Peter Jennings, a Canadian-American, became a highly respected figure in television journalism, anchoring ABC World News Tonight for over two decades until his death in 2005. Remarkably, his successful career in journalism was achieved despite not completing high school. He served as the sole anchor of the program from 1983, becoming a familiar and trusted face to millions of viewers. Jennings' legacy is one of dedication and perseverance in the field of broadcast journalism, rising to become a prominent figure in American television news.
1987: Previous Separation from Kati Marton
In 1987, Jennings and Marton briefly separated for four months following Jennings' discovery of Marton's affair.
1990: Production Begins on The Century
Production on "The Century" miniseries began in 1990.
October 12, 1991: Clarence Thomas Hearings Coverage
On October 12, 1991, Peter Jennings interrupted regular ABC programming to cover the Senate confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas. Mindful of his young audience, he prefaced the coverage with a warning about potentially inappropriate language.
February 1992: Growing Up in the Age of AIDS
In February 1992, Jennings anchored "Growing Up in the Age of AIDS," a 90-minute program aimed at young viewers about the AIDS epidemic.
April 1992: Prejudice: Answering Children's Questions
Jennings hosted a special program in April 1992 called "Prejudice: Answering Children's Questions," a forum designed to address children's questions about racism.
September 9, 1992: ABC News Changes Political Coverage Format
On September 9, 1992, ABC News, led by Jennings, announced a change to their political coverage. They committed to reducing the use of staged sound bites and focusing on more substantive content.
November 1992: Bill Clinton's Election Coverage
Following Bill Clinton's election in November 1992, Jennings anchored several specials geared towards children.
1992: Coverage of the Bosnian War Begins
Starting in 1992, Jennings led ABC's extensive coverage of the Bosnian War, dedicating more time to the conflict than any other network.
February 1993: President Clinton: Answering Children's Questions
In February 1993, Jennings hosted "President Clinton: Answering Children's Questions," allowing children to directly engage with the new president.
August 13, 1993: Separation from Kati Marton
On August 13, 1993, Peter Jennings and Kati Marton publicly announced their separation.
November 1993: Kids in the Crossfire: Violence in America
In November 1993, Jennings hosted "Kids in the Crossfire: Violence in America," a live special addressing the issue of violence. The program featured Attorney General Janet Reno and rapper MC Lyte.
January 1994: Hiring of Peggy Wehmeyer
In January 1994, Jennings successfully lobbied for ABC News to hire Peggy Wehmeyer as a full-time religion correspondent, the first such position at a network.
January 1994: Firing of Emily Rooney
In January 1994, Jennings's public firing of World News Tonight executive producer Emily Rooney generated national headlines and controversy.
February 1995: Expresses Regret for Election Remarks
In February 1995, Jennings publicly expressed regret for his remarks on the 1994 midterm elections, acknowledging the negative reaction they had received.
March 1995: In the Name of God
Jennings anchored "In the Name of God," a well-received documentary exploring the evolving nature of American churches in March 1995.
July 27, 1995: Hiroshima: Why the Bomb Was Dropped
Despite winning a Peabody Award, "Hiroshima: Why the Bomb Was Dropped," which aired on July 27, 1995, faced significant criticism and sparked controversy.
1995: Coverage of the Quebec Referendum
In 1995, Jennings gained recognition for his extensive coverage of the Quebec referendum, even broadcasting from Canada on the eve of the vote.
1996: Coverage of the Bosnian War Continues
Jennings continued his extensive coverage of the Bosnian War until 1996, anchoring several primetime specials and a program for children.
May 29, 1998: David Westin Replaces Roone Arledge
On May 29, 1998, David Westin replaced Roone Arledge as the president of ABC News.
December 1998: The Century Book Becomes Bestseller
"The Century," a companion book to the ABC miniseries co-authored by Jennings and Todd Brewster, reached the top of The New York Times Best Seller list in December 1998.
March 29, 1999: The Century Miniseries Premieres
On March 29, 1999, the first installment of ABC's 12-hour miniseries "The Century" aired, with Jennings as the anchor.
April 1999: The Century: America's Time Airs on History Channel
A longer version of the miniseries, "The Century: America's Time," aired on the History Channel in April 1999, also anchored by Jennings.
December 31, 1999: ABC 2000 Today
On December 31, 1999, Peter Jennings anchored ABC's millennium eve special, "ABC 2000 Today", for 23 consecutive hours. The program, which drew an estimated 175 million viewers, was a ratings success and garnered critical acclaim, with Jennings being lauded as "superhuman."
2001: In Search of America Project Begins
Peter Jennings and Todd Brewster began writing "In Search of America" in early 2001. The events of September 11 significantly impacted the project, leading them to revisit interviewees and explore the effects of the attacks.
April 2002: 50 States/One Nation/One Year Tour Begins
In April 2002, Peter Jennings and "World News Tonight" embarked on a 50-state tour to promote the "In Search of America" book.
September 2002: "In Search of America" TV Series Airs
In September 2002, a six-part television series, also titled "In Search of America," aired. Despite the heavy promotion, the book of the same name did not achieve significant sales.
2002: Controversies and Criticism
In 2002, Peter Jennings faced criticism from various sources. He was criticized for his on-air comments about President George W. Bush's location following the September 11th attacks, for hosting a forum including a Palestinian Authority negotiator, and for refusing to allow Toby Keith's song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" to open ABC's July 4th coverage.
2003: Jennings Becomes a Dual Citizen
In 2003, inspired by his work on "In Search of America" and the September 11 attacks, Peter Jennings became a dual citizen of Canada and the United States. He passed his citizenship test and took the oath of allegiance in a ceremony in Lower Manhattan on May 30, 2003.
June 2004: World News Tonight Ratings Increase
Following Jennings' death, "World News Tonight" rose to first place in the ratings for the first time since June 2004.
December 2004: Sidelined by Illness During Tsunami Coverage
In December 2004, Peter Jennings was unable to travel to report on the Asian tsunami due to an upper respiratory infection, forcing him to anchor from New York while competitors reported from the scene.
2004: Moderates Democratic Presidential Primary Debate
Peter Jennings moderated the 2004 Democratic presidential primary debate at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, notably questioning General Wesley Clark about filmmaker Michael Moore's controversial comments regarding President Bush.
March 2005: Rather's Retirement Plans
Dan Rather planned to retire from his anchoring duties at CBS in March 2005. This, along with Tom Brokaw's retirement from NBC, presented a potential opportunity for ABC and Jennings to gain viewers.
April 1, 2005: Last Broadcast of World News Tonight
Peter Jennings anchored "World News Tonight" for the final time on April 1, 2005, due to declining health.
April 5, 2005: Announces Lung Cancer Diagnosis
On April 5, 2005, Peter Jennings announced to viewers that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer and would begin chemotherapy. This was his last public appearance.
April 29, 2005: Jennings Posts Letter to Fans
Peter Jennings posted a letter on ABCNews.com updating his condition and thanking supporters for their well wishes.
July 29, 2005: Jennings' 67th Birthday and Final Letter
On his 67th birthday, July 29, 2005, Peter Jennings posted another letter of thanks online. He had recently visited the ABC News headquarters and addressed staff members, showing visible signs of illness.
August 10, 2005: Peter Jennings: Reporter Airs
ABC aired a two-hour special, "Peter Jennings: Reporter," on August 10, 2005, featuring archival footage and interviews reflecting on his career. The program drew a large audience and was the most-watched show that night.