The time I met Dan Rather

Once, years ago, I got the chance to interview Dan Rather. He came to Las Vegas to sign copies of his latest book, "Deadlines and Datelines." The circumstances couldn't have been more ignominious: The interview took place in the back room of a Borders Book Shop in Henderson, Nev. I was a writer for CityLife, an alternative newspaper in Las Vegas. Rather, by obvious contrast, sat atop the media colossus at the other end of the universe as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News.

We talked about media, bias, how the public consumes news and how those methods were changing. We talked about dream journalism jobs (I was in mine at the time; Rather's favored post-CBS work was to become the AP bureau chief in a small town in Texas, the name of which I've forgotten).

What struck me during the interview was the sense that this was a true newsman, a colleague, a fellow warrior in the fight for truth, justice and the people's right to know. I detected not the least bit of arrogance in the man. It was this humility I often saw on TV, too. Once, while fielding live calls from witnesses to the destruction of the space shuttle Columbia, a prankster got through, and told Rather he was an idiot. "Of course I'm an idiot," Rather readily conceded, before going on to note, correctly, that this was hardly the point.

I waited to write about Rather to see the reaction to his departure. The right predictably cheered his departure and chided him for being biased. Who isn't biased, I wonder'? Is there such a gray, passionless, neutral observer out there? If so, would that person actually KNOW anything? It seems to me that knowledge and experience create bias in people, and that's not always a bad thing.

When people complain about bias, they are usually talking about a bias against the side with which they agree. A certain type of person can detect even the faintest, remotest hint of anti-Republican prejudice in the simple facial expression of an anchor on CNN, and point it out for all the world to see. But that same person can watch the Fox News Channel all day long and never notice a hint of one-sidedness. Why? Do fish know water is wet, or do they just swim in it? And of course, the same is true of the New York Times-reading, NPR-listening liberal, who is often shocked to see the kinds of things they do on Fox.

Rather was often accused of bias during his career, especially during that infamous exchange with President Richard Nixon, who asked Rather if he was running for something when Rather was applauded at a live news conference. "No sir, Mr. President. Are you?" Rather shot back, with an impish grin. Later, he'd say he regretted that, but at the time, I think it was a somewhat overpowering desire not to be embarrassed that led him to make that statement. But I think he also learned from it, because he didn't do anything like that again. (His intense grilling of President George H.W. Bush over Iran-Contra wasn't a repeat; that was necessary and proper for a reporter confronting a president whose claims of being "out of the loop" didn't hold up.)

But I think what impressed me most about Rather, during his career and in that interview, was the fact that he obviously loved journalism, loved chasing a story and loved telling people about it. And that's an important thing for a reporter, especially these days, when news is becoming more and more commercialized, prepackaged and focused-grouped. Rather came from the old school, the one in which a newsroom was a loud, noisy, boisterous place with phones ringing, typewriters clapping and people shouting. Try that today and you'll get written up for disturbing the reporters and editors who've become accustomed to a workplace more like an insurance office than a place where creativity bounces off the walls.

I couldn't end this post without mentioning Memogate, the scandal by which Rather's entire career will unfortunately be judged. Mistakes were plentiful, from the initial discovery of the story all the way through to the spirited defense of the documents that should never have seen the air. Rather admitted to those mistakes in a humiliating national apology that was nonetheless the right thing to do. Yet, behind it all, there's the undeniable fact that President Bush's service in the National Guard was irregular. The memos in question may have been fake, but even the president's defenders cannot establish the president served a full, uninterrupted term in the guard.

True to form, Rather isn't letting his mistakes get in the way. He'll be reporting stories for "60 Minutes II," that is, unless CBS cancels that show. With all the fluff on the broadcast dial, "Survivor," "The Apprentice," "Fear Factor," "The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette," etc., it might be nice to have a place where an old-school, veteran newsman has a chance to practice the craft of journalism, to keep chasing stories, and to keep bringing people the news.