Meredith Vieira Recalls Leaving '60 Minutes' (VIDEO)

Meredith Vieira experienced a blast from the past on Anderson Cooper's daytime talk show on Tuesday. The former "Today" co-host recalled her controversial departure from "60 Minutes" in 1991.

Cooper, who is a part-time "60 Minutes" correspondent, asked Vieira about her decision to leave CBS' legendary news magazine show. At the time, Vieira had a newborn baby and another child on the way. She left the show after creator Don Hewitt declined her request to continue as a part-time correspondent.

"It was easy to say that I was leaving," Vieira recalled. "I didn't lose any sleep which is the oddest thing cause it's the only job in this business that I ever truly, truly wanted."

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Family has been a top priority for Vieira, who left "Today" earlier this year to spend more time with her husband and children. Back then though, her departure from "60 Minutes" drew fire from critics who said that she was "putting women behind."

Indeed, her departure was a contentious affair that spawned a feud between Vieira and the show. Vieira spoke out about her dismissal, while Don Hewitt charged that "nobody" remembered her stories.

Below, see a vintage clip of Vieira reporting for "60 Minutes." Vieira was interviewing casino magnate Steve Wynn when he casually threatened to strangle her, and later walked off the set.

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Comments

[Dragontech]

04:18 PM on 12/07/2011

She is such a strong and dedicated reported, kudos to her for taking that dedication to her family.

[SecularJoe]

04:07 PM on 12/07/2011

She is toast without butter. Never understood her appeal.

[Stephen Thorpe]

08:39 AM on 12/08/2011

Nah, She's cinnimon raison bread with apple butter and cappucino on the side, with rum. ;-)

[ilovevegas]

12:00 PM on 12/07/2011

Rich people don't like it when they get cornered do they? I have always enjoyed any show Meridith is on.

[ontariogirl]

11:00 AM on 12/07/2011

She is a woman with a big heart. Peace to her and her family.

[ThreeCrows]

10:40 AM on 12/07/2011

And in the un-aired portion of the interview, she also said that Andy Rooney was all hands and a drooling mess..

[Joseph Schmoe]

10:11 AM on 12/07/2011

Hard to take one seriously when she's a game show host.
I'm just sayin'.

[Gilbert Albright]

10:02 AM on 12/07/2011

You don't apply for a FULL TIME job and then when you get it request PART TIME DUTIES!

She knew the rules when she applied for the job. It was selfish for her to expect the rules to be changed just for her personal needs.

The proper thing for her to have done was to resign once her personal situation made it not possible for her to do the job she was hired to do. Instead of crying about not getting what she wanted.and playing the Victim Card.

Every employee has personal needs some can be accomodated and some can't. She isn't the first person they ever turned down a request from. But because she's a women the Feminists and media right away try to portray her as a victim.

[Marvin Hadley Jr]

07:47 PM on 12/06/2011

Who cares very much about these prima donna journalist. Are we supposed to cry because she could not work part time. She was blessed. She was an ok reporter, but later consented to be dumbed down to morning shows. CBS is a great place to work, and she was lucky to be associated with the network.

[WSS61]

12:50 AM on 12/07/2011

Ms. Vieria, is not now nor has she ever been as you have delicately put it, been a "prima donna." What Ms. Vieria is, is this: She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English from Tufts University and began her career in 1975. She gained national recognition as a CBS reporter based in their Chicago bureau from 1982 to 1984. She later became a correspondent for nationwide news-magazine shows including West 57th (1985–89) and 60 Minutes (1989–91). Her final assignment at CBS was as co-anchor of the CBS Morning News (1992–93). She moved to ABC initially as a correspondent for the news-magazine show Turning Point (1993–97). The View and the Today Show followed. This is a smart, talented, and interview savvy individual who has accomplished much in her lifetime.

[Marvin Hadley Jr]

07:17 AM on 12/07/2011

Hey, she is a good reporter, but seems to have some problem w CBS letting her go. For shame. She then chose to be on dreck programs like the View. Weak end to a good career, eh?

[Piglet2]

05:03 PM on 12/06/2011

Gotta love Meredith she is so smart, funny and warm hearted it hard not to like her.

[Joseph Schmoe]

10:12 AM on 12/07/2011

Morning shows on all channels love people like you.

[SecularJoe]

04:09 PM on 12/07/2011

AH! LOL! So true.