Peter Jennings -- dead at 67. (And perhaps the best boss I ever had.)

just checked the news this a.m. to learn that ABC World News Tonight anchor Peter Jennings died of lung cancer last night.

Here is the New York Times link.

Peter was one of the best bosses I ever had. I worked for him as an on-air reporter from 1995 to 1999, and always found him to be kind, resourceful and full of tips to help me get ahead and look better on air. He took that time for me -- and I was really just a junior reporter on a team of superstars.

Another thing about PJ: People seem to have the misconception he just mouthed the words someone else wrote. People ask me that all the time -- if anchors are just parroting someone else. Not so with Peter. I watched him day after day, laboriously writing his own scripts, sitting at the "rim" with the executive and senior producers coming up with story lineups, and even taking the time to help correspondents smooth out theirs. Correspondents like me.

I made a lot of mistakes and could've been a better correspondent. But IMO, Peter could not have been better at what he did or the person he was. He was the best.

My fondest wishes and condolences to Peter's wife and children.

Again, the link is here to the NYT obituary.