Barbara Walters' chance to be in the hot seat
Iconic interviewer Barbara Walters became the interviewee Wednesday night, making an appearance in Naperville to promote her new book, "Audition."
Walters released her memoir earlier this month, delving into both her personal and professional lives.
During Wednesday's talk, sponsored by Anderson's Bookshop, she took questions from NCTV-17 Executive Director Liz Spencer as well as audience members at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall.
Walters said the time is right for the book because she is at a point in her life when she is done auditioning.
"I thought if I was going to do this book I want it to be historical," she said. "I want people to understand what was going on in the country while things are happening to me. I wanted there to be the presidents, the heads of state, the Monica Lewinsky, the murderers, the celebrities. But I wanted to tell a very personal story, too."
Walters, a correspondent for ABC News and co-host and co-executive producer of "The View," has been in television for more than 40 years and has interviewed hundreds of world leaders and celebrities including every president and first lady since Richard Nixon.
In the book, Walters talks about her father, who made and lost his fortune, her developmentally disabled sister and her three marriages, along with her prolific career.
Of the hundreds of interviews she has done, Walters said two of the most remarkable people were former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who she said "changed the course of history" and the Dalai Lama, who told her the purpose of life is to be happy, which can be achieved through compassion.
One of her more personal revelations in the book, an affair with former U.S. Senator Edward Brooke in the 1970s, has caused quite a stir but Walters said she included it to show how things have changed since that time.
"That 31 years ago an African-American and a white woman would have been enough to totally destroy my career and his," she said. "And today we have an African-American running for president."
On a less serious note, she also joked about the news of the affair leaking before the book release, leading people to think the book would be a kiss-and-tell. She pointed to the long lists of names at the front and back of the memoir.
"You may think all these names are some of the people I've interviewed," she said. "No. These are all my lovers."
At the age of 78, Walters says she still has contractual obligations she said she will continue to fulfill, but she hopes to find more time to learn Spanish, travel and be with her daughter.
Her advice to the next generation of journalists is to get their foot in the door at local newspapers or television stations.
"Get there before anybody else, do your own work, don't whine," she said. "There are times you have to stand up for what you want but for the most part be so good and so needed."
Following the talk, Walters signed books for the hundreds of people who gathered to meet her, including longtime fan Gail Andersen of Oswego.
"She just handles herself with such grace and dignity," Andersen said. "I think she's very inspiring."
Deb Mitchler of Aurora also found herself in awe of Walters.
"She's beautiful. She speaks so eloquently and the experiences, the way she would turn and tell the little stories was fascinating," Mitchler said. "You get a little glimpse into the world you know nothing about."