# Dan Rather and "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 28, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934 "2004-11-28T00:46:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/1 "2004-11-28T00:46:45Z")
An editorial about Dan Rather’s career ran in a recent edition of the Springfield, Illinois State Journal-Register.
The article mentioned some of the lower points of Mr. Rather’s career, including
> [@](#):
>
> …the “What’s the frequency, Kenneth?” incident.
Can someone please fill me in on the details and signifigance of this statement?
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/2 "2004-11-28T00:51:30Z")
[From here](http://www.ratherbiased.com/bizarre.htm)
> [@](#):
>
> What’s the Frequency?
>
> "Rather was confronted about 11 p.m. while walking on Park Avenue. When he tried to walk away, he was punched from behind and knocked to the ground. The attacker then chased Rather into a building and kicked him several times in the back. […]
>
> “The mystery may be solved: Dan Rather has identified the man he says beat him up on the street in 1986 while demanding to know ‘Kenneth, what is the frequency?’ The CBS anchorman said his assailant was William Tager, now in prison for killing an NBC stagehand outside the Today show in 1994. Tager was convinced the media had him under surveillance and were beaming hostile messages to him, and he demanded that Rather tell him the frequency being used, according to a forensic psychiatrist who examined Tager after the NBC shooting. Rather was told by the psychiatrist, Dr. Park Dietz, that Tager was almost certainly his attacker. The anchorman identified Tager from pictures supplied by the New York Daily News. ‘There’s no doubt in my mind that this is the person,’ Rather said.”
> –January 1997, Associated Press.
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### Author:  [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/3 "2004-11-28T01:43:39Z")
R.E.M. wrote a song about this incident as [well:](http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20010619.html)
> [@](#):
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> Apparently the strange event moved R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe, who said of the incident:
>
> It remains the premier unsolved American surrealist act of the 20th century. It’s a misunderstanding that was scarily random, media hyped and just plain bizarre.
> The attack inspired the 1994 R.E.M. hit “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth.” Being a good sport, Dan Rather even accompanied the band when they performed the song on a Late Show with David Letterman appearance.
Here are the [lyrics](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/r-e-m/whats-the-frequency-kenneth.html) too.
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### Author:  [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/4 "2004-11-28T05:33:41Z")
Was there any particular reason why the assailant called him “Kenneth”?
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/5 "2004-11-28T05:37:53Z")
> [@Freddy the Pig](#):
>
> Was there any particular reason why the assailant called him “Kenneth”?
He was a gibbering whack job?
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### Author:  [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/6 "2004-11-28T05:54:26Z")
> [@Freddy the Pig](#):
>
> Was there any particular reason why the assailant called him “Kenneth”?
Because only a sick mother-fucker would call him Bill. What is wrong with you?
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### Author:  [@Dr.Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Dog)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/7 "2004-11-28T06:25:39Z")
Well, I’ve had enough ‘song and dance’ from everyone on the matter it is past time for ‘the straight dope’ on this.
What is the frequency?
How could one determine the correct frequency without Dan Rather’s confession? Could standard tinfoil block these types of transmissions or would this require ‘Heavy-Duty’ gauge?
Why does Kenneth continue to use the name Dan as if his true identity has not been discovered?
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### Author:  [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/8 "2004-11-28T06:47:08Z")
The Tager story seems the correct one.
For an interesting take on a story that enjoyed some currency till the Tager story came out, please see:
[http://people2.clarityconnect.com/webpages6/ronhenry/real.htm](http://people2.clarityconnect.com/webpages6/ronhenry/real.htm)
Look for the part on Kenneth Schaffer, who had been claiming to be the subect of “What’s the frequency, Kenneth?” till the Tager story became public.
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### Author:  [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/9 "2004-11-28T06:59:44Z")
> [@stpauler](#):
>
> Here are the [lyrics](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/r-e-m/whats-the-frequency-kenneth.html) too.
See, you’re all missing the real culprit here. The one really responsible for this whole thing.
Anyone happen to notice the mention of “Richard” in the song? Fighting ignorance, indeed. You’re all in on it! :dubious:
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### Author:  [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/10 "2004-11-28T07:09:34Z")
> [@duffer](#):
>
> See, you’re all missing the real culprit here. The one really responsible for this whole thing.
>
> Anyone happen to notice the mention of “Richard” in the song? Fighting ignorance, indeed. You’re all in on it! :dubious:
That refers to director Richard Linklater, who is quoted in the song.
I remember how happy I was when “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?” came out. I was getting a little weary of Peter Buck’s extended love affair with the mandolin, and I wished he would just strap on a guitar again and play some rock!
