Barbara Walters. The Queen of Impossible Interviews from ABC Television

Barbara Walters interviewing U.S. President Ronald Reagan, 1981 (photo: White House Photographic Collection/public domain/Wikimedia)

According to the 1930 census, Dena and Louis Waters had a six-month-old daughter, Barbara, meaning she must have been born in 1929. Wikipedia and other sources list her exact birth date as September 25, 1929, though Barbara herself claimed it was 1931. But who would argue over two years?

At the end of the 19th century, a Polish Jew from Łódź, Abraham Isaac Waremwasser, emigrated to London. He never imagined that his son would make a career in America and that his granddaughter would become famous worldwide. In 1898 (or 1896), Mr. Warmwater, as he later called himself, had a son named Louis. Eleven years later, they emigrated to the U.S., where the family - parents and seven children - took the surname Walters.

Louis began his show business career organizing vaudeville performances, later becoming the owner of exclusive nightclubs and a theater producer. In 1920, he married Dena Saletsky, who, like him, had Polish roots. They had three children: a son, Burton, who died in childhood, and two daughters, Jacqueline and Barbara.


Since the older daughter was disabled, their mother took full care of her, while Barbara often accompanied her father to rehearsals and nightclubs. This didn`t interfere with her studies, but she frequently changed schools as her father moved between Boston, Miami, and New York, opening new clubs. Barbara completed her education in 1951, graduating with a degree in English literature from Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers.

Advertising Author and the Youngest Children`s Program Producer

After finishing school, she worked at NBC`s WNBT-TV (now WNBC) and a small advertising agency. She wrote press releases and created ads, but it wasn’t enough for her. In 1953, she realized her own idea for a children`s program, becoming the youngest producer. The 15-minute Ask the Camera was directed by Ronne Arledge.

At the same time, Barbara collaborated with Igor Cassini on his interview programs. When the persistent Count Łojewski (Cassini’s real title and surname) failed to take no for an answer regarding his advances, Barbara moved to the independent WPIX station, where she co-wrote scripts for the Eloise McElhone Show, authoring six episodes.

Unfortunately, the program was canceled in late 1954. However, in early 1955, she became a scriptwriter for The Morning Show on CBS. At the same time, she joined the public relations team at Tex McCrary Inc., where she led the television and radio department. Later, she became a journalist for Redbook magazine. Her first article, How to Talk to Practically Anyone About Practically Anything, received widespread attention and led to a book of the same title in 1970.

Tired of celebrities, she decided to take a break from television and focus on journalism and marriage. On June 20, 1955, at the Plaza Hotel in New York, Barbara Walters and Robert Henry Katz, a former Navy lieutenant and business executive, exchanged vows. The marriage lasted only two years, but her print journalism career flourished for another six. She focused on social issues and women’s struggles.

Barbara Returns to TV and Breaks the Glass Ceiling

After six years, Walters returned to television, joining NBC’s The Today Show as a writer and reporter. Initially, she was assigned simple topics and weather reports, as television was still a male-dominated industry. Determined to prove her worth, she persisted.


Within a year, she became an independent reporter, developing her own interview style and writing scripts. She created a unique format that resonated with both audiences and producers.

"I write questions on cards. I write down everything that comes to mind. I walk around and ask people: If you could, what would you ask? What would you ask? And then I refine them over and over again," she recalled in a 2000 Television Academy interview.

Among her early reports was A Day in the Life of a Nun and The Ordeals of a Playboy Bunny. She gained so much recognition that she started appearing as a full-fledged journalist and commentator. "I broke the glass ceiling," she later said.

This led to major interviews. Her first was with Rose Kennedy in 1968 after the assassination of her son Robert, followed by Princess Grace of Monaco and President Richard Nixon, whom she accompanied to China and Iraq. The 1960s brought her fame and recognition. Though she disliked the celebrity world, she became a celebrity herself.

Barbara Returns to Television and Breaks the Glass Ceiling

After six years, Walters returned to the television studio. She joined NBC’s The Today Show as a scriptwriter and reporter. In the early months, she was assigned simple topics and weather reports, as television at that time was dominated by men. Barbara was determined to prove everyone wrong and show that a woman could succeed.


Within a year, she became an independent reporter. She developed her own interview system, wrote scripts, and edited her own reports. She crafted a distinctive style and format that appealed to both viewers and producers.

