Connie Chung’s journey to the pinnacle of broadcast journalism was a testament to her resilience, determination, and unique position as a trailblazer. On May 14, 1993, she reached the height of her career, becoming co-anchor of the “CBS Evening News” alongside the legendary Dan Rather.
For Chung, a Chinese American woman who had overcome strict parental expectations and a male-dominated industry, this moment was nothing short of a dream realized. Yet, as she later recounted in her memoir Connie: A Memoir, the triumphs of her groundbreaking career were often paired with profound challenges, including sexism, racism, and internal politics within the industry.
The Pinnacle of Success: Co-Anchoring the CBS Evening News
When Connie Chung was named co-anchor of the CBS Evening News, it marked a significant moment not just in her career but in the history of broadcast journalism.
This appointment was historic—she became the first Asian American woman to co-anchor a major network evening news program.
The 1990s was a time when network newscasts still dominated the airwaves, and the anchors were household names. To sit at the anchor desk alongside Dan Rather, a revered figure who succeeded the iconic Walter Cronkite, was a groundbreaking achievement for Chung and a significant step for Asian Americans in media.
Chung’s rise to this position was a culmination of years of hard work. In the 1970s, she covered major stories like the Watergate scandal while working for CBS in Washington.
She later moved to Los Angeles, where she anchored at the CBS-owned local station. Her reputation as a talented and determined journalist grew, ultimately leading to her high-profile promotion. Yet, her time at the top would be short-lived.
The Fall: Internal Politics and Sexism in the Industry
Just two years after achieving her dream job, Chung’s career took an unexpected turn.
In a chapter titled “The Ax” in her memoir, she describes receiving a fateful call from her agent moments before going on air. The telecast would be her last as co-anchor. Dan Rather would once again be the sole anchor of the CBS Evening News.
Years later, Rather himself would face a controversial ouster from CBS, but for Chung, the abrupt end to her tenure as co-anchor felt like a particularly painful blow.
Chung strongly believed that sexism played a significant role in her ousting. She describes how many male colleagues, especially those who achieved the coveted title of anchorman, suffered from what she referred to as “big-shot-itis.”
This condition, as Chung humorously explains, was marked by inflated egos, narcissistic tendencies, and a sense of entitlement. Male anchors dominated serious coverage, while Chung was often relegated to lighter assignments.
One notable example of this was the network’s decision to assign her to cover the infamous Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan ice-skating scandal instead of more serious news stories. While CBS justified the decision due to the network’s broadcasting rights to the Olympics, Chung couldn’t help but compare her assignment to the more hard-hitting stories her male colleagues were covering. This blatant division of labor based on gender left Chung feeling frustrated and marginalized.
“Bitchgate”: The Fallout from a Controversial Interview
Perhaps one of the most significant incidents that tarnished Chung’s career was her 1995 interview with Newt Gingrich’s mother, which became known as “Bitchgate.”
In the interview, Gingrich’s mother whispered to Chung that her son had called then-First Lady Hillary Clinton a derogatory name. CBS released an out-of-context clip of the interview, which made it appear as though Chung had tricked Gingrich’s mother into revealing the insult.
The fallout from the interview was severe.
Critics accused Chung of unethical journalism, and the scandal further damaged her reputation. For Chung, this incident was yet another example of how the network mishandled her career, pushing her into sensationalist reporting rather than allowing her to focus on the serious journalism she was capable of delivering.
The Personal Struggle: Balancing Career and Family
While her professional life was turbulent, Chung found solace in her personal life. Shortly after her departure from CBS, she and her husband, talk show host Maury Povich, received news that they would become adoptive parents to a baby boy.
After years of suffering miscarriages, the arrival of their son brought tremendous joy to Chung’s life. At nearly 50, she made the difficult decision to step away from her career and focus on motherhood.
Reflecting on this decision in her memoir, Chung writes about how she eventually found peace with the different stages of her life. “I succeeded in having it all, although at different stages of my life,” she notes. This balance—first career, then family—wasn’t easy to achieve, but it brought her a sense of fulfillment that had previously eluded her.
A Lasting Legacy: The “Sisterhood of Connies”
One of the most touching moments in Chung’s memoir comes when she recounts the discovery of her impact on a generation of Asian American women. In 2019, a young journalist named Connie Wang reached out to Chung and revealed that many Asian American parents had named their daughters after her.
This “Generation Connie,” as it came to be known, was a living legacy of Chung’s influence. For Chung, who had often doubted the worth of her life’s work, this revelation brought a deep sense of validation and pride.
As Chung reflects in her memoir, “I had always perceived my career as rocky. Dare I rethink my life’s work was worthy after all?” The realization that her career had inspired so many women—particularly Asian American women—helped to sweeten the more difficult memories of her professional life.
