Remembering Journalist and ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings

Peter Jennings, longtime anchor of ABC world News Tonight, passed away of lung cancer yesterday. He had announced his diagnosis on ABC World News Tonight on April 5, 2005. In a husky voice, he promised that night, "I will continue to do the broadcast," but he never returned to the air waves.

Jennings was a dedicated and respected newsman, a 41-year employee of ABC News and lead ABC evening news anchor for 22 years. With handsome looks and suave style, a thirst for knowledge and extensive experience in the Middle East, Jennings was widely regarded as a leading journalist of his time.

During the week of September 11, 2001, he logged more than 60 on-air hours. TV Guide dubbed Jennings the "center of gravity" for his calming presence during that week. And he witnessed and reported most of the milestone events of the late 20th century.

Intelligent, literate and curious, Jennings interestingly never graduated from either high school or college. Said Jennings, "I have never spent a day in my adult life where I didn't learn something." Occasionally accused of a "liberal bias," Jennings famously quipped, "I'm not a slave to objectivity. I'm never quite sure what it means. And it means different things to different people."

To remember one of the great newsmen of our time, be sure to read my Profile of Peter Jennings (1938-2005), Journalist and ABC News Anchor.