Peter Jennings' "partner of 9 years."

Factual Questions
1

Tonight Jennings was on Donahue and he referred to his “partner of 9 years” who helped him with his book. Does “partner” in this context mean partner in the sense that the person who works with me in lab is my partner? Or is it synonymous with “SO?”

2

Since he’s presently on his fourth marriage…
http://www.askmen.com/men/business_politics/39c_peter_jennings.html

…I’m guessing that he was referring to his writing partner, Todd Brewster.

http://www.bookmagazine.com/issue24/jennings.shtml

http://btobsearch.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?btob=Y&ath=Peter+Jennings

3

Since “partner” has been co-opted to represent non-traditional relationships (gay, unmarried, etc.), it’s too bad that when used in the traditional way it’s unrecognized unless you qualify it with “business partner”.