Peter Jennings was a name synonymous with journalistic integrity and insightful reporting, anchoring ABC World News Tonight for decades and becoming a trusted voice in American households. While his professional life was well-documented, curiosity often extends to his personal life, particularly regarding his family. This leads many to ask: Who is Peter Jennings’ son?
The answer is Christopher “Chris” Jennings, Peter Jennings’ son from his first marriage to Valerie Godsoe. While Peter Jennings carved a prominent path in broadcast journalism, Chris Jennings has forged his own identity, stepping away from the limelight of his famous father but carrying forward a legacy of thoughtful observation and articulate expression, albeit in a different arena.
This article delves into the life of Chris Jennings, drawing from personal anecdotes shared by him, to understand his relationship with his father and his own journey. It offers a glimpse into the man who is Peter Jennings’ son, beyond just the familial connection.
Early Memories and a Father’s Attempt to Quit Smoking
Chris Jennings’ reflections offer intimate glimpses into his childhood with Peter Jennings. One particular memory, or rather a lack thereof, revolves around his father’s initial attempt to quit smoking. As Chris recounts, family lore suggests that he and his sister, Elizabeth, were instrumental in convincing their father to quit when Chris was around seven. However, Chris himself admits to having no clear recollection of this intervention. His memory is simply marked by a shift: from his father smoking to him not smoking.
This first serious attempt to quit led Peter Jennings to a hypnotist in Boston. For many smokers, the idea of a “last cigarette” holds significant weight, often imbued with a sense of finality, however fleeting. Chris shares his father’s anecdote of frantically smoking a pack of Dunhill cigarettes on the way to the hypnosis appointment, a humorous yet telling image of nicotine dependence. Whatever transpired in that Boston office, whether it involved a swinging pocket watch and hypnotic suggestions, proved effective, at least initially. Peter Jennings transitioned from a two-pack-a-day smoker to an avid gum chewer, trading the scent of tobacco for the strong cinnamon aroma of Big Red.
Image alt text: The Good Morning America logo, representing the source of the original article where Chris Jennings shared his personal story about his father, Peter Jennings.
Rediscovering Fatherhood and Shared Cigarettes
The narrative takes a turn as Chris Jennings describes his adolescence and the evolving dynamic with his father. When Chris was eighteen, their relationship began to transform. An annual canoe trip in Quebec became the backdrop for this shift. Amidst paddling through winding lakes, they engaged in expansive conversations, marking a departure from the traditional father-son roles of teacher and pupil, provider and dependent. Chris realized his father was not just a paternal figure but an individual with his own perspectives and tastes, not entirely unlike his own.
This period marked a “sudden and unexpected discovery of one another,” as Chris describes it, forging a bond of confidantes. Defying family norms that discouraged parent-child friendships, Peter and Chris developed a relationship built on mutual respect and understanding, a connection that enriched both their lives until Peter’s passing.
It was during this canoe trip that a significant moment of shared experience occurred – the rekindling of Peter Jennings’ smoking habit. Late one afternoon, after setting up camp on a rocky island on Lac Vert, Chris casually offered his father a cigarette. After a moment of hesitation, Peter Jennings accepted, acknowledging the unspoken understanding between them. He lit the cigarette, offered Chris a sip of vodka, and they leaned back by the fire, sharing a smoke in a moment of “absurd manliness,” as Chris humorously recalls.
A Moment of Connection
This anecdote of sharing a cigarette on Lac Vert is more than just a story about smoking. It’s symbolic of a deeper connection being forged between father and son. It represents a moment of shared adulthood, of breaking down barriers, and finding common ground. While the health implications of smoking are undeniable and serious, in this personal narrative, the act becomes a vehicle for intimacy and bonding. It underscores the complex layers of human relationships, where even seemingly negative habits can become intertwined with moments of connection and shared experience.
Chris Jennings’ account offers a personal and humanizing perspective on Peter Jennings, the celebrated journalist. Through these anecdotes, we see Peter Jennings not just as a public figure, but as a father, a man with his own struggles and evolving relationships. And in understanding Chris Jennings’ experiences, we gain a richer understanding of the man who is Peter Jennings’ son, a man shaped by his father’s legacy but carving his own distinct path.
