Barbara Walters Affair: The Truth About Senator Edward Brooke

Barbara Walters kept a quiet secret for more than thirty years before revealing her high-profile affair with married U.S. Senator Edward Brooke. The relationship began in 1973, during an era when female journalists faced immense professional vulnerability if their personal lives triggered media scandals. Walters detailed the romance in her 2008 memoir, Audition, shedding light on a hidden chapter that nearly derailed two major careers.

The tryst unfolded while Walters was cementing her status as a pioneering force in television broadcasting. Edward Brooke, a Republican senator from Massachusetts and the first African American popularly elected to the United States Senate, was married at the time. Their multi-year romance required intense secrecy, constant navigation of political circles, and a difficult eventual breakup driven by career preservation.

How the Relationship Began

Walters and Brooke crossed paths in Washington, D.C., during a period when political access and media presence frequently intertwined. In her memoir, Walters described Brooke as attractive, witty, charming, and charismatic. What started as professional contact evolved into a serious romantic attachment.

At the time, Walters was divorced from her second husband, theater producer Lee Guber, and single-handedly balancing a demanding media career with raising her adopted daughter, Jacqueline. Brooke was navigating the intense spotlight of national politics. Because Brooke was married, the relationship had to remain entirely out of the public eye. They met in private residences, avoided public venues, and relied on discretion to prevent reporters from discovering the connection.

The Pressure to Keep Secrets

Maintaining a secret relationship in the public eye required exhausting vigilance. Walters faced unique professional risks as a trailblazing woman in a male-dominated news industry. Television networks in the 1970s held female anchors to rigid moral and behavioral standards, and a scandal involving a married politician could easily destroy her credibility and employment.

Brooke faced equal, if not greater, political peril. As a prominent Black Republican senator during the civil rights and post-civil rights eras, any marital scandal risked immediate weaponization by political opponents. Despite these stakes, the couple continued their involvement for several years, driven by strong personal bonds that outweighed the evident risks.

Why the Affair Ended

The turning point arrived when outside pressures threatened to expose the relationship. According to Walters, a friend warned her that the affair was about to become public knowledge. The warning carried a stark message: the exposure would devastate Brooke's political career and severely damage Walters' standing as a serious journalist.

Recognizing the unsustainable nature of their secret life, Walters and Brooke made the painful decision to end the romance. Brooke eventually sought a divorce from his wife, but by that point, the momentum of their relationship had broken. Walters later noted that while parting ways brought initial heartbreak, it also brought a profound sense of relief from the anxiety of hiding.

The Revelation Decades Later

For decades, rumors circulated about various figures in Walters' personal life, but she kept the specifics of her relationship with Brooke private. When she published Audition in 2008, the public disclosure surprised many readers who viewed Walters strictly through her professional lens as an interviewer of world leaders.

During her promotional tour for the book, including an interview on [The Oprah Winfrey Show] (archived via the Associated Press), Walters spoke candidly about why she chose to reveal the affair. She explained that enough time had passed, and the relationship was an authentic part of her complex life story—a story she wanted to tell on her own terms rather than leaving it to posthumous speculation.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the affair between Barbara Walters and Edward Brooke take place?

The relationship began in 1973 and lasted for several years during the 1970s before coming to an end.

Was Edward Brooke married during the relationship?

Yes, Brooke was married during the entirety of their affair, though he later pursued a divorce after the romance with Walters had concluded.

Why did Barbara Walters wait so long to reveal the relationship?

Walters protected her privacy and professional reputation while active in broadcasting. She waited until the publication of her 2008 memoir, Audition, to share details about this period of her life.

Did Barbara Walters marry any of her romantic partners?

Walters was married three times to three different men: Robert Henry Katz, Lee Guber, and Merv Adelson. She never remarried after her final divorce from Adelson in 1992.