Replies

I really haven't watched Jennings or any network news since the early '80s, when ABC had the three-headed anchor with Jennings, Max Robinson, and Frank Reynolds (who was my personal favorite). Still, Jennings was more watchable than Rather and Brokaw, and before CNN and Fox, I would watch ABC news for any breaking stories or election coverage. Sorry to hear of his illness.

If true, this is sad news - I'm tuned into the local ABC affiliate and nothing yet, I suspect that if there is anything to this it would be broadcast as news during the Sunday morning talk hour (and I personally hope it won't be George Snuffelupagus who makes the announcement).

For FReepers who may not be familiar with Canadian media, Jennings has always been considered the "home town boy who made good", and ironically, if you compare the voices and styles of Peter Jennings and his Canadian counterpart, Peter Mansbridge, you would be forgiven for thinking that they were twins seperated at birth, except that Jennings has more hair, ;)

I have seldom agreed with Jennings political positions, but like others have said, he has been a professional broadcaster, has clearly done that which he has enjoyed, and I'm hoping that this news might be premature at the least, wildly exaggerated at the best.

Indy, you mentioned Frank Reynolds, and he was one of my favorite anchormen as well, I recall the the day that President Reagan was shot, Reynolds was getting conflicting reports on the condition of James Brady, and he just turned in his seat, right there in front of God and the world, and shouted to the crew behind him, "can we get the right story on this?!?", or words to that effect. Reynolds teared up more than a few times that day, but he persevered and did his job with a lot of class, I thought.

As an FYI on Reynolds Indy, you may or may not know that he served as a Sergeant in the United States Army in WWII, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and I suspect was a closet Reaganite, as it was reported that on the night of the North Carolina Republican primary in 1976 when Reagan was challenging Ford, that it was Frank Reynolds who excitedly delivered the news to the Reagan campaign that they appeared to be winning North Carolina by 10 points, after a string of losses that had the Reagan insurgency on the ropes.

Should Peter Jennings pass on, I remain hopeful that he will be able to join Reynolds for some extended conversations with President Reagan in that big studio upstairs...

I really haven't watched Jennings or any network news since the early '80s, when ABC had the three-headed anchor with Jennings, Max Robinson, and Frank Reynolds (who was my personal favorite). Still, Jennings was more watchable than Rather and Brokaw, and before CNN and Fox, I would watch ABC news for any breaking stories or election coverage. Sorry to hear of his illness.

I remember that too, Max Reynolds was in the ABC Washington (or was he New York? Can't remember) Bureau, Peter was in London and Max Robinson was in Chicago. Robinson and Reynolds died in the 1980's IIRC. Jennings out of the Big Three anchors was my favorite too, don't care for his politics, but he was still a class act. Prayers for Peter and his family and friends.

On television, Jennings rankled my sensibilities. But he was on a local radio station here a couple times as a guest and he seemed like a really decent guy worthy of respect. Very sorry about this. Will pray for him and his family.