The Barbara Walters Interview - Show Recap

Original Air Date:

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Barbara Walters on 'Audition':

Barbara Walters, one of the most famous interviewers ever, landed on the other side of the table to talk to Oprah about her memoir, Audition. Barbara Walters has interviewed nearly every politician and celebrity worth talking to, she was also the first female to host a morning show, the first female to anchor an evening newscast and the first million dollar journalist.

When Barbara first entered the stage, she shared that it took her 3 years to write the book and that if she was going to tell her story, she was going to tell everything. The title comes from Barbara feeling she has been auditioning her entire life.

Barbara Walters on 'The View' and Star Jones:

Barbara Walters' daytime talk show, The View has had a number of scandals in the last few years, especially involving Star Jones and Rosie O'Donnell. Barbara described the situation as one where Meredith Vieira was leaving to go to the Today show and Star began to change. Star, who was possibly the most popular host, was severely obese and had difficulty breathing and even walking on the set. Star decided to have gastric bypass surgery, but decided not to tell anyone claiming she lost weight with portion control and pilates. The cast went along with Star's wishes even though the audience became uncomfortable.

When Star became engaged, Barbara described her wanting to have a princess wedding and using her television career to help pay for the ceremony. Star began promoting products to get items for her wedding for free, but Barbara drew the line when Star began doing it on other shows as well. The audience was feeling like Star was greedy and lost connection with her, which made the ratings drop. The network decided to end Star's contract and agreed to explain it to the public however she wished. Star was expected to leave June 29, but on the 27th, she announced she was leaving.

Barbara and ABC learned that Star had talked to People Magazine where she said that she was fired because of Rosie - which was not true. Barbara said that she was angry and hurt, but couldn't remain that way and made peace with Star and that she wishes her well.

Barbara Walters on 'The View' and Rosie O'Donnell:

After Star left, Rosie agreed to come on and take Meredith Vieira's position, though she wanted to take a backseat role and not control thing, which is against Rosie's character and was an issue for her.

Soon after taking the position, Rosie was in a feud with Donald Trump while Barbara was away on vacation. Barbara, being friends with Trump, said that she would take care of the incident. Donald Trump then went around saying that Barbara said hiring Rosie was a mistake - which was untrue. Rosie then felt that Barbara didn't doing enough to support her.

Rosie also had a feud with Elisabeth, a host on the show, where they debated the war in Iraq. The 2 had a screaming match on tv, which Barbara called a terrible day. While the show received high ratings during both of the controversies, Rosie decided not to return after the Elisabeth argument.

Barbara shared that she has not seen Donald Trump since the incident. Rosie sent Barbara a copy of her book Celebrity Detox which was upsetting to Barbara since there was a lot of anger present in the book. Barbara said she wasn't sure if she even wanted to include issues on The View in her book, but she did include it.

Barbara Walters on Marriage:

Barbara Walters has been married 3 times and shared that each time she married, she had a heavy heart. Barbara was 23 when she first married, her second marriage produced her daughter Jackie, and she is still friends with her third husband. Barbara stated that she would never marry again, but that her ex-husbands were great men and she doesn't regret her actions.

Barbara Walters on Her Secret Affair:

Oprah was shocked to read in Barbara's book that she had a 2 year affair with a married politician who also happened to be black - US Senator, Edward Brooke. Barbara described that they met at a restaurant during Watergate and if it would have come out, it would have ruined both of their careers.

Barbara described Brooke's marriage as not close, even though he had 2 children, that he only went home on the holidays. When Barbara said she could no longer continue to sneak around, Brooke went home and asked for a divorce - after spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with Barbara.

Oprah described how when the other woman gets a holiday, they can feel like the important one, but Barbara stated that she never thought of herself as a mistress because that implies that she was taken care of, which never happened. Barbara stated that she was involved, infatuated, excited by the secret - but not sure if she was in love.

The bad publicity that Brooke received with conflict with his wife caused him to lose his re-election, which Barbara felt she had something to do with. Regretting that he lost the Senate spot, Barbara shared that at the time she didn't regret what happened, that it was wonderful.

Barbara Walters on Her Father and Sister:

Barbara explained that her only sister growing up was considered mildly retarded, and though Barbara loved her, she also hated her for making her life difficult. Barbara stated that her sister Jackie was the biggest influence in her life and though people made fun of her, she was very loving. Barbara said that Jackie taught her compassion even though at times it was too much. When Barbara was with ABC, she had a speaking engagement just days after her sisters surgery for ovarian cancer - while Barbara was in Milwaukee, her sister passed away, which Barbara regrets to this day.

Barbara's father, she said, made and lost fortunes in show business; always a gambler at heart. Barbara revealed that her father at one point tried to commit suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills when he experienced terrible despair. While Barbara was in the ambulance with him, she had compassion for her father, but never asked him why he did what he did - knowing things go to be too much for him. People never knew what her father had attempted.

Barbara Walters on Her Daughter Jackie:

Barbara named her daughter after her sister, and shared that the chapter on Jackie was the most difficult for her to write. After having 3 miscarriages, Barbara and her second husband adopted Jackie when she was just 4 days old. When Jackie was 14, Barbara shared that things started to go wrong, Jackie began doing drugs and running away. After much despair, Barbara sent for someone to get Jackie and take her to an alternative school where she stayed for 3 years - Jackie now runs a similar program for girls in Maine. Jackie wanted her mother to share their story in hopes it would help others going through the same thing.

Barbara Walter's What I Know For Sure:

"You must have someone to love...a reason to get up...something beyond yourself."