"I write questions on cards. I write everything that comes to mind. I walk around and ask people: If you could, what would you ask? What would you ask? And then I refine them, refine them, and refine them," she recalled at the Television Academy in 2000.

Among her earliest reports that challenged the male-dominated industry were A Day in the Life of a Nun and The Ordeals of a Playboy Bunny. She gained so much attention that she soon appeared in front of the camera as a full-fledged journalist and commentator. "I broke the glass ceiling," she reflected years later.

This brought her prestige and independent interviews. Her first major interview was with Rose Kennedy in 1968, following the assassination of her son Robert. She then spoke with Princess Grace of Monaco and President Richard Nixon, whom she accompanied on trips to China and Iraq. The 1960s brought her popularity, fame, and recognition. Though she disliked the celebrity world, she became a celebrity herself.

The First Talk Show of Its Kind

In 1971, she was offered the opportunity to host For Women Only, a program that had been on air since 1968 with Aline Saarinen as the host. Barbara agreed, but only on the condition that changes be made. She received approval, and in September 1971, the show:

• was renamed Not for Women Only
• expanded its topics significantly
• replaced experts with ordinary people

Host Barbara seated the studio audience at tables and allowed them to ask invited guests "the questions that people watching at home would most like to ask." It was one of the first talk shows with this kind of seating arrangement and tough, sometimes intimate, questions.

Guests such as former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, future First Lady Barbara Bush, and fashion designer Mollie Parnis often blushed. Luckily, color television was only just entering the studios.

Walters hosted the program until 1976. In 1972, it was called "the most provocative show in the entire morning lineup" by The New York Times. Whenever ratings dropped, "a topic related to some aspect of sex would be introduced." With fierce competition for viewers, the talk show remained highly popular and was broadcast in 80 cities.


While Barbara found success with Not for Women Only, she faced challenges on The Today Show. In 1971, Frank McGee replaced Hugh Downs as the lead anchor. McGee insisted that he always begin studio interviews, asking the first three questions, leaving Walters with field interviews.

So, Barbara left the studio. She interviewed Henry Kissinger, Golda Meir, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, and Nixon’s Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman on location. This exile turned out to be beneficial, as the interviews gained elegance and ease - her guests were more relaxed in their own surroundings.

It took four more years for Walters to achieve her goal. After Frank McGee’s death, Jim Hartz took his place, and Barbara became the first female official co-host. That same year, she won an Emmy Award for writing and hosting The Today Show and secured a $700,000 salary. She had proven that women could succeed.

Pioneer on Screen, Record-Breaking Salary

The Walters-Hartz duo gained considerable popularity and was well-liked by viewers. They were the ones who informed Americans about President Richard Nixon`s resignation, the end of the Vietnam War, and the celebrations of America’s bicentennial. Jim Hartz didn’t mind being referred to as Walters` partner. They both left NBC in 1976 - Hartz to PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), and Barbara...

Barbara Walters signed a five-year contract with ABC worth $5 million, making her the highest-paid news anchor of her time. At 47 (or possibly 45) years old, after her second divorce (Lee Guber, 1968-1976) and raising an eight-year-old daughter, Barbara Walters embarked on the next chapter of her journalistic career. On October 4, 1976, she appeared on ABC as the network’s first female anchor for the news program ABC Evening News.

She was paired with Harry Reasoner, but as she later recalled, "Harry didn’t want a partner. It was very painful. Definitely the worst year of my life." They lasted two years together on screen. During that time, Barbara worked as a commentator on special reports, including presidential inaugurations, and organized the 1976 presidential debate between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. However, what truly captivated the world was her historic joint interview with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in November 1977 - political adversaries sitting together before the cameras.

Another landmark interview was her conversation with Fidel Castro on June 9, 1975. "It was worth the effort," she recalled after returning from Cuba. "During that long interview, Castro confided in me about his greatest concerns and fears. Few leaders dedicate that much time to a journalist and speak so openly. `Are you hungry, Barbara?` he asked, and soon my entire crew and I found ourselves in the kitchen, where he made us delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. I’ve had many culinary experiences in my life, but none compare to Fidel Castro preparing me food at two in the morning."

