Before her death on December 30, at the age of 93, Barbara Walters’ legendary standing in the field of American broadcast journalism had been established for decades.
Walters stated in a 2014 address at Harvard University that the most essential trait for a journalist is curiosity.
This trait was evident throughout her career, especially when she conducted interviews with the most prominent newsmakers of the day.
In 1999, her interview with Monica Lewinsky broke viewership records for a news special, when she convinced Bill Clinton’s short-lived mistress to apologize to Hillary. Years ago, she was one of the first journalists to challenge Donald Trump’s phony claims of real estate brilliance.
In 1977, she spent ten days in the mountains of Cuba interviewing Fidel Castro, winning his trust to the point where many believed they were having an affair But they weren’t.
In 1999, Walters’ interview with Monica Lewinsky was one of the most watched programs in the United States, attracting approximately 80 million viewers for ABC’s 20/20.
In the conversation, Lewinsky apologized to Hillary and Chelsea Clinton for her involvement with the then-president and discussed her regrets.
In 1999, Walters interviewed Monica Lewinsky, the most talked-about woman in the world at the time, barely one year after the news of her brief affair with Bill Clinton surfaced.
The interview garnered approximately 80 million viewers, making it one of the highest-rated programs in American history. Walters stated that network executives informed her that no one would watch the proposed two-hour special.
In the interview, Lewinsky apologized to Hillary and Chelsea Clinton for her involvement with the then-president and discussed her regrets regarding the affair. Lewinsky stated in 2018 that she was still awaiting an apology from the former Arkansas governor.
During an iconic scene in which the two discussed Lewinsky showing Clinton her thong, Walters appeared to reprimand the former intern by asking, “Where did you find the nerve?” Who, exactly, does that?
If you take my word for it, it was a little, subtle, flirty gesture,’ Lewinsky said. And I am that.’
Perhaps the most memorable part of the interview was when Walters asked Lewinsky if she still loved Clinton.
Lewinsky said, ‘No. Sometimes I feel affection, sometimes I’m still proud of him, and sometimes I despise him. And, yeah, he makes me nauseous.
Perhaps the most memorable part of the interview was when Walters asked Lewinsky if she still loved Clinton.
Then, Walters said, “What will you tell your children when you have them?” She responded, “Mommy made a major error.”
Lewinsky is rumored to be unmarried despite the fact that she is notoriously discreet about her personal life. In 2015, she quipped in an interview with People Magazine, “I’ve promised Barbara Walters a dance at my wedding, so I intend to fulfill that promise someday!”
In the year when Walters left The View, Lewinsky was linked to a spot on the program.
Walters first met Donald Trump in an interview in August 1990, when the 45th president was still a New York real estate mogul.
Alternates criticized his comments that his 1988 purchase of the Plaza Hotel for $407.5 million was a “fantastic deal.”
Five years after the interview aired, Trump sold the hotel at a loss of roughly $80 million, proving Walters correct.
Walters first met Donald Trump in an interview in August 1990, when the 45th president was still a New York real estate mogul.
Walters criticized Trump’s claims that his 1988 purchase of the Plaza Hotel for $407.5 million was a ‘wonderful deal,’ in contrast to the majority of the media who appreciated Trump’s boisterous demeanor.
Trump responded, “Well, I have no idea what the bankers have stated.” The Plaza is a property of exceptional value. Everyone told me, “You overpaid, you overpaid!” Now, everyone is saying, ‘What a fantastic deal he made!’ Walters responded, “They are not.”
Five years after the interview aired, Trump sold the hotel at a loss of roughly $80 million, proving that she was correct.
At one point, Walters criticized Trump, stating, “Being on the verge of bankruptcy? Receiving a bailout from the banks? On thin ice and on the verge of drowning? That’s a respectable businessman?’
The New York Times reported in the same year that banks were threatening to foreclose on Trump’s loans due to his numerous unsuccessful business enterprises.
When Walters asked Trump in 2015 what he desired his political legacy to be, he responded, “Victory.”
Walters reconnected with Trump in 2015, when she conducted an interview with him around the time he launched his first presidential campaign.
In response to Trump’s remarks at the time, Walters asked him directly, “Are you a bigot?”
He said, “Absolutely not.” Probably the least impressive person you’ve ever met.
When Walters urged him to elaborate, he said, “Because I’m not.” I am a person who possesses common sense. I’m a smart individual. I am adept at managing things. I know how to restore America’s greatness. This is about restoring America’s greatness.
Walters questioned Trump at the conclusion of the conversation, “Let’s say you win the president. In a single word, what would you like your legacy to be when you leave office?’ He responded, “Victory.”
In 1977, Walters had one of his first landmark interviews with Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
There were allegations that Walters and Castro had a love relationship due to the apparent closeness Walters displayed with Castro.
In 1977, less than 20 years after Castro gained control of the Caribbean island, Walters conducted one of his earliest landmark interviews with Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
There were allegations that Walters and Castro had a love relationship due to the apparent closeness they shown to one another. In an interview with People Magazine, she refuted these reports as incorrect.
Walters stated in the same interview that she journeyed with Castro through the Cuban mountains for ten days, at times holding his gun. She told People that despite his charisma, he was also a despot. People believed we had a relationship, but we never did.
During their time together, Castro prepared a grilled cheese sandwich for Walters and informed her that he would shave off his renowned beard if the US government relaxed the trade embargo.
Castro stated in the interview that he did not believe in democracy in the American style, despite having promised democratic elections in Cuba within a year of assuming power.
Castro stated during the interview that he would shave off his famous beard if the US government abolished the trade blockade.
Later, Walters became the first American to traverse the Bay of Pigs in 20 years.
The dictator also told Walters that he believed the United States and Cuba would formalize their ties during the second term of President Jimmy Carter. Carter never received a second term and was ousted by Ronald Reagan in one of the nation’s largest electoral landslides.
In 2002, the two conducted a second interview. Walters stated that this encounter was not as remarkable because more was known about Castro and it was not as shocking.
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