TV's most famous female journalist is retiring this week, so we thought we'd take the opportunity to point out some milestones. Most of what you're about to read is true.
Sept. 25, 1929: Born in Boston. Asks delivery-room nurse what kind of tree she'd like to be.
1961: Joins NBC's "The Today Show" as a researcher. It takes 13 years of being underappreciated before she's named co-anchor.
February 1972: The only female TV reporter to accompany President Richard Nixon on his historic trip to China. Revels in having the ladies' room all to herself.
April 20, 1976: Jumps to ABC News to co-anchor evening news with Harry Reasoner. In exchange, NBC gets Herschel Walker.
April 24, 1976: During the freshman season of "Saturday Night Live," Gilda Radner introduces us to "Baba Wawa," who, strangely enough, never ends up on Walters' Most Fascinating List.
Dec. 14, 1976: Lands Barbra Streisand for the first "Barbara Walters Special." Barbara Eden apparently not available.
June 9, 1977: One-on-one interview with Fidel Castro airs. She somehow manages to get through the wide-ranging talk without smoking a cigar.
