Walters' male colleagues were quite often outraged and openly critical of her success. Her most outspoken collegue, ABC co-anchor Harry Reasoner, was so patronizing towards her that it was very obvious on camera.

Walters had a slight speech impediment that was famously satirized by Gilda Radner on Saturday Night Life.

In 1979, Walters got her next job as a part-time news correspondent for the news show, 20\20, on ABC. There, she scored a highly anticipated exclusive interview with former President Richard Milhouse Nixon in 1980. It was Nixon's first TV interview since his infamous resignation in 1974. For the next five years, Walters was a regular contributor to 20\20. In 1984, she was promoted to the position of co-host of 20\20, along with her former Today Show partner, Hugh Downs. Downs retired from 20\20 in 1999, and John Miller took his place. John Stossel was next in line.

Late Career

Walters had her contract extended for five more years with ABC News in September, 2000. She became the highest-paid news host in history. Her annual salary was a whopping $12 million. At the age of 73, she quit as co-host of 20\20 in September of 2004. For her final regular appearance on the program, Walters featured a 25-year retrospective her many of her notable interviews, including heads of state, entertainment personalities and other various famous and infamous people of note.

Walters premiered the talk show, The View, in August of 1997. She was the co-executive producer as well as a co-host. The View has had many noteable female co-hosts, including Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O'Donnell, Star Jones, Lisa Ling, Meredith Vieira, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd, Debbie Matenopoulos and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

Walters announced her retirement from television journalism in May, 2013. During her career, she has been honored with many awards including The President's Award in 1988, an induction into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences hall of Fame in 1990, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007, as well as 34 daytime and primetime Emmy Awards. She has received honorary doctoral degrees from Ben-Gurion University in Jerusalem, Hofstra University, Marymount College, Ohio State University, Sarah Lawrence College, Temple University and Wheaton College.