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Barbara Walters to retire in 2014

Veteran US broadcaster Barbara Walters will announce her 2014 retirement on The View.

2013-05-13_1440Following ongoing speculation about her future, veteran US broadcaster Barbara Walters, 83, will retire in 2014.

She is set to announce the news on The View on Monday (Tuesday Australian time), the show she created in 1997. She will remain as Executive Producer.

“I am very happy with my decision and look forward to a wonderful and special year ahead both on The View and with ABC News,” she said. “I created The View and am delighted it will last beyond my leaving it.”

Walters has been with ABC News for 37 years but began her career in 1961 at NBC’s Today Show, where she eventually became a co-host.

“No one was more surprised than I,” she says of her on-air career. “I wasn’t beautiful, like many of the women on the program before me, [and] I had trouble pronouncing my r’s. I still do!”

In 1976 she became America’s first female anchor on an evening news program. Three years later, she became a co-host of 20/20.

But it is her feature interviews that brought her international attention with Fidel Castro, Egypt’s Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Menachem Begin to celebs such as Tom Cruise. She has also interviewed every U.S. president and first lady from the Nixons to the current administration.

“I asked Vladimir Putin if he ever ordered anyone to be killed,” she recalls. “For the record, he said no.”

In 2010 she underwent heart surgery before returning to The View.

Source: ABC

6 Responses

  1. There is only a handful of journalists in the US who have the respect Barbra Walters has.from all sides of politics.She still knows how to ask a great question,, and because of her status, most people answer her questions

  2. Miss Walters has had a wonderful career and paved the way for women in journalism in the US. I am glad she is retiring as she is beyond annoying on The View.

  3. Its easy to forget what career Barbara had. Maybe on The View now she isn’t quite up to speed.

    It’ll be Interesting to see who will replace her and Joy. Seems like they’re trying out guest hosts. Plus there is Elisabeth whether she is staying or going.

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