According to Susan Page, author of "The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters," the late journalist would anticipate Vice President Kamala Harris to engage in more media interviews ahead of the presidential election.
The biographer of the legendary broadcaster Barbara Walters believes that the iconic journalist would expect Vice President Kamala Harris to conduct more interviews before the presidential election.
"I think Barbara Walters would be pursuing her," author Susan Page told Fox News Digital in an interview at the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival.
Barbara Walters Would Expect Kamala Harris to Grant More Interviews, Biographer Says
Page, who is also the Washington bureau chief for USA Today, explained that Walters would have a certain expectation of both nominees during a presidential campaign.
"I think pursuing her with the expectation that part of the job of being president is talking to Americans, and one of the ways you talk to Americans is through the news media," Page said. "She would expect both nominees to be doing interviews with serious journalists during a presidential campaign."
Barbara Walters Would Expect Kamala Harris to Grant More Interviews, Biographer Says
Harris has conducted fewer interviews compared to former President Donald Trump, who has granted several interviews, held multiple press conferences, and participated in a televised town hall with Fox News' Sean Hannity.
Harris has avoided taking questions from the press for nearly 40 days since she emerged as the Democratic nominee. She has only granted one interview with CNN's Dana Bash alongside her running mate Tim Walz, and two radio interviews since then. She has not held a formal press conference.
Barbara Walters Would Expect Kamala Harris to Grant More Interviews, Biographer Says
Page believes that Harris' limited media availability could be a concern, particularly when compared to Trump's active engagement with the press.
"I think Barbara Walters would want to hear from all the candidates, especially the Democratic nominee, about her plans for the country," Page said. "And I think she would be disappointed if she wasn't able to get that interview."
Barbara Walters Would Expect Kamala Harris to Grant More Interviews, Biographer Says
Page's biography of Walters, titled "The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters," delves into the groundbreaking career of one of the most iconic figures in journalism. Walters made history as the first female co-host of NBC's "The Today Show" and later became the highest-paid news anchor when she joined ABC News.
"If you grew up watching Barbara Walters, it wouldn't occur to you that a woman couldn't do big interviews, couldn't interview presidents and prime ministers and despots and murderers, and it also wouldn't occur to you that a woman couldn't make as much money or more than her male colleagues," Page said.
Walters, who died in December 2022 at age 93, served as an inspiration to women in journalism, both in broadcast and print. Page believes that Walters' legacy continues to inspire journalists to push boundaries and advocate for gender equality in the media industry.
"Barbara Walters was a trailblazer, and she paved the way for women in journalism," Page said. "She showed that women can be just as successful as men in this field, and she inspired generations of women to follow in her footsteps."
