Barbara Walters, the iconic TV journalist known for her interviews with presidents, world leaders, and Hollywood stars, has died at the age of 93, a representative for Walters confirmed to CBS News Friday night. Walters was a trailblazer for female journalists, and she consistently secured some of the most highly sought-after subjects in news.
Walters began her career in television in 1961 when she was hired by NBC’s “Today” show. She covered lighter assignments, such as “tea-pouring interviews” and weather reports, as the show’s “Today Girl.” Two years later, she left for ABC, where she became the first woman to co-anchor a network evening news broadcast.
Walters was most known for her time as a co-host of ABC’s “20/20,” a role she held for 25 years. After leaving the show, she remained at the network to create primetime news specials, including her annual “10 Most Fascinating People” broadcasts.
Walters famously sat down with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat for a joint interview in 1977, as the two foreign leaders began talks for a historic peace deal. She also conducted the first interview with President George W. Bush after the September 11 terrorist attacks, and was the first American journalist to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In 2013, Walters announced her intention to retire from television the following year during an appearance on “The View.” She was a one-of-a-kind reporter who landed many of the most important interviews of our time, and she was a trailblazer not only for female journalists, but for all women.
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