In 1980, CBS announced that Walter Cronkite would be stepping down from his post as anchor of the "CBS Evening News" after 19 years. His replacement, reported The Washington Post, was Dan Rather. Rather officially took over on March 9, 1981. While Cronkite was known for his signature sign-off, "That's the way it is," Rather initially offered a somewhat generic alternative: "That's our report tonight," Rather said in his debut newscast. "Until tomorrow, Dan Rather, 'CBS Evening News,' good night."
A few years later, Rather concocted a new sign-off that was far more distinctive — so much so that it left many viewers confused when he started to end his broadcasts by stating his name and adding a single word: "Courage." The new sign-off wasn't exactly embraced by viewers, who responded with a collective, "Huh?"
Asked about criticism of his new sign-off, Rather took it in stride. ″Don't overanalyze it. There's no deep, hidden meaning,″ Rather said in a 1986 interview with the AP. ″It's a greeting and salutation that I've been using with friends for years. It's not a preachment. I just like the sound of the word.″ Years later, in a Reddit AMA, Rather explained that "courage" was "my father's favorite word." He also acknowledged that "the network brass" didn't love it. "For reasons that were never clear to me, they thought it was somehow dangerous or at a minimum, inappropriate and it ought to be stopped," Rather divulged.
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