Barbara Walters is disclosing a past affair with married U.S. Senator Edward Brooke of Massachusetts, whom she remembers as “exciting” and “brilliant.” Appearing on “The Oprah Winfrey Show," 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 African-American to be popularly elected to the Senate. Both he and Walters knew that public knowledge of their affair could have ruined his career as well as hers, Walters says. Brooke later divorced, and has since been remarried.

Walters is the guest of Oprah Winfrey to discuss her new memoir, “Audition,” which covers her long career in television and her off-camera life. On “Oprah,” Walters recounts a phone call from a friend who urged her to stop seeing Brooke.

Brooke told Walters, "This is going to come out. This is going to ruin your career," then reminded her that he was up for re-election a year later. Walters admits she was "infatuated" with the Massachusetts Senator.