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As 2022 drew to a close, the world said goodbye to the late Barbara Walters, a true pioneer in the field of journalism, who died at the age of 93 on December 30.
In an exclusive ABC NewsRadio Specials, "Remembering Barbara Walters," listeners of every age were given a unique perspective into her life as a television broadcaster and more importantly, as a person.
“I want to be remembered by my daughter as a loving mother,” the late Walters said in a past interview that was used for the special. “I want to be remembered by my friends as someone who is loyal, I want to be remembered, in television, maybe as a creator, maybe as a good news woman. No. More than being remembered, I hope that by younger women, I can help them aspire.”
While many may remember her for her historic interviews of past presidents and foreign leaders, Walters herself enjoyed speaking with people who had overcome overwhelming odds. In the special, Walters recalled her emotional interview with “Superman” actor Christopher Reeve following a horseback riding accident that left him paralyzed.
Her unique questions were the hallmark of a Walters’ interview. She was never afraid to ask biting questions, like the time she asked Russian President Vladimir Putin, to his face, if he had ever given the order to have someone killed. However she also had a way of bringing tears to the eyes of both her guests and audience.
“I would ask questions about their childhood, relationship with their parents,” said Walters in a past interview. “I very often asked people about their fathers, and yet a more emotional answer than I do if I asked about mothers.”
The late veteran journalist believed in ending her interviews as strongly as they began. But instead of creating “gotcha questions” for everyone she spoke with, she simply asked them to finish a sentence about who they are.
Let’s try it. If you share this story on social media then please finish this sentence for us and put it in your post’s caption.
“Barbara Walters is ___.”
Listen to the full exclusive ABC NewsRadio Special, "Remembering Barbara Walters", on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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