Opinion: Barbara Walters: Special memories of a mentor and broadcast legend

The real Barbara Walters entered unexpectedly into my life and contributed to my lifetime education as a journalist and as diplomat and teacher in ways I’ll be forever grateful and never forget. Without her realizing it, she became a mentor as I worked collaboratively with her on a big news interview.

From the moment Barbara Walters in 1976 became the highest paid woman journalist in American broadcast television, the media reports, many based on anonymous accounts, painted an often negative picture of this female newscaster. Walters, the person and public figure, elicited radically opposing views. She represented all women and the plight of successful women everywhere.

My own personal introduction to Barbara happened in a surprising way. It was accompanied by an admonition that I’m glad I disregarded because, thankfully in my case, it proved to be untrue.

That warning came on Thursday morning, June 18, 1981. The two preceding nights our ABC News two-part special on Libya and its leader Col. Qadhafi had aired on "World News Tonight." As the London-based field producer for our Libya story, I’d been brought to New York City to help produce this report.

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Summoned to the ABC News executive conference room in the New York headquarters, I was welcomed by several of ABC’s top brass, all men. We noted the overnight news that Israel had bombed Iraq’s nuclear reactor. I was informed that ABC’s own Barbara Walters that morning had snagged an interview with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to be conducted in person in Baghdad.

Here’s why, one executive began, they’d asked me to meet before I was to return to London. The Libya special was a success, adding they would reward me later. “Today, however, we’re asking you to do us a big favor. We want you to go as Barbara Walters producer to Baghdad.”

“Of course, I would love to work with Barbara Walters,” I exclaimed, thanking my chiefs for this great assignment. “I’ve always wanted to meet her.”

After a pause of group silence, one superior warned, “She eats producers alive.” My nervous grin probably betrayed some alarm.

A few days later, at the airport in Amman, Jordan, I first met Walters when, coming from our different flights, we were boarding our flight to Baghdad. To my amazement, this million-dollar broadcast news star was carrying her own bags in the hot Middle Eastern sun.

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It was even hotter in Baghdad. We had a few days and nights to prepare before the interview. The Iran-Iraq War was also in progress, and electricity cuts meant that often the hotel air conditioning and elevators were not working.

After resting briefly in her suite upon arrival, Barbara called me to come “help” her “craft questions and plan for the interview.” This interview was reportedly to be the Iraqi president’s first on American television.

One of the days while waiting for the interview, we were ordered to visit ancient Babylon and whisked off in a dusty vehicle across the dustier desert. For years to come, that wild, dusty trip at breakneck speed brought back fun memories of a shared Ozymandias moment for Barbara and me every time we met.

Our nights before the interview were spent working together planning and gaming the scenario in every aspect imaginable and “crafting” the questions. How do they flow? How does each question sound? Is it clear? Open-ended enough? Does the order work? I’d already had some years of experience conducting interviews, including some world scoops, but this collaboration with such a pro was incredible. Drafting, reading aloud, editing, laughing, sharing stories about our lives and adventures.

At the interview in his official palace, Iraq’s President Saddam Hussein greeted us with a smile and then formally shook hands with our team. During most of the interview, he kept his facial expression like a mask. Yet, as predicted at a couple of our carefully placed questions, the Iraqi dictator appeared on the verge of halting the interview. Each time Barbara, the journalist, practiced diplomacy, staying calm, speaking politely yet firmly in follow-up questions.

The big ABC News interview by Barbara Walters in Baghdad with Iraq’s Saddam Hussein aired as a prime-time special on ABC TV on June 28, 1981.

Working with Walters in Iraq, I had the most amazing course in interviewing and scripting a major, historic interview. It was a living, experiential education I’ll never forget. Appreciation always to Barbara Walters.

Elizabeth (Liz) Colton, author, diplomat, teacher and Emmy Award winning journalist currently teaches diplomacy and the media worldwide for UNITAR, also at Warren Wilson College.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Barbara Walters: Special memories of a mentor and legendary journalist