The Message that Launched a Career!

Good morning everyone and welcome to the bottom of the news. 

Most of you know about Barbara Walters and her very successful TV broadcasting career.  Today she is the host of 'The View' on daytime television.  But there is a little known fact event that could have prevented her illustrious TV career from happening. 

As the host of ABC’s 20/20, Walters was a fast up and comer in TV land, becoming the very first woman network news anchor and this was after a short stint on a local station.  A few of her local stories attracted national attention and so a network exec decided to give her a shot at the big time.  Unfortunately, many people did not like that move.

Keep in mind for a local TV news person to become a network anchor is like a pro football player making it to the Super Bowl.  And for years network anchor positions were held by men, including such greats as Chet Huntley, David Brinkley, Howard K. Smith and Walter Cronkite.  Most thought Walters could not measure up and they were not happy when she became the first woman anchor.

And there was more.  Walters became the highest paid anchor ever, man or woman, earning over $5 million dollars annually!  Again, instant reactions were negative and media execs were outraged.  One publisher wrote… “No one deserves that kind of money for sitting behind a desk and reading what someone else writes, especially a woman.” 

Another media exec said, “We’ve heard the woman cannot read and it sounds like she talks with a lisp.”  Wow, not fun.  And it wasn't for Walters because there were hundreds of critics who were far more vocal than her supporters.  Many in the TV industry believed the world was not ready for a woman network anchor. 

Walters became depressed, down and felt totally isolated.  She was ready to quit until one night when she received a telegram. The timing was perfect.  It was a one sentence note that said… “Don’t let the bastards get you down!” 

And guess what, it worked.  It gave her the courage to go on.  But the real surprise was who the telegram came from.  Walters would have never guessed that this guy would offer her support, especially since she thought he was one of the world’s biggest male chauvinists on the planet.

Barbara Walters almost quit, until she received a telegram.  And the man who provided that note of encouragement and support was the one and only… John Wayne!  That's right, the Duke, John Wayne.  Walters was forever grateful regarding this little known fact.  It was a moment that launched her career. 

And that my friends is the bottom of the news for this Friday, November 5, 2011.  Have a great weekend!

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