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### Author:  [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/11 "2004-11-28T07:22:58Z")
So they got to you as well **Snooooopy**? Ooohh, we’re all doomed! :eek:
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### Author:  [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/12 "2004-11-28T07:25:54Z")
> [@duffer](#):
>
> So they got to you as well **Snooooopy**? Ooohh, we’re all doomed! :eek:
What do you mean, GOT to me? I was the first in line to volunteer! I want to be on the winning side, you know.
Resistance is futile.
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### Author:  [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/13 "2004-11-28T08:44:52Z")
> [@Freddy the Pig](#):
>
> Was there any particular reason why the assailant called him “Kenneth”?
Tager thought that Kenneth was Rather’s real name.
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### Author:  [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/14 "2004-11-28T14:03:41Z")
Did the 1994 song (of which I was aware) come out before or after the 1994 murder (of which I was not aware).
I bet the victim’s family don’t find that song funny _at all_. :eek:
I know it’s not specifically meant to be _funny_, but the proximity of the song release to the murder just makes me go “ouch!”
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### Author:  [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/15 "2004-11-28T14:29:04Z")
> [@stpauler](#):
>
> R.E.M. wrote a song about this incident as [well:](http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20010619.html)
>
> Here are the [lyrics](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/r-e-m/whats-the-frequency-kenneth.html) too.
And [here are the lyrics](http://www.loudfamily.com/lolita.html) to a song called “Kenneth, What’s The Frequency” from the 1987 **Game Theory** album _Lolita Nation_.
So what? Well, consider that that album (and several other Game Theory and Loud Family albums) were produced by none other than Mitch Easter. I am fairly certain that R.E.M. were aware of Game Theory and _Lolita Nation_ was considered their magnum opus, so you might get the impression that…oh, never mind.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/16 "2004-11-28T14:50:57Z")
> [@An Arky](#):
>
> I am fairly certain that R.E.M. were aware of Game Theory and _Lolita Nation_ was considered their magnum opus, so you might get the impression that…oh, never mind.
That what? That R.E.M. wrote a song about the same incident? Because I just looked up to the lyrics to the Game Theory song and there’s nothing that could even be called a faint resemblance.
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### Author:  [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/17 "2004-11-28T17:25:02Z")
…no, the songs don’t resemble one another, heck, GT’s song isn’t even a song, it’s a brief album intro (Game Theory did a lot of between-song sounds)…but the title is a pretty random thing to name a song, and that there is a real connection between R.E.M. and Game Theory (Mitch Easter) and that it’s VERY possible that Stipe had heard or seen the album and R.E.M.s song came out 7 years later…could be coincidental, could be something else.
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### Author:  [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/18 "2004-11-28T18:04:13Z")
It’s very common for schizophrenics like Tager to hear voices in their head, voices that they want desperately to shut off. Some go so far as to cut off their own ears, in a vain attempt to make the voices stop (this has led some latter day neurologists to speculate that Vincent Van Gogh was schizopgrenic).
It sometimes seems to schizophrenics that the voices are coming from a television set or a radio. As a result, some of the more seriously disturbed schizophrenics will go to TV or radio stations to seek out and/or attack broadcasters they suspect are beaming the voices into their heads.
Dan Rather was lucky to escape from Tager’s attack more or less in one piece. That “Today” show stage hand that Tager later killed wasn’t so lucky.
A tragic episode, really. One that shouldn’t be laughed at, even by people who disliked Dan Rather. A sick, suffering, desperate man attacking another man is NOT funny.
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### Author:  [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/19 "2004-11-28T18:26:20Z")
> [@astorian](#):
>
> A tragic episode, really. One that shouldn’t be laughed at, even by people who disliked Dan Rather. A sick, suffering, desperate man attacking another man is NOT funny.
No, but people laugh at things that are sudden or unexpected and bizarre. The whole episode was like something Ionesco would have written. Sometimes situations are both tragic and comical. I don’t know whether you’ll be successful in changing humanity’s perception of humor since the ancient Greeks with little more than stern moralizing, but good luck nonetheless.
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### Author:  [@Gamaliel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gamaliel)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dan-rather-and-whats-the-frequency-kenneth/276934/20 "2004-11-28T18:40:32Z")
> [@An Arky](#):
>
> …no, the songs don’t resemble one another, heck, GT’s song isn’t even a song, it’s a brief album intro (Game Theory did a lot of between-song sounds)…but the title is a pretty random thing to name a song, and that there is a real connection between R.E.M. and Game Theory (Mitch Easter) and that it’s VERY possible that Stipe had heard or seen the album and R.E.M.s song came out 7 years later…could be coincidental, could be something else.
Why don’t you come out and just say what that “something else” is? You seem to be insinuating something vaguely sinister which I simply just can’t see. All I see is that REM may have heard a song on an album by Game Theory and (DUM DUM DUM!) released an entirely different song with a similar title seven years later. **Gasp!**
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