Barbara Walters Specials – The Art of the Impossible Interview

Two months after joining ABC, Walters launched her own show, Barbara Walters Specials. "The idea was to create a mix of political leaders and Hollywood celebrities," she later recalled. Friends warned her, "These stars will never agree to an interview... they won’t let you into their homes. They will never talk to you, period." Barbara proved them wrong.


On December 14, 1976, the first episode featured two couples: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, the future First Couple, and Barbra Streisand with her partner Jon Peters. The second episode, aired on April 6, 1977, featured Texas Senator Barbara Jordan - the first African American in the Senate since 1883 and the first woman to speak at the Democratic Convention (1976) - as well as Empress Farah Pahlavi, both with their respective partners.

Barbara Walters Specials aired continuously until 2015, when the journalist retired. For nearly four decades, she interviewed America’s biggest names - and beyond. In addition to all the First Ladies, her guests included Princess Caroline of Monaco (1985), Sarah Ferguson (1989), Camilla Parker-Bowles (2005), and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate (2010). She interviewed presidents Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, as well as boxer Muhammad Ali (1978), General Tommy Franks (2003), the Dalai Lama (2005), and tennis player Andre Agassi (2006). The list included movie stars, musicians, politicians, and journalists.

In 1981, Walters introduced a special edition of her popular talk show: Barbara Walters Oscar Night Special, where she interviewed Academy Award winners. She hosted this segment for 29 years. But that wasn’t all. Starting in 1993, she created the annual ranking Barbara Walters` 10 Most Fascinating People. The first person on the list in 1993 was Hillary Clinton; the final name in 2015 was Olympic athlete Caitlyn Jenner.

20/20. Jaruzelski Complained About Caricatures

At the end of 1978, Barbara Walters parted ways with Harry Reasoner and ABC Evening News. In early 1979, she joined the team of the news magazine 20/20. The program’s host, Hugh Downs, had a completely different approach to her as a partner. No surprise - they had known each other since their days at NBC’s The Today Show. From the very first episode, their compatibility and mutual respect were evident, which led to increased popularity and viewership.

In 1983, they won an Emmy Award for Best Host. A year later, Barbara officially became a co-host. The warm and charismatic duo worked together until 1999, when Downs retired. Walters continued hosting the show alone until 2004, although she briefly shared the studio with John Miller (2002-2003).

Between 1979 and 2004, Barbara Walters conducted many fascinating and significant interviews for ABC and 20/20. Henry Kissinger analyzed the 1980 presidential election results, General Wojciech Jaruzelski complained about his caricatures in the American press after imposing martial law in Poland (1985), Muammar Gaddafi sat for an interview outside his tent (January 27, 1989), and Vladimir Putin agreed to his first interview with an American journalist after the September 11, 2001 attacks (November 7, 2001).

20/20 was an evening program with high viewership. Walters` iconic interview with Monica Lewinsky on March 4, 1999, was watched by nearly 50 million viewers, compared to the usual weekly average of around 10 million.

Career at the Cost of Personal Life. The View is Launched

Despite her professional success, Walters did not have a fulfilling personal life. In 1981, she married for the third time, to Merv Adelson, the director of Lorimar Television, but the marriage lasted only three years. Although they remarried in 1986, they divorced permanently in 1992.


While hosting Barbara Walters Specials and 20/20, Walters introduced another show to ABC in 1997. This time, it was the morning talk show The View, in which she was a co-host. She described it as: "I always wanted to create a program with women from different generations, backgrounds, and viewpoints."

• a working mother (TV journalist Meredith Vieira)
• a professional woman in her 30s (lawyer Star Jones)
• a young woman just starting out (TV presenter Debbie Matenopoulos)
• someone who would say and do almost anything (comedian Joy Behar)
• And in an ideal world, I could join the group whenever I wanted.

Five women (or sometimes four) discussed hot topics - from politics to social issues, pop culture, and economics - often with humor. The show also featured interviews and audience contests. The first episode aired on August 11, 1997, with the hot topic being adultery and an interview with Tom Selleck. Over time, the panel expanded to nearly 20 different co-hosts.

The popular talk show continues to be produced, although without Barbara, who officially bid farewell to The View on May 15, 2014. She had already won two Daytime Emmy awards for the program: in 2003 for Best Talk Show and in 2009 for Best Host, which she shared with her co-hosts Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and Sherri Shepherd.

