Carole Simpson: Barbara Walters Told Me Not To Run For Congress (VIDEO)

Veteran anchor Carole Simpson revealed on Sunday that she had once considered running for Congress, but Barbara Walters convinced her not to do it.

Speaking on Sunday's "Reliable Sources," Simpson reflected on Walters' legendary career. When asked how Walters influenced her own career, she said that Walters' advice was a determining factor in her decision to stay in journalism instead of running for Congress. Simpson recalled:

I toyed with the idea of moving back to Chicago, my hometown and running for Congress. And I told her, I said, Barbara, I want to be in Congress. And she said, you crazy fool. Why would you do that and be one of 435 people instead of being an anchor on the weekend and reaching millions of people at one time?

She said, forget about that. And I really thought about it and said she's right. She's right.

It was revealed last week that Walters will retire in May 2014. There will be a year of specials paying tribute to the broadcaster, who was the first female co-host of "Today," as well as the evening news. Simpson became Walters' colleague at ABC News in 1982. In 1992, she became the first female and African American presidential debate moderator.