Canadian Peter Jennings becomes a U.S. citizen

USA Today | July 8, 2003 | By Peter Johnson, USA TODAY

[holyscroller]

ABC News anchor Peter Jennings, a Canadian, once described his mother, Elizabeth, as "pretty anti-American." Which may explain why it took him until nine years after her death to do what he has been thinking about doing for some time: become a U.S. citizen.

"It would have been a very difficult family issue when my mom was alive," Jennings said Tuesday. He announced over the weekend that after 39 years of working at ABC News, here and abroad, he now pledges allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. He also is keeping his Canadian citizenship.

He took the U.S. citizenship test in late May and was sworn in, along with 50 other new citizens, at a ceremony in Manhattan. "There's no explaining the timing," he said.

But friends asked Jennings, who arrived by train from Montreal in 1964 and returned just for vacations since, why he took the oath.

"I said, 'For love, and for respect and for experience and for time.' Beyond that, did it suddenly flash in my mind? No, it's been on my mind for quite a while. Did 9/11 make a difference? Yes, it did make a difference. Did working on In Search of America for the last several years, which kept me on the road a lot and dealing with both contemporary and historic national issues — about which I felt very deeply? That made a difference."

Following immigrant Mexicans in Salt Lake City for the ABC series and "the contribution that many of them make to the country, including many illegals who pay taxes or their Social Security, that moved me very deeply. It all adds up."

Jennings said he began his citizenship paperwork a few years ago. The hardest part was explaining how many times he had left the country in the past five years. "That was a huge challenge to document how many times I, as a journalist, have been out of the country."

The citizenship test, which he took in front of a U.S. Immigration officer as every candidate does, is no breeze. "You'd be a fool if you went and took the exam without studying," Jennings said.

He notes, proudly, that he aced it — a score of 100.

"Can you imagine I, who just finished a whole series on America and had been an anchorperson for an American broadcast for lo these many years, could you imagine if I had failed? It would have been horrendous."

But it would have made a good story. "Yes," Jennings said with a laugh. "You would have loved it, of course, in your savage way."

[holyscroller]

So the reason he's spent the last 39 years trashing America was to please Mama?

[Dan from Michigan]

Great...another jackass voting..:(

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[johniegrad]

Or maybe he's become a citizen to try to defend himself against some of the criticism coming from the right that has hurt his career?

[TomServo]

ABC News anchor Peter Jennings, a Canadian, once described his mother, Elizabeth, as "pretty anti-American."

The apple indeed doesn't fall too far from the tree..

"It would have been a very difficult family issue when my mom was alive,"

It's pretty difficult for us to deal with too, Petey...

[raybbr]

The only reason he did this was to try to add legitamacy to his attacks on America. "I'm an American citizen now so I can say that America is bad", he'll say.

[FreeAtlanta]

Whatever the reason, we now have one more self hating American. great :-(

[Old Sarge]

He took the U.S. citizenship test in late May and was sworn in, along with 50 other new citizens, at a ceremony in Manhattan. "There's no explaining the timing," he said.

You expect us to believe that, don't you?

[AAABEST]

Does this mean we'll have to get him expatriated before we deport him?

[holyscroller]

"But it would have made a good story. "Yes," Jennings said with a laugh. "You would have loved it, of course, in your savage way."

And who knows how to savage people better than the old savagemeister himself. He's perfected it into an art form. God kniws Republicans, Conservatives, Christians, Patriots, Pro-gunners, and good folks of every description have been savaged by him for decades.

[DoughtyOne]

[holyscroller]

Pingaroonie.

[shiva]

"It would have been a very difficult family issue when my mom was alive,"

What? So we have another "Everybody Loves Raymond" weenie afraid of his mommie? Wonder what Freud would say?

[AngrySpud]

"He also is keeping his Canadian citizenship."

That's just gotta be a reporter's error. How could someone possibly be allowed to take the oath of American citizenship and keep the old loyalty? Is this unique to Canadians?

[caisson71]

"..Jennings becomes a US citizen". WHY??

[NutmegDevil]

Let's give Pink Peter a hymn. "Hymn, Hymn, frappe Hymn."

[Ipberg]

Wish we could send ya more of these dang liberals who're crowdin us conservatives out up here in the frozen wastes.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

That's just gotta be a reporter's error. How could someone possibly be allowed to take the oath of American citizenship and keep the old loyalty? Is this unique to Canadians?

No. No more if you decide to become a Canadian or a citizen of any other country, you would not lose your U.S. citizenship.

[Richard-SIA]

Another thing gone wrong.

I am sick of these B******'* claiming multiple citizenship, all Americans should be Americans ONLY!

Want to become an Israeli, fine by me, but don't claim to remain an American and vote in both countries!
Same for Mexico or any other country, choose JUST ONE and live with your choice.
One of the first requirements for U.S. citizenship should be renouncing any and all foreign citizenship or allegiances.

I seem to recall something about this being in the constitution?

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

It’s in the 14th Amendment. In the past, there have been some big court cases about this and then someone remembered the 14th amendment. The pendulum has actually swung the other way now. The only way to give up ones U.S. citizenship is in writing. Then the U.S. Government decides whether it accepts ones request. If they accept the request, the ex American citizen must pay taxes to the U.S. Government for something like 17 years after that. It’s really a lot of years, but I’m not sure if it’s 17 years. But anyway, they would have to first catch you.

Also, if an American is born in a foreign country, that country may have laws that anybody born in their country is a citizen of that country. In Panamanian, for example, there is no office where one can go to and renounce a Panamanian citizenship although one may not want their citizenship. .