Dan Rather is an American journalist and commentator who began his career in Texas. He became a national figure in September 1961 after his reporting during Hurricane Carla helped save thousands of lives. Throughout his career, he has reported on some of the most significant events of the modern age, including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Gulf War, the September 11 attacks, the Iraq War, and the war on terror. Rather served as a national evening news anchor before transitioning to commentary work.