Susan Page, "The Rulebreaker - The Life and Times of Barbara Walters"

Susan Page, author of "Rule Breaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters," discusses Walters' career with Ann Compton, highlighting her groundbreaking achievements and personal struggles. Walters' early career was marked by sexism, exemplified by her co-anchor Harry Reasoner's contempt and restrictions placed on her at NBC's Today Show. Page emphasizes Walters' rivalry with Diane Sawyer at ABC, including an incident where Walters circumvented protocol to secure an interview with Bill Clinton. The discussion explores Walters' complex personal life, shaped by her father's financial instability and her own ambition, which led to sacrifices in her marriages and relationships with her daughter. Despite professional success, Page suggests Walters was never truly happy, driven by a constant need for achievement.