For millions of Americans, Barbara Walters was a pioneering journalist, but for Monica Lewinsky, she was also a source of invaluable advice.
Walters died on Friday at the age of 93, inspiring many tributes from her colleagues in the media.
Her death also inspired Lewinsky to recount the hilarious advice Walters once gave her after her relationship with then-President Bill Clinton turned into a huge scandal in the late 1990s.
Lewinsky tweeted Friday that she first met the veteran reporter in 1998 at the height of Kenneth Starr’s investigation into whether Clinton committed perjury by not admitting under oath to Lewinsky, who had been a White House intern. .
Lewinsky, then 24, told Walters that the scandal was the first time she had been in serious trouble and that she was “basically” a good girl who got good grades, never did drugs or stole.
“WWithout missing a beat, Barbara said, “Monica, steal next time.”
Although the media spotlight eventually faded on Lewinsky, Walters remained in touch with her. They even had lunch together a few years ago, Lewinsky recalled.
“Of Of course, she was charming, witty, and some of her questions were still her interview style,” Lewinsky recalled. “‘So tell me, Monica, how you feel…etc etc.’ He was the first person I ever sat down with for a TV interview…and it will definitely be my most memorable.”
