When I was young - and I am talking mid to late 1960s here - my mother was a religious watcher of The Today Show, ergo I was, too.
And besides my almost cult-like adoration of Joe Garagiola, which I still have, there was Barbara.
She was smart, she was articulate, she was beautiful.
And she inspired.
If you look up the definition of Trailblazer in the dictionary, surely you will find Barbara.
When she left The Today Show to be the first female co-anchor on the nightly news it is was groundbreaking. And horrifying. Because if you think we live in a misogynistic society that judges women solely on their ability to be young and beautiful, well try and imagine the 1970s.
Even her co-anchor, especially her co-anchor, Harry Reasoner, was loathsome towards her.
But Barbara persevered. She went on to have a career that anyone would have killed for, and if she has become somewhat of a caricature for some, well that is the price you pay when you attempt to stay on air until well into your eighties.
Today, Barbara Walters retires. I am reminded constantly, living in a place when women are still striving for their rights, that we have come a long way since Barbara went on the air in 1962, but we still have a long way to go.
There is a whole generation of female journalists who owe their successful careers to the doors that Barbara had to kick open for them. She not only had to be good to get her jobs, she had to be the best. And she was.
So today, I will be raising a glass to Barbara. And thanking her for all she has done for women.
Let's have a Barbara Cocktail, shall we?
Barbara
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
Have an awesome Friday and Stay Safe out there!
xoxo wendy
I know it is trite but a true pioneer. She makes me realize that if you do something for long enough it doesn't even matter if you are likeable anymore. Perseverance and consistency is key. I love how she just kept working into her 80's. With a mind like that it is hard to imagine she is that age.
ReplyDeleteNaomi - you are right. She and Gloria Steinem and others in the 1960s really changed the world. I hope she is retiring with the sense of her accomplishments and the realization that she is a real hero.
DeleteI admire Barbara for being the trailblazer that she is but I think her interviewing skills are just so-so. I couldn't get over her "if you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be" questioning. But she is a very nice and gracious lady, she posed for pictures with my son and his classmates when they visited the ABC office.
ReplyDeleteI forgave her that, since Katherine Hepburn teed it up, saying that she, Katherine, was like a tree...
Deleteand I am so glad she turned out to be nice!
DeleteOh I'd be answer that questioning in a minute, I quite like it, you can go quite deep into that.
DeleteTabs - I would be an elm - straight and reaching for the sky! The hummingbirds like to sit at the top of the elm in my backyard!
DeleteCheers! I have not seen Barbara in action in quite a while...not a. View watcher. She has left quite a legacy. Cheers to her, again!
ReplyDeleteBB - I don't watch the view either, though I will tape it today to see her off!
DeleteHello Wendy,
ReplyDeleteWe know that we must be the only people left in the world who can say this but we do not own a television. Not a single one. Not for thirty years. We realise that this may come as something of a shock to you. However, what may be even more of a surprise is that even we have heard of Barbara Walters.......it has to be said that we called her name in connection with Monica Lewinsky!
Still, BW is a woman of determination and is certainly to be admired for the number of glass ceilings that she has smashed her way through. She is the Emmeline Pankhurst of her day and we salute her. And, darling Wendy, we are sure that your tribute cocktail would pack as good a punch as dear Barbara!
Oh no, Jane and Lance, I have friends who do not have TVs, though I am not of that tribe! I am a TV child - grew up watching Captain Kangaroo and the Watergate hearings! I agree with your Emmeline!
DeleteI've had more than a few quibbles with BW over the years but overall I give her very high marks and she has my highest respect. I'll raise a glass of The Barbara in her honor.
ReplyDeleteGSL - I am imagining you and BW debating!
DeleteI shall raise a cheer to Ba-Ba Wa-Wa today! What a role model! Love her or loathe her, she's pretty incredible.
ReplyDeleteShe sure is!
DeleteI will toast Barbara Walters! I think it's true, women today often forget how much society has changed since the 60s and 70s, and I can't imagine how tough it was for Barbara Walters to push ahead with her career at that time. I couldn't stand watching more than a couple episodes of Mad Men because the sexism and misogyny (which I know is true to the era) made me want to throw things at the TV!!!
ReplyDeleteLouise - I had the same problem. I even struggle with I Love Lucy for the same reason - and I love Lucy!
DeleteOn my occasional bad days I recall this Ba-ba Wa-waism:
ReplyDelete"Work harder than everybody. You're not going to get it by whining, and you're not going to get it by shouting, and you're not going to get it by quitting. You're going to get it by being there." -- media & broadcasting pioneer Barbara Walters
It is so import to remember that we've come a long way, but there is still a long way to go. Women need strong, positive role models. Whether or not she was your cup of tea, Barbara leaves an incredible legacy and enduring work ethic, regardless of gender. That's definitely worth a toast. And I hope she enjoyed sleeping in this morning...
I agree, GF. She went to work everyday in the 70's, knowing her on air partner did not want her there. How many of us would have left?
DeleteI will have a post on this in the next couple of days, but we haven;'t come all that far and it makes me sad!
DeleteLove the cocktail and the tribute
ReplyDeletethanks Jen!
DeleteLove the idea of a Barbara Cocktail! Great tribute!
ReplyDeleteI bet you do! We should be having them at our writing group meetings!
DeleteWonderful Wendy! I love the the toast and the visual of Barbara kicking down the door for her sister broadcasters:)) cheers and happy weekend to you! xoJennifer
ReplyDeleteI watched the last episode yesterday and cried when I saw all of those amazing female broadcasters walking in to honour her!
DeleteAll Hail to Barbara! She is one of my heroes. What a life she has lived. Love her or not, she is a woman to be admired for her perseverance, grace, work ethic and style. I hope she enjoys the a very long, hard-earned retirement.
ReplyDeleteJulie, I do too. And now I really am going to read her memoir!
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