Barbara Walters to retire next year

(Photo: FOX News)



(CNN) -- Longtime ABC News personality Barbara Walters will retire in 2014, ABC reported late Sunday.

She is expected to make the announcement Monday on "The View," a daytime talker she created in 1997.

Walters, 83, will remain executive producer of that show.

"I am very happy with my decision and look forward to a wonderful and special year ahead both on 'The View' and with ABC News," she said.

Walters' national broadcast career began in 1961 as a reporter, writer and panel member on NBC's "Today" show.

She was promoted to co-host in 1974, but she was hired away by ABC in 1976.

At ABC, she began "The Barbara Walters Specials" and "10 Most Fascinating People," which has become a regular year-end program.

Walters has interviewed every U.S. president and first lady since Richard and Pat Nixon.

Starting in 1984, she spent two decades as co-host and correspondent for ABC's news magazine show "20/20." She still reports on occasion.

"There's only one Barbara Walters," said ABC News President Ben Sherwood. "And we look forward to making her final year on television as remarkable, path-breaking and news-making as Barbara herself."

Walters, who was born in Boston in 1929, is the daughter of a theater producer.