Q 6

PLAYBOY: Have you ever smoked marijuana?

Dan Rather: I prefer not to answer that one.

Q 7

PLAYBOY: Have you ever snorted cocaine?

Dan Rather: I prefer not to answer that, too. If I were going to do it, I would not do it in violation of the law. Let's just say I would not do it in this country under any circumstances. This may sound corny, but I find myself thinking more about my kids when it comes to things like marijuana and cocaine. In addition to everything else, I'm a father and I feel pretty strongly about that. Part of my role as a father is to set an example.

Q 8

PLAYBOY: What's your idea of a good time?

Dan Rather: That's easy: being with Jean Rather on Bill Johnston's boat in the middle of Lake Travis, Texas--with a little Willie Nelson playing on the stereo in the background.

Q 9

PLAYBOY: What other kinds of music do you listen to?

Dan Rather: I like Hank Williams and Haydn.

Q 10

PLAYBOY: What's better than sex?

Dan Rather: Nothing. No, let me amend that. Honor is better than sex.

Q 11

PLAYBOY: What's the hardest thing you've ever done?

Dan Rather: Making my marriage work. That requires more concentration and more of one's self than anything I know. The hardest thing I've ever done professionally is cover the Kennedy assassination, while the hardest physical thing was to get myself certified for diving, because I am not a good strong natural swimmer. One of the hardest things I've done in terms of deciding what was best was whether or not to leave CBS in 1974.

Q 12

PLAYBOY: What cracks you up?

Dan Rather: Say Gerald Ford is at an all-star baseball game and it's between innings, so he's being interviewed. I'm thinking, Hey, great idea for Ford to be at the game if he wants to keep himself in line for things. He looks good. He's got a good tan. He's even got on the right tie. And then the interviewer says, "You know a few things about baseball, Mr. President...." And Ford says, "Oh, yes. I watch a lot of baseball on radio." Now, that cracks me up. I love it.