Barbara Walters, the legendary TV journalist, had a deeply troubled relationship with her only daughter Jackie Danforth. Walters admitted her career always came first, leaving Jackie feeling neglected. The famous broadcaster even compared bringing her daughter to work to bringing “a dog who wasn’t housebroken.”

Jackie struggled terribly as a teenager, falling into drugs and running away from home. Walters had to hire a Green Beret to track down her runaway daughter. Their relationship remained broken for decades, with Jackie calling being Walters’ daughter harder than being adopted.

Walters openly confessed her regrets about choosing career over motherhood. She envied friends who had large families and many grandchildren. Though they sometimes pretended to reconcile for the cameras, their bond never truly healed.

This sad story shows what happens when women put ambition before family. Walters died without ever fixing things with Jackie. It’s a powerful warning about the real costs of feminist career obsession. Family should always come first, not last. True fulfillment comes from raising children, not chasing fame.