In 2000, Barbara Walters signed another five-year contract with ABC, this time worth $12 million. She was the highest-paid news anchor of her time.

Awards, Honorary Degrees, and... A Madame Tussauds Wax Figure

Entering the 21st century at 71 (or 69) years old, Barbara Walters was still full of energy and passion. Seeing her successors thrive, she felt she had fulfilled her mission. The world recognized her contributions and her fight to secure a place in the competitive world of journalism. Over 50 years, in addition to 21 Emmy nominations and several wins, she also received prestigious awards and honors, including:

• National Association of Television Program Executives (1975)
• President’s Award by the Overseas Press Club (1988)
• Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame (1990)
• International Women’s Media Foundation (1991)
• Courage in Journalism Award (1992)
• Lucy Award (1998)
• National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (2000)
• Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2007)
• Disney Legends (2008)
• Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards (2014)

These are just some of her accolades. She also received honorary doctorates from Ben-Gurion University in Jerusalem, Hofstra University, Marymount College, Ohio State University, Sarah Lawrence College, Temple University, and Wheaton College. Additionally, she was immortalized with a wax figure at Madame Tussauds, and country singer Brad Paisley even composed a song about her. She was also the subject of jokes as Baba Wawa, thanks to Gilda Radner’s parody of her on Saturday Night Live.


When she left 20/20 in 2004, Walters did not plan to step away from ABC just yet. She was still hosting Barbara Walters Specials and The View. In 2008, she published her autobiography, Audition: A Memoir. In its 612 pages, Walters detailed her triumphs and failures, romances and divorces, love for her disabled sister, and devotion to her adopted daughter.

She said about her book: "It’s not that I want people to see my wounds, but I want them to see the whole person - not just for my sake, but because none of us has everything, and it’s important to know how to fight for yourself."

Farewell to Viewers

At the beginning of 2010, Barbara Walters began collaborating with the internet radio station Sirius XM. Her exclusive weekly interview series aired under the title Here’s Barbara. In May of that year, she took a break for health reasons, undergoing open-heart surgery. However, by July 12, she was ready to return to work, and by September, she had fully resumed her journalistic career.

However, in 2013, Barbara Walters decided to part ways with her passion and career. She announced her retirement at the age of 84 (or 82), after five decades in journalism. Her final television appearance was on May 15, 2014. In a special edition of The View, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, almost all past and present co-hosts appeared, along with Oprah Winfrey and Hillary Clinton. An emotional Barbara, looking around at those gathered, said: "This is my legacy... this is my legacy." Then she added:

"How do you say goodbye to something like 50 years in television? I am so proud when I see all the young women who create and report the news. If I did anything to help make that happen, that is my legacy. With all my heart, to everyone I have worked with, to those who have watched me and stood by my side, I can only say: ‘Thank you.’"

Barbara Walters retired after conducting thousands of interviews. Among the most iconic and historic ones were also some of the most emotional, such as her conversation with Patrick Swayze in 2009, and the awkward interview with Ricky Martin in 2000, which she later regretted.

Her achievements include interviews with The Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher, Czechoslovakian President Václav Havel, and Russian President Boris Yeltsin. She spoke with kings, princes, princesses, and even prisoners. On April 8, 2015, despite being retired, she conducted an interview for 20/20 with Mary Kay Letourneau Fualaau, a teacher convicted of having a relationship with a minor student. The conversation took place on the couple’s 10th wedding anniversary.

Her final interview took place on November 20, 2015, when she spoke with Donald Trump and his family about his presidential campaign. Her last public appearance was in 2016.

A year later, her name made headlines again, even though she no longer appeared in public. This was due to the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal. In 2013, Walters had interviewed one of his victims, Corey Feldman, and accused him of "harming the entire industry." Four years later, when the truth came to light, her interview was considered scandalous, and there were demands for a public apology. But Barbara Walters remained silent - not just on this matter, but on all forums, social media, and public events.


On December 30, 2022, the queen of ABC fell silent forever. She passed away at her Manhattan home at the age of 93, or perhaps 91. She left behind an incredible legacy of programs, interviews, memories, and the journalists - especially women - she helped train. To her loved ones, she left a fortune worth $170 million. Her spokesperson, Cindy Berger, said: "She lived with no regrets. She was a pioneer not just for female journalists, but for all women."

