Barbara Walters: The Complex Legacy of a Television Pioneer
In the new Hulu documentary "Tell Me Everything," Barbara Walters, the first female broadcaster to earn a million-dollar salary, is portrayed in a multifaceted light. While celebrated for her groundbreaking contributions to television, her personal life reveals a more complex character driven by ambition, fame, and power.
Her former book editor, Peter Ethers, describes Walters as “difficult and calculating,” often engaging in transactional relationships that served her career more than personal connections. Among her notable relationships was with Roy Cohn, a controversial lawyer who helped her father evade tax charges; together, they considered marriage despite Cohn’s homosexuality.
Friends and colleagues, such as Cindy Adams and Oprah Winfrey, provide insights into Walters’ intense career focus, which often overshadowed her personal life and motherhood. Winfrey notes that observing Walters’ fraught relationship with her adopted daughter, Jackie, influenced her own decision not to become a parent.
Walters’ career began at NBC’s "Today" show, where she faced gender bias, only allowed to ask questions after her male co-host. Her rise continued with notable interviews, including talk with figures like Nixon and Castro, but her ambition sometimes resulted in contentious rivalries, such as with Diane Sawyer, leading to a toxic work environment.
Despite her success, friends, including Cynthia McFadden, observed that Walters wrestled with insecurities, often unable to savor her achievements. As her career flourished, her personal connections—especially with Jackie—suffered.
Walters’ three marriages and several high-profile romances underscored her search for validation in a male-dominated field. Ultimately, the documentary presents a poignant reflection on a woman whose immense career left her longing for a deeper personal connection that remained elusive.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
