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 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