Barbara Walter's Love Affair with a Black Republican U.S. Senator

Vardar · 05-02-2008, 06:40 AM

Associated Press - NEW YORK (May 1) - After three decades of keeping mum, Barbara Walters is disclosing a past affair with married U.S. Sen. Edward Brooke, whom she remembers as "exciting" and "brilliant."

Appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" scheduled to air Tuesday, Walters shares details of her relationship with Brooke that lasted several years in the 1970s, according to a transcript of the show provided to The Associated Press.

A moderate Republican from Massachusetts who took office in 1967, Brooke was the first African-American to be popularly elected to the Senate. Both he and Walters knew that public knowledge of their affair could have ruined his career as well as hers, Walters says.

At the time, the twice-divorced Walters was a rising star in TV news and co-host of NBC's "Today" show, but would soon jump to ABC News, where she has enjoyed unrivaled success. Her affair with Brooke, which never before came to light, had ended before he lost his bid for a third term in 1978.

Brooke later divorced, and has since remarried. Calls to a listing for Brooke in Miami by The Associated Press were not immediately returned Thursday.

Walters is the guest of Oprah Winfrey to discuss her new memoir, "Audition," which covers her long career in television, as well as her off-camera life. On "Oprah," Walters recounts a phone call from a friend who urged her to stop seeing Brooke.

"He said, 'This is going to come out. This is going to ruin your career,'" then reminded her that Brooke was up for re-election a year later. "'This is going to ruin him. You've got to break this off.'"

Winfrey asks Walters if she was in love.

"I was certainly -- I don't know -- I was certainly infatuated."

"Infatuated."

"I was certainly involved," Walters says. "He was exciting. He was brilliant. It was exciting times in Washington."

Also during the program, Walters chokes up while describing the struggles of her older sister Jackie, who was mentally retarded. Walters confesses that, as a child, she sometimes felt embarrassed by Jackie.

"She stuttered terribly. People made fun of her. People made fun of me," Walters says. "I didn't bring friends home. I felt terribly guilty because she was very loving and I didn't always feel that way."

Jackie Walters died in 1985 of ovarian cancer.

"When I think of her, because she was beautiful and loving and all of that, it makes me cry."

**Nemowork** · 05-02-2008, 12:34 PM

Meh, who cares about what an ex-celebrity might have done with a pol nobodies ever heard of?

If thats all shes got going for her to sell the book its going to be an alternative to sleeping pills!

Prof Maxwell · 05-02-2008, 05:22 PM

I think she was also doing Sam Donaldson....it was his hair that snagged her.

05-02-2008, 06:40 AM	#1
Vardar Happy Fairy New Year Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: South Bethlehem Posts: 17,371 Thanks: 324 Thanked 62 Times in 15 Posts	Barbara Walter's Love Affair with a Black Republican U.S. Senator Associated Press - NEW YORK (May 1) - After three decades of keeping mum, Barbara Walters is disclosing a past affair with married U.S. Sen. Edward Brooke, whom she remembers as "exciting" and "brilliant." Appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" scheduled to air Tuesday, Walters shares details of her relationship with Brooke that lasted several years in the 1970s, according to a transcript of the show provided to The Associated Press. A moderate Republican from Massachusetts who took office in 1967, Brooke was the first African-American to be popularly elected to the Senate. Both he and Walters knew that public knowledge of their affair could have ruined his career as well as hers, Walters says. At the time, the twice-divorced Walters was a rising star in TV news and co-host of NBC's "Today" show, but would soon jump to ABC News, where she has enjoyed unrivaled success. Her affair with Brooke, which never before came to light, had ended before he lost his bid for a third term in 1978. Brooke later divorced, and has since remarried. Calls to a listing for Brooke in Miami by The Associated Press were not immediately returned Thursday. Walters is the guest of Oprah Winfrey to discuss her new memoir, "Audition," which covers her long career in television, as well as her off-camera life. On "Oprah," Walters recounts a phone call from a friend who urged her to stop seeing Brooke. "He said, 'This is going to come out. This is going to ruin your career,'" then reminded her that Brooke was up for re-election a year later. "'This is going to ruin him. You've got to break this off.'" Winfrey asks Walters if she was in love. "I was certainly -- I don't know -- I was certainly infatuated." "Infatuated." "I was certainly involved," Walters says. "He was exciting. He was brilliant. It was exciting times in Washington." Also during the program, Walters chokes up while describing the struggles of her older sister Jackie, who was mentally retarded. Walters confesses that, as a child, she sometimes felt embarrassed by Jackie. "She stuttered terribly. People made fun of her. People made fun of me," Walters says. "I didn't bring friends home. I felt terribly guilty because she was very loving and I didn't always feel that way." Jackie Walters died in 1985 of ovarian cancer. "When I think of her, because she was beautiful and loving and all of that, it makes me cry." __________________ A Fairy A Day Keeps The Whores Away DIES IST DIE ÜBER FEE

05-02-2008, 12:34 PM	#2
Nemowork Klompendance? Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mobilis in Mobilii Posts: 25,341 Thanks: 6 Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts	Meh, who cares about what an ex-celebrity might have done with a pol nobodies ever heard of? If thats all shes got going for her to sell the book its going to be an alternative to sleeping pills! __________________ “A wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation.” Moliere "You do the unseemly behavior, I'll handle the moderation" - Nemo

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Prof Maxwell Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 6,350 Thanks: 0 Thanked 153 Times in 64 Posts	I think she was also doing Sam Donaldson....it was his hair that snagged her.