Legendary television journalist Dan Rather gave more than 450 students his analysis of the upcoming presidential election and urged them to participate in the democratic process Tuesday at Metcalf Hall in a lecture sponsored by the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center.
Rather talked about the election and his disappointment in the diminishing standards of journalists. His lecture was a part of the Ready to Vote Speaker Series created by the Gotlieb Center to encourage students to register and vote.
“If you believe this presidential election is one of our more important presidential elections, then the question for you is, are you going to talk or are you going to walk?” Rather said.
Rather described an apathy many members in the media deride as “the book on youth,” that the youth always “talk” about their enthusiasm for the election, but then do not “walk” by showing up to the polls. He said youths often do not think their vote can make a difference in the election.
“Experience and years taught me that’s not true,” Rather told The Daily Free Press after his speech. “With all our difficulties and disappointments, this is still a country where one person can make a difference in a lot of ways.”
College of Communication senior Matt Watkins said he enjoyed hearing the perspective of a reporter who has “been on the inside” for so long.
“Even though he’s not necessarily at the same point he was a couple years ago in his career, he still has a positive outlook,” Watkins said.
Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences freshman Hannah Letbetter said she liked seeing Dan Rather because it was a face that she had grown up seeing on television.
“He just seemed very honest,” Letbetter said. “It didn’t seem like he was reading something he prepared, it felt like he was really telling us something from his heart.”
Gotlieb Center Director Vita Paladino said not only can Rather provide insight on issues in the upcoming election, but he also understands the implications of each candidate’s policy positions.
“This guy has probably been to more places than either candidate,” Paladino said.
Rather broke up his casual lecture with different political anecdotes, including when former President Lyndon Johnson was upset that media kept quoting him saying, “I will not send American boys to do what Asian boys can do for themselves.” Antiwar activists repeatedly attacked this precursor to the modern “flip-flop.”
Rather said the race remains neck-and-neck, meaning “glorified news conferences” may become more important than they usually are in presidential elections.
“Both candidates understand that this race is very close,” Rather said. “One reason they are playing it very carefully both ways is because the race is close and they don’t want to make mistakes.”
Rather said he has been disappointed with the media lately and stated that journalists haven’t been holding as high of standards as they should be.
“It is one role of the press to be a watchdog,” Rather said. “Not an attack dog, but not a lap dog. Yak at anything that’s suspicious.”
“One person can make a difference,” Rather said. “One person can inspire at least another person.”