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Barbara Walters Discloses Past Affair with Senator

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Barbara Walters by Donna Svennevik/ABC
In her upcoming memoir, Audition, Barbara Walters reveals for the first time an affair she had with Sen. Edward Brooke in the 1970s.

She discussed her memoir on Oprah, during a taping scheduled to air on May 6.

In a transcript provided to the Associated Press, Walters says the affair with Brooke, the first African-American to be popularly elected to the U.S. Senate, ended before he lost a re-election bid in 1978.

At the time, Walters was twice-divorced. Brooke was married, and has since divorced and re-married.

When asked if she was in love, Walters replied, "I was certainly — I don't know — I was certainly infatuated. Infatuated. I was certainly involved. He was brilliant. He was exciting. It was exciting times in Washington." — J.R. Whalen


Posted by TV Guide News
May 1, 2008 4:25 PM
Well...
May 1, 2008 4:36 PM
Eeewwww and TMI

Taking "May Sweeps" a little too seriously don't ya think?
Posted by CindiCat
May 1, 2008 6:02 PM
What a weirdo.
Posted by bluegrumpy
May 1, 2008 7:51 PM
I don't get the disapproval. This is the first piece of information to have revealed that Barbera is actually a human being with genuine emotions. I don't think the affair went on long enough. Maybe she wouldn't be so uptight now if it had.
Posted by DaMess
May 2, 2008 3:04 AM
Good God, who cares? Seriously. Not only do I agree with "ewwwwwwwwww" and "TMI", but is this really something she should be talking about with pride? Because, that's how it's coming off and I find it and her desperate.
Posted by Blumoose
May 2, 2008 11:44 AM
On the plus side, I agree with DaMess, it does show her vulnerablity. Plus, it's nice to hear that it was a bi-racial romance in the 70's that was loving.

On the minus side, I agree with Blumoose, it does appear she's proud of this immoral act. Honestly, the rule is if something is ethical/moral, it has to be okay if everyone did this. Can you imagine if everyone cheated on their spouse? There would be no trust in this world, and children would be in these fragmented families bounced back and forth all over the place. I know it wasn't healthy for me, and I'm grateful to have balanced friends to learn some of the lessons I missed.

Sorry, Barbara, you slightly have missed the mark. Glad you divulged, but please, stifle the pride...it's about as bad as an Idol contestant gushing during their critique--not so gracious.
Posted by fair-n-square
May 2, 2008 1:27 PM
Does anybody really care if she had an affair? Nearly 40 years ago?!! Puhleez.
Posted by jtprescott
May 2, 2008 3:18 PM
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