Iconic news journalist Barbara Walters announced Monday on The View that she will retire following a five decade run on air.
“In the summer of 2014 I plan to retire from appearing on television at all,” Walters announced as quoted by Washington Post.
With tears in her eyes she adds, “There will be special occasions, and I will come back — I’m not walking into the sunset — but I don’t want to appear on another program or climb another mountain.”
Walters, who became known for sitting down with some of the world’s most loved and hated minds, shared a pre-taped real of some of her best moments.
The 85-year-old began her career in 1961 as a writer and producer of NBC’s Today, she became the first ever female co-host in 1974, Boston Herald reports. She is also most noted for her role as co-anchor on 20/20 where she spent 25 years of her career. Walters’ interview with Monica Lewinsky drew in a record high of 74 million viewers at the time of its airing.
Speculation that Walters would retire first < a href=http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2013/03/barbara-walters-poised-retire-2014-report>surfaced in March after Joy Behar left The View and reports that Elisabeth Hasselbeck would be fired surfaced noting that ABC was looking to revamp the show.
image: ABC