NEW YORK (AP) — While many public figures are honored with buildings or statues named after them, veteran broadcaster Connie Chung has something unique: a strain of marijuana and a legacy of hundreds of Asian American women who bear her name.
Five years ago, Connie Wang, a fellow journalist, reached out to Chung. Wang’s Chinese immigrant parents had allowed her to choose an Americanized name as a preschooler. Inspired by Chung, who she saw as a role model on TV, Wang selected the name Connie, along with some characters from cartoons. Wang’s parents chose wisely.
When she got to college, Wang discovered she was part of a special group. She met many other Asian American women named Connie, most of whom were named after Chung because their parents admired her as a smart and successful figure. Until Wang shared this with her, Chung was completely unaware.
“I was flabbergasted,” Chung recalled. “I’m not someone who cries easily, but I really broke down.”
At 78, Chung reflects on her impactful television career in a new memoir, which took ten years to write and was released on Tuesday, titled simply “Connie.”
Sharing Her Insights
Chung’s impressive career spans several decades, starting in the 1970s when she reported in the iconic CBS News Washington bureau. She held anchor positions in Los Angeles and NBC News, and was even part of a not-so-successful partnership with Dan Rather at the “CBS Evening News” in the 1990s, all while navigating through rivalries like that between Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer at ABC News.
In her memoir, she opens up about her experiences and doesn’t shy away from naming names—like the presidential candidate who made advances toward her, the actor who was particularly fond of Asian women, and a male anchor (not Rather) who held a longstanding grudge against her.
Now living a comfortable retired life with her husband, television personality Maury Povich, Chung has been away from the spotlight for several years. With the merging of her career ups and downs, she often fades from public memory.
However, she is not forgotten by Wang and many other Connies. Before Chung, very few Asian Americans had her name, but Wang notes that “from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, that’s when the Connie generation emerged.” She emphasizes the importance of visible representation, which inspires young people to see themselves in leadership roles—something Chung’s influence had a profound impact on.
After writing an article on this topic, Wang received responses from over 100 Connies with similar stories, hinting at the broader impact Chung’s legacy has had.
“There was truly no one else like her,” Wang said. “She was incredibly professional, strong, and beautiful. My mother was drawn to her not just for her talent, but also for her impeccable style.”
Proving Her Worth
Chung was the youngest in her family, born to Chinese immigrant parents whose marriage was arranged when they were just children. Her father, having lost all his sons during infancy, urged her to bring honor to their family name. Surprisingly, it was Connie—short for Constance—that became an inspiration for many.
After completing college and spending a couple of years in local news, Chung earned a position at CBS due to the growing need for diversity in television during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
“I constantly felt the need to prove myself,” Chung reflected. “Each day felt like a test—not only because I was a woman but mainly due to my gender. I was one of the few women in my field.”
Her hard work didn’t go unnoticed, especially when her relentless dedication during George McGovern’s 1972 presidential campaign led to a significant scoop regarding his vice presidential pick. Chung had to navigate a male-dominated industry while fending off unwanted advances, once quipping a sharp response to a persistent suitor with a clever nod to a stereotype: “You really don’t want to sleep with me. You’ll just be wanting more an hour later.”
She believes it’s essential for younger generations to hear about the sexism and racism she faced.
“We’ve made progress, but it’s concerning that we still have a long way to go,” Chung said. “Sexism is still prevalent, and the racism towards Asians has reemerged in unfortunate ways. It’s vital for women and minorities to recognize that while there’s been change, it hasn’t been enough.”
Reflection on Her Career
From her memoir, it’s clear that Chung treasures her days reporting on crucial stories, from Watergate to Nelson Rockefeller’s brief time as vice president.
After becoming a news anchor in Los Angeles and later at NBC News, Chung often found herself stuck covering what were perceived as “women’s stories,” including light subjects like fashion trends early in her career and sensational topics like AIDS at NBC, which she felt diminished her reputation.
While she secretly recognized some criticism had merit, it stung to see respected critic Tom Shales label her “Connie Fun.”
“I never wanted to be seen as the ‘b-word’ or a diva,” she said. “So, I often went along with things, which I now realize might have stemmed from cultural expectations as a Chinese woman. I was probably too cooperative in trying to fulfill what my superiors wanted.”
After returning to CBS News and being appointed to co-anchor with Rather, she felt like it was a pinnacle achievement, but during their first meeting, he told her she would need to “start reading the newspaper.”
Chung recounts in “Connie”: “I wanted to believe I was chosen because I deserved the role. But, perhaps naively, I thought that. They really wanted me to make Rather seem more approachable. In the end, it felt like I was the one being put in a difficult position.”
The partnership only lasted two years before Chung was let go. She decided against taking a lesser role at CBS, opting instead to focus on parenting Matthew, the infant she and Povich adopted.
Afterward, her time at ABC News involved fulfilling investigative work that didn’t drag her into the intense competition between Sawyer and Walters. She briefly took a prime-time anchor position at CNN, but that role also ended quickly, signaling the winding down of her public career.
A New Legacy
Recently, Chung discovered from her niece that there is a marijuana strain named after her—the Connie Chung strain. Staying true to her journalistic roots, she researched it and found packs of pre-rolled joints priced at $22 online.
When asked if she had tried the Connie Chung brand, she tactfully passed on the question, later sharing that she hadn’t smoked marijuana since her college days, effectively answering the inquiry. However, she took pride in learning about the traits of the strain that bears her name.
“I’m easy to grow,” she remarked. “The strain produces beautiful flowers, and its low-maintenance quality is admirable. Though I suspect Maury wouldn’t agree that I’m low-maintenance!”
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David Bauder covers media for the AP. You can follow him on Twitter.
