Peter Alexander, NBC’s chief White House correspondent, discusses his family life in Arlington, first day covering the White House, and favorite spots in Northern Virginia.
What does Arlington mean to you and your wife, WJLA anchor Alison Starling?
It’s been about 10 years that we’ve lived here, and we love it. It’s just an amazing community. I’m from the San Francisco Bay area, and I was starting from scratch in DC when NBC sent me here more than a decade ago, but my wife, Alison, and I and our daughters have just built such a great community here. We love our neighbors. We love the walkability. And among other things, truthfully, for what I do, it’s perfect because my commute to the White House before the Today show is like 10 minutes.
What are some of your favorite things to do in Northern Virginia?
We love The Italian Store. We love Peter Chang’s. I would like to think of myself as the self-proclaimed mayor of the Westover Farmers Market on Sundays. I’ll be out there, rain or shine, and l’ve befriended some of the guys that work there. My daughters are also kind of finding their way; we’ve got [their] rec soccer on the weekends after hosting the Weekend Today show on Saturdays. Fortunately, they built us a studio now in DC after COVID hit, so I no longer commute up to New York and back. I can do that from DC, which means I can be on the sidelines — maybe with a little more makeup on and a little better dressed than I would like to be for a weekend soccer game — but I don’t miss those.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
I remember the day that NBC News announced me as its White House correspondent in 2012. I was told to hustle down to the White House, and I had only been there once as a kid. I remember when the gates opened, my security pass was checked, and the gates opened as you go through Secret Service. It was like angelic music played. I think there’s probably nothing that’s been more exhilarating than to witness history with a front-row seat and to hold lawmakers, including presidents, accountable.
You and your wife both have busy schedules. How hard is it to be a dad while balancing the work duties?
First of all, I defer to my wife, who keeps the house running. She’s the best thing the Alexanders have going. When we go out together, she loves it because most of her colleagues call me Mr. Starling. I love being a dad. It is the best thing I’ve got going. These kids are growing quick and are on to the next thing quickly. We also like to be involved as a family in charity events. Alison and I host a ton of events for charities and community organizations that we care about. Among our highlights as a family living in Arlington is hosting the Arlington Free Clinic Gala. Our daughters make a cameo at that event. We also enjoy hosting the Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic Ball alongside our girls. Supporting the community where we live in Northern Virginia is one of our biggest priorities.
Feature image courtesy NBC
This story originally ran in Northern Virginia Magazine’s March issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
