Peter Jennings and Ted Koppel Laud John McWethy '69 at His 'Semi-Retirement Party'

June 13, 2003

June 13, 2003, Greencastle, Ind. - "Compared with Peter Jennings and Ted Koppel, ABC News Pentagon correspondent John McWethy is practically a boy," writes the Washington Post of McWethy, a 1969 graduate of DePauw University. "But the 64-year-old Jennings and the 63-year-old Koppel, workhorses for the Walt Disney Co., were on hand to do the honors [May 29] at the 56-year-old McWethy's semi-retirement party," which was held at the Hay-Adams Hotel and featured a guest list that included U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

"John takes work as seriously as those of you in the military take duty -- he is competitive as hell and so incredibly ethical," Jennings, the veteran World News Tonight anchor told the crowd. "I look forward in the months ahead to his return," as he learns that neither his tennis nor golf games are going to improve any more." Ted Koppel quipped, "This is such an elegant affair I can only imagine what ABC would have done if Jack were leaving permanently."

As it happens, McWethy is leaving his full-time job at ABC, but will continue to file occasional reports as a special correspondent. "I have no idea what special correspondents do," joked ABC News President David Westin said. "I would bet one thing he won't choose to do is go to his booth in the Pentagon at 4:30 a.m. just in case Good Morning America might want to come to him live."

The winner of three national Emmy Awards, John McWethy joined ABC News in 1979 as chief Pentagon correspondent. He was appointed chief national security correspondent in 1984. McWethy delivered the Commencement address at DePauw just eleven days before the Washington event. He was also presented with the McNaughton Medal for Public Service (read more, and access video and audio clips here). The Post notes that at his retirement party, McWethy "was presented with a lovely parting gift: a decoupage box featuring a historic eagle print on the cover, underlit by a print of the U.S. Constitution and signed by the single-named artist Willan. The retiree carefully inspected the box and quipped: 'Do I put my ashes in here?'"

You can access the Washington Post's story by clicking here. McWethy's new role is also mentioned in a brief item in the New York Post, accessible here.

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