The Good Girl/Bad Girl Dichotomy
Throughout her career, Chung piloted a delicate balance between being the obedient, hardworking journalist and the snarky, irreverent woman who could hold her own against powerful men.
In her memoir, she writes about the challenges of working in a male-dominated field where she was often seen as both a token minority and a potential threat.
Chung recounts incidents where she was objectified or belittled by male colleagues and interview subjects. From John Mitchell, Richard Nixon’s attorney general, commenting on her appearance, to Henry Kissinger flirting with her as she tried to ask questions, Chung faced a barrage of sexist behavior. However, she developed a strategy for dealing with these moments: she would beat the men at their own game by making self-deprecating jokes or preemptive strikes.
This tactic helped her navigate the sexism and racism she encountered, but it was far from easy.
A Groundbreaking and Heartbreaking Career
In her memoir, Chung candidly addresses the duality of her career—both groundbreaking and heartbreaking. As the first Asian woman to co-anchor a major network news program, she paved the way for future generations of journalists.
Yet, the challenges she faced, from internal politics to sexism and racism, left her career marked by unfulfilled potential and untimely exits from prestigious roles.
Despite these setbacks, Chung’s story is one of resilience. Her ability to break through barriers, challenge stereotypes, and inspire future generations of journalists solidifies her place as a trailblazer in broadcast journalism. Her memoir, Connie: A Memoir, offers a reflective and often humorous look at the highs and lows of her four-decade career, leaving readers with a deeper understanding of both her professional journey and personal triumphs.
The Tonya-Nancy Saga: A Shakespearean Drama Unfolds
The infamous rivalry between figure skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan played out like a Shakespearean tragedy, rife with timeless themes.
⦿ Love: Both women loved and lived to skate, pouring their hearts into the sport.
⦿ Hate: Tonya’s resentment towards Nancy was palpable, fuelling the bitter rivalry.
⦿ Lust: Fame and fortune loomed large, a driving force behind their actions.
⦿ Betrayal: The sanctity of fair competition and the Olympic spirit were irreparably violated.
What started as an Olympic competition quickly morphed into a global spectacle, gripping audiences far beyond the ice rink.
My Reluctant Role in the Media Circus
When the Tonya-Nancy drama broke, Chung fiercely resisted covering it. It felt beneath her—a tabloid story more suited to sensational headlines than serious news coverage.
But CBS executives made it clear: “You must do this for the network.” Reluctantly, I boarded a plane to Portland, Oregon.
The media frenzy at Clackamas Town Center was surreal. Reporters and cameras from across the globe, including outlets as reputable as the New York Times and as scandalous as the National Enquirer, descended on a public skating rink to capture Tonya Harding in her element. I found myself shouting, “Tonya! Tonya!” from an eight-foot wall, microphone dangling, hoping for a word. she couldn’t help but think—would Walter Cronkite ever stoop to this?
Still, I knew I had a job to do. Tonya eventually agreed to an interview for her program, Eye to Eye. Despite record-high ratings, I was deeply disappointed, questioning whether these stories were worth the sacrifices I was making to my professional credibility.
The Price of Fame
As Chung trailed Tonya to Lillehammer for the Olympics, she was embarrassed to be part of the coverage. Despite getting another interview, this time Tonya was cagey, refusing to talk about the attack on Nancy.
When she pressed, she walked out mid-interview, yanking off her microphone like a seasoned Capitol Hill insider. Though she was criticized for pushing her, it was something any diligent reporter would have done.
In the end, Tonya pled guilty to covering up the attack, and the drama moved from the rink to the courtroom. For her, it felt like an endless cycle of chasing empty stories while trying to maintain her standing as a serious journalist.
Chasing Stories, Losing Ground
The Tonya-Nancy saga wasn’t the only story that left her questioning her career choices. She had fought hard to avoid covering tabloid stories, hoping to focus on important issues like the political crisis in Haiti. But once again, network executives steered me toward another media spectacle—this time the O.J. Simpson trial.
She was livid. We had all agreed the Simpson case was tabloid fodder, unworthy of serious news coverage. But Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer were scoring big ratings, and CBS wanted her in the mix.
She interviewed O.J.’s mother, his lawyer Johnnie Cochran, and even one of Nicole Brown Simpson’s friends. Each interview felt like a hit to her credibility. And yet, she kept pushing forward, determined to balance these sensational stories with serious reporting.
