Growing up, Peter Doocy remembers starting each and every morning by watching his dad, Steve Doocy, on TV.
But in May, Steve, 68, announced he was leaving Fox News’ curvy couch in New York City to move to Florida, where he would cohost Fox & Friends three days a week.
“It’s definitely an adjustment not seeing him on the TV for the first full three hours of my weekdays, where he’s been during every breakfast time since I was in second grade,” Peter, 37, exclusively told Us Weekly ahead of Father’s Day weekend. “But we are so excited that the new assignment means he gets to see so much more of the grandkids, who now get a chance to do one of my favorite things: join him at work.”
It certainly was the case earlier this month when Peter and his wife, Fox Business correspondent Hillary Vaughn, brought their two kids to Nationals Park and visited Grandpa at the Congressional baseball game.
Before long, however, Steve was back in Florida soaking up the sunshine state and preparing for his next assignment.
“Our kids today live all over the country, so if you were them – and your parents invited them to a weekend visit – where would they rather travel?” Steve asked. “To the house in New Jersey they grew up in, where they still have to clean out their closets — or the sun-filled, fun-filled Florida? ‘Get the suntan lotion Dad! We’ll be in Florida Friday night! Can mom get that smoked fish dip from Publix?’”
When asked if he would ever move his family to Florida, Peter was open to the idea.
“Absolutely, we love Florida!” he told Us. “But right now, my wife Hillary and I need to be close to all the action on Capitol Hill and at the White House.”
In celebration of Father’s Day, both Peter and Steve chatted with Us about navigating fatherhood during demanding careers. They also shared a glimpse into their strong friendship away from any camera crew or breaking news.
Keep reading to learn more about Steve and Peter’s special father-son bond.
What has been your reaction to seeing Peter follow in your footsteps and find success in the world of journalism?
Steve: Because the TV business is so challenging, his mom Kathy and I had assumed Peter was on a trajectory to go to business or law school until Peter made national headlines with a couple funny questions to then-presidential candidate John McCain that went viral. One thing led to another and next thing you know, he was working as the Fox News college-aged correspondent. So I never had senior White House correspondent on my BINGO card for Peter.
I fondly remember taking him to the White House Easter Egg Roll when he was about two, and he was chewing on my press pass. Then in the blink of an eye (30 some years later), he works at the White House! One day, visiting Peter was once again chewing on my press pass. And I thought he was done teething in the ‘80s.
Both of you find yourselves in the public eye. Do you ever find yourselves protective of one another?
Peter: I think we always have each other’s backs and look out for each other. My dad is still the best in the business at what we do and taught me everything I know about how TV works. These days I think talking to him about the news of the day is a great way to distill the most interesting parts of the big stories before I have to go pick the President’s brain.
Steve: In the beginning of Peter’s TV career, when he would face a situation that was new to him, he would ask me how I faced that same problem — once upon a time. Having been there, done that, I probably saved him some time making the same mistakes I made 30 years ago. Peter’s now been a network correspondent for 16 years, he’s traveled around the globe multiple times with presidents and the world press — today I think I ask him for more advice than he asks me!
Of course he’s my son, and if I see a quote or a statistic that might help that day with his reporting — I send it his way. Not going to lie, if he uses my tidbit on TV, it makes me happy that even though the whole world hangs on his questions, he still listens to his old man.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received from your dad about fatherhood?
Peter: Not to spend all my time looking ahead towards the next milestone for the kids… and to savor every moment in the present. And also, the best way to get your kids playing time during middle school sports, if the coaches favor other kids….. is just to become the coach. After a few seasons on the bench, he signed up to be my 8th grade baseball coach, picked all my friends during the town league ‘draft,’ and we ALMOST won it all, in the most fun season of any sport in my whole life.
Can you give us a glimpse into Steve as a grandfather? What makes him shine in this role?
Peter: He’s helping me recreate the best parts of my childhood, for my kids. My parents kept a bunch of my favorite things, like Brio trains and Curious George Books and a fisher price cash register, that are in such good condition. My basement is now close to a copy paste of the one I grew up with in New Jersey (complete with a ping pong table that took him two hours to rebuild last week).
What do you admire most about Peter personally and professionally?
Steve: Nobody in that briefing room is as prepared as Peter is when he sits down to ask either the press secretary or the President questions. He usually spends two hours a morning finding thoughtful and important things to ask about. He has a very strong work ethic that I probably influenced. Peter saw his dad get up at 3 a.m. for 30 years to go to work, and he probably thought every dad does the same thing. They all get up and go to work in the city. However, in retrospect, I’m probably the only dad in the neighborhood who came home wearing thick pancake makeup. Right?
What do you want your kids to know about the United States of America?
Peter: That anything is possible. Bridget loves to play with a plastic chef kit, and if she wants to be a real chef someday, she can. If she’d rather make her favorite class, ballet, a career, she can do that too. George is a little too small for that kind of play time but he hears the same thing from us. They will both always know the reason they’ve got endless opportunities is because we live in a country where millions of brave men and women have signed up to protect us.
Fox & Friends airs on Fox News weekdays at 6 a.m. ET.
This interview has been edited for space and clarity.
