How Barbara Walters changed the news media for women -- and everyone else

Diane Rehm: On My Mind

WAMU 88.5

Artists And Thinkers Right Here As Diane Transitions This Podcast To Weekly Episodes That We’ll Be Calling “On My Mind.”, News, Writers, Fans Of The Diane Rehm Show Can Continue To Listen To Its Trademark Conversations With Newsmakers

4.7 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 20 June 2024

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Once upon a time television news was dominated by men like Walter Cronkite, Chet HUntley and David Brinkley. Some might call it an old boys club. Today, the sight of a woman in the anchor’s chair is commonplace. For this, we can thank Barbara Walters.

In 1976 she became the first female host of a network nightly news program – and it did not go well. She was shunned, ridiculed, glared at by her co-anchor and eventually replaced.

Instead of giving up, Walters transformed herself, becoming a legendary longform interviewer. She talked to presidents, celebrities and, famously Monica Lewinsky.

Walters went on to host ABC’s “20/20" for 25 years and “The View” for 17 more. She died two years ago at the age of 93.

Journalist Susan Page has long been fascinated by Walters, her drive to succeed, and how she changed our understanding of news. Page wrote about her in the new book, “The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters.”

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, it's Diane. On my mind, the journalist who blazed a trail for women in TV news.
0:14.0	Today, the site of a woman in the Ancrister is commonplace.
0:19.0	To this, we can thank Barbara Walters. In 1976, she became the first female host of a network
0:30.3	nightly news program and it did not go well. She was shun ridiculed, glared at by her
0:39.3	co-anchor and she failed. But instead of giving up, Walter transformed herself, becoming a
0:48.9	legendary long-form edder viewer. She talked to
0:53.6	presidents.
0:54.6	Are you sorry you didn't burn the tapes?
0:56.6	You know, interesting me enough,
0:59.2	everybody in Europe that I talked to said,
1:01.6	why didn't she burn the tapes tapes and the answer is I probably should have
1:06.7	Celebrities and you think you will walk again? I think it's very possible. I walk again
1:13.0	And if you don't I think it's very possible I walk again.
1:17.0	And if you don't, then I won't walk again.
1:20.0	As simple as that. And famously, Monica Lewinsky.
1:25.0	Are you still in love with Bill Clinton?
1:28.0	No.
1:29.0	Sure.
1:31.0	Mm-hmm.
1:32.0	Over. Sometimes I have warm feelings, sometimes I'm proud of him still, and sometimes I hate his guts.
1:38.0	Walter has went on to host ABC's 2020 for 25 years and the few for 17 more. She died two years
1:51.2	at the age of 93. Journalist Susan Page has long been fascinated by
	...

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