The Tug-of-War with Dan Rather
As I navigated this tabloid whirlwind, another battle was brewing—this one with Dan Rather, my co-anchor. Over time, Dan’s discomfort with sharing the spotlight became apparent. While I was covering major events like Nelson Mandela’s inauguration and Israel-Jordan peace treaties, Dan seemed to resent any assignment I took on. His frustrations came to a head when he demanded that I confine myself to the studio, leaving all the field reporting to him.
His audacious suggestion shocked me. When I relayed his comments to CBS News President Eric Ober, I was simply told to carry on. But the tension with Dan simmered, and it became clear we were two powerful figures vying for control over our careers and reputations.
Finding My Own Path
Looking back, I realize how much I sacrificed trying to meet the network’s demands while staying true to my journalistic integrity. Stories like Tonya Harding and O.J. Simpson may have garnered ratings, but they eroded my sense of purpose as a reporter. As I navigated the complex, often sexist world of television news, I relied on my husband Maury’s humor and support to stay grounded. His advice was simple: “Take your work seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously.”
After all these years, that advice still holds true. In the end, the stories we tell—whether Shakespearean or sensational—shape not just the public’s perception but also our own sense of self.
This version integrates the Shakespearean drama of the Tonya-Nancy saga with a broader reflection on the personal and professional challenges faced during that period.
Summary of Connie: A Memoir
Connie Chung’s memoir, Connie: A Memoir, details her journey through journalism, family life, and the struggles of being an Asian-American woman in a predominantly male and white industry. The memoir highlights key moments in her four-decade career and the personal challenges she faced.
Early Life and Family Expectations
Connie grew up with strong familial expectations, especially as the only surviving child of Chinese immigrants.
Her father’s desire for her to carry on the family name—a task usually reserved for sons—placed a unique burden on her, shaping her determination to succeed in a male-dominated industry.
In Chinese culture, this was highly unusual, as women typically took their husband’s name and did not carry on the family lineage.
Breaking into Journalism
Connie’s entry into journalism in the late 1960s was met with significant challenges.
She describes her feelings of “male envy” as she observed her male colleagues commanding rooms and respect with their deep voices and confident demeanors.
Over time, she learned to navigate the newsroom and assert herself in spaces where her authority was often questioned. This period laid the foundation for her later successes.
The CBS Evening News Era
One of the major milestones of Chung’s career was her co-anchoring role on CBS Evening News alongside Dan Rather in 1993.
This was a groundbreaking moment, as Chung became the first Asian woman to co-anchor a national evening newscast. However, the position came with its own set of challenges, particularly in dealing with internal politics, sexism, and the constant scrutiny of her performance.
The job did not last long, and she was removed from the position after just two years .
Navigating Racism and Sexism
Throughout her career, Connie faced both racism and sexism, as she reveals through anecdotes about her interactions with male colleagues, newsmakers, and bosses.
She writes with candor about being subjected to stereotypical comments and dismissive attitudes because of her Asian background. Her method of handling these challenges was often through humor and wit, deflecting offensive remarks and standing her ground in the face of discrimination.
Iconic Interviews and Journalism’s Highs and Lows
Chung’s career saw her cover significant stories, such as the Watergate scandal, the Oklahoma City bombing, and exclusive interviews with key political figures.
Her time co-anchoring CBS Evening News coincided with some of the more tabloid-like stories she had to cover, including the infamous Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan skating scandal. She often found herself reluctantly assigned to stories she felt were beneath the caliber of serious journalism .
Personal Life and Family
Despite the intensity of her career, Connie’s personal life, particularly her marriage to talk show host Maury Povich, played a critical role in grounding her.
Their adoption journey is a heartfelt part of her memoir, as she candidly shares the challenges and joys of becoming a mother later in life. Their son, Matthew, became a central focus in her life after she stepped away from her co-anchoring role.
Legacy and Impact
One of the most poignant aspects of Connie’s memoir is her discovery that many Asian-American parents named their daughters “Connie” after her, recognizing her as a trailblazer. This “sisterhood of Connies” became a powerful reminder of the impact she had, not just in journalism but as a role model for Asian women in America. Connie reflects on this discovery as a moment of personal validation, having long viewed her career as rocky.
In Connie: A Memoir, Chung not only chronicles her career’s ups and downs but also offers an honest and humorous account of her experiences as a pioneer in television news. Her story is one of resilience, breaking barriers, and ultimately finding fulfillment in both professional and personal realms.
Conclusion
Connie Chung’s career is a story of resilience, tenacity, and breaking barriers. As she navigated a male-dominated industry, she faced sexism, racism, and political challenges.
Yet, through it all, Chung remained a trailblazer, opening doors for future generations of women and Asian Americans in journalism.
Her memoir serves as both a candid reflection on her career and an inspiration to those who continue to fight for equality in media today.
