Popular American television journalist Barbara Walters has passed away

His television career began in 1961 Tonight’s showand Walters joined in 1976 ABC News In fact, she became the first female anchor of a nationally televised evening news program. His screen career came to an end in 2014 after working in the television industry for over half a century. Walters won 12 Emmy Awards, 11 of which were for work ABC News.

Walters has interviewed every US president and first lady since the 1970s, from the Nixons to the Obamas. His interviews were extensive and his access to public figures increased throughout his career. Walters crossed the Bay of Pigs with Cuban leader Fidel Castro and held the first joint interviews with Egyptian President Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. She also developed a reputation for asking tough questions. For example, he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin if he had ordered anyone killed (he denied it). In 1999, 74 million viewers watched Walters interview Monica Lewinsky about the former White House intern’s affair with then-President Bill Clinton.

Over the years, Walters’ interviewees have also criticized his interview style. For example, singer Ricky Martin said in 2021 that he was shocked by a conversation with Walters in which he forced her to say something about her sexuality ten years before she came out publicly. Walters later apologized.