Following her passing, on January 1, 2023, ABC aired a tribute program titled Our Barbara. On January 3, a special edition of The View aired, in which Meredith Vieira, Star Jones, Debbie Matenopoulos, and Joy Behar paid homage to their late friend, producer, and co-host.

"You have to do what you love. Without it, you won’t succeed. Some measure success by fame, others by money. There are certain things you can do to help your luck - be the first in the office, the last to leave, fight the big battles instead of the small ones. Remember that the people you work with deserve respect. It’s important to do your homework, it’s important how you look, though that alone isn’t enough, and you need to have that indefinable quality that makes people love you." – Barbara Walters

Barbara Walters Timeline:

• 1929, September 25 – Barbara Walters was born (she claimed it was 1931)
• 1951 – Begins working at NBC WNBT-TV
• 1953 – Creates the children`s program Ask the Camera
• 1954 – Works at WPIX
• 1955 – Works at Tex McCrary Inc. and Redbook magazine
• 1961 – Joins The Today Show team at NBC
• 1968 – Conducts her first independent professional interview (Rose Kennedy)
• 1970 – Publishes the book How to Talk to Practically Anyone About Practically Anything
• 1971, September – Launches the talk show Not for Women Only
• 1974 – Becomes the first female co-host of The Today Show
• 1974 – Wins her first Emmy Award
• 1975, June 9 – Conducts a historic interview with Fidel Castro
• 1976 – Joins ABC
• 1976, October 4 – Debuts as the first female anchor of ABC Evening News
• 1976, December 14 – Launches Barbara Walters Specials
• 1977, November – Conducts a historic interview with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat
• 1979 – Begins working on the news magazine 20/20
• 1981 – Launches Barbara Walters Oscar Night Special
• 1993 – Creates the Barbara Walters 10 Most Fascinating People series
• 1997, August 11 – Launches The View
• 1999 – Becomes the sole host of 20/20
• 1999, March 4 – Conducts an iconic interview with Monica Lewinsky
• 2004 – Leaves 20/20
• 2008 – Publishes her autobiography Audition: A Memoir
• 2010, January – Collaborates with Sirius XM Radio (Here’s Barbara)
• 2014, May 15 – Retires from The View and ABC
• 2015, November 20 – Conducts her final interview (with Donald Trump)
• 2022, December 30 – Barbara Walters passes away

Sources:

• https://kidskonnect.com/people/barbara-walters/
• https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/barbara-walters-dead-tv-news-playboy-bunny-variety-1235476900/
• https://fortune.com/2022/12/31/barbara-walters-obituary-pioneer-women-journalism-intrepid-interviewer/
• https://us.cnn.com/2022/12/30/entertainment/barbara-walters-death/index.html
• https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/walters-barbara
• https://www.barbra-archives.info/barbara-walters-special-1976
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Walters
• https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0326459/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cl_sm
• https://abcnews.go.com/2020/photos/barbara-walters-memorable-interviews-years-23321033/image-barbra-streisand-1976-69134546#
• https://jezebel.com/the-view-reaired-its-1997-premiere-today-and-it-was-an-1797755702
• https://time.com/collection/firsts/4898617/barbara-walters-firsts/
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Barbara-Walters
• https://web.archive.org/web/20130612141644/http://vumag.pl/sylwetki/krolowa-jest-tylko-jedna,57502.html
• https://biografia24.pl/barbara-walters/
• https://groovyhistory.com/barbara-walters-changing-the-face-of-television-news
• https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/This-time-it-s-Barbara-Walters-turn-to-speak-3214829.php
• https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/arts/television/16arts-BARBARAWALTE_BRF.html
• https://www.thethings.com/how-barbara-walters-earned-her-massive-net-worth/#barbara-walters-hosted-special-interview-programs
• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/barbara-walters-dies-age-93-groundbreaking-tv-journalist/
• https://www.czczaplinski.com/post/portret-z-histori%C4%85-barbara-walters
• https://prezi.com/zy5ncjwhta19/barbara-walters/
• https://pagesix.com/2017/10/18/barbara-walters-faces-backlash-after-corey-feldman-clip-resurfaces/
• https://people.com/tv/how-barbara-walters-said-goodbye-to-the-view/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQdK8EBu--0
• https://deadline.com/2023/01/barbara-walters-the-view-tribute-1235210328/
• Barbara Walters Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, December 22, 2022