Transcript: Lung Cancer Awareness: Remembering Peter Jennings

Nov. 26, 2010 — -- Five years ago, ABC News anchor Peter Jennings passed away after a months-long battle with lung cancer. With his passing, ABC News President David Westin tasked the company with honoring his legacy by continuing "the work he loved so much and inspired us to do."

Now, Jennings' daughter Elizabeth is paying tribute to her father another way -- by helping to raise the national conversation during Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Elizabeth Jennings sat down with a long-time colleague of her father's, ABC News' Bob Woodruff, to talk about Peter Jennings' life, death and legacy.

Below is the transcript of their conversation.

BOB WOODRUFF: Do you remember that day when you found out?

ELIZABETH JENNINGS: Yeah... I could tell there was something wrong right away, it was something in his voice. His voice always gave him away.

He said, "Well, it, you know, it turns out that I have cancer--" which takes your breath away when you hear it. And he said, "But we're gonna fight this."

I remember thinking how brave he was to go on, and say what he did. The way that he did it and he relayed that story as he had hundreds of other stories, which was, you know, professionally, but with so much humanity, as well. I love that about him.

BW: Well, that was really the first time that he talked about his smoking and his cancer.

EJ: He talked about when he had been a smoker when he was younger and he quit. And I have funny memories of being a kid, and trying to steal his cigarettes, to destroy them, you know.

BW: I did that with my mother. (LAUGHS)

EJ: Yeah, so you know. Throw 'em in the garbage. Hide the lighters. In fact, I even remember there were ABC lighters. I felt this as a kid, this was a very bad influence.

BW: Yeah, we don't make those anymore.

EJ: I'm glad to hear that.