democracy.

The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called "truth".

First of all, from where I sit, I am leaving on a high note, ... and a higher note than I deserve and certainly a higher note than I ever thought possible when I walked into this job. Secondly, what's gone on these past few months, it all goes with the territory, as the cliche goes. It's part of the turf, particularly if you're determined to at least try to be an independent reporter. And I understand that very well.

He got his life together and is putting it on the line for his country.