Rather, who earlier in the day called out Trump for his administration’s “alternative facts,” talked about what brought Trump to power and what needs to happen now that he has become president.
Here are three takeaways from Rather’s speech:
1. Trump succeeded because he’s no politician
Trump became president because he has no prior experience in politics, Rather told the audience. For that reason, Rather said Trump was unlike almost any other president who has ever served.
“Many people see his lack of experience as an advantage,” Rather said.
2. Too much change came too quickly
There is a feeling that America has changed too quickly over the last several years, Rather said.
It’s caused people to have “less of a hankering for change.” The emergence of a globalized economy is one of the biggest changes that was rebuked by Trump’s election, Rather said.
“Make America Great Again is tied to a certain feeling of unease that the country is changing too quickly and too chaotically,” Rather said.
3. The press is under attack but must survive and thrive
Rather said that the press is in “the fight of our professional lives” right now.
Only the “worst of the (Richard) Nixon years” can compare to Trump’s treatment of the press, Rather said. Nixon’s administration tried to undermine journalists and make them work against each other, Rather told listeners.
With Trump in the White House, reporters need to press the president more now than ever, Rather said.
“A free press is the red beating heart of freedom and democracy,” Rather said.
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