New View Of Walters: She Admits Affair With Senator

After three decades of keeping mum, Barbara Walters is disclosing a past affair with married U.S. Sen. Edward Brooke, whom she remembers as "exciting" and "brilliant."

Appearing on an "The Oprah Winfrey Show" episode scheduled to air Tuesday, Walters shares details of her relationship with Brooke that lasted several years in the 1970s, according to a transcript of the show provided to The Associated Press.

A moderate Republican from Massachusetts who took office in 1967, Brooke was the first black to be popularly elected to the Senate. Both he and Walters knew that public knowledge of their affair could have ruined his career and hers, Walters says.

At the time, the twice-divorced Walters was a rising star in TV news and co-host of NBC's "Today" show. Her affair with Brooke, which never before came to light, had ended before he lost his bid for a third term in 1978.

Brooke later divorced, and has since remarried.

Walters is the guest of Oprah Winfrey to discuss her new memoir, "Audition."

Accused Stalker 'Freaked Out' Thurman

Uma Thurman testified Thursday that she was frightened and panicked when her accused stalker sent her a card with a drawing of an open grave, a headstone and a man standing on the edge of a razor blade.

The 38-year-old actress, testifying at the trial of defendant Jack Jordan, said he had tried unsuccessfully to get into her trailer while she was shooting the movie "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" in lower Manhattan's SoHo area in November 2005.

He tried a second time after mingling with some movie extras. When an assistant intervened, Jordan asked him to give Thurman the illustrated card.

"I was completely freaked out," she said of the drawing, which was on a religious confirmation card. "It was almost like a nightmare; it was scary."

Jordan is accused of following and trying to contact Thurman from early 2005 until late last year. He is charged with stalking and aggravated harassment, and faces up to a year in jail if convicted.

Another Lowe Point: Former Nanny Sues

A former nanny has countersued Rob Lowe and his wife for sexual harassment.

The suit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles alleges that Lowe's wife, Sheryl, walked around naked in front of nanny Laura Boyce and made repeated crude comments. It doesn't make any sex allegations against the actor.

Sheryl Lowe's attorney, Lawrence Stein, says the allegations are false.

Boyce also claims she was wrongfully fired and is owed money. She's one of three ex-employees the Lowes sued last month, claiming they spread lies about the couple and broke confidentiality agreements.

One of those sued, former nanny Jessica Gibson, also has countersued, claiming Rob Lowe sexually harassed her.

Today's Birthdays

Singer Engelbert Humperdinck is 72. Singer Lesley Gore is 62. Country singer Larry Gatlin is 60. Singer Lou Gramm of Foreigner is 58. Actress Christine Baranski is 56. Wrestler-actor The Rock is 36.

Source: The Associated Press

CORRECTIONS

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