Barbara Walters Announces Retirement: "I'm Not Walking Into the Sunset"

Barbara Walters was greeted with a standing ovation on The View Monday, in the wake of news that she would be officially announcing her retirement on the program. And Walters wasted no time in doing so, making the announcement over a video retrospective of her career in journalism that highlighted her positions on the Today show, ABC News and 20/20, as well as The View.

"I have been on television continuously for over 50 years," Walters said. "In the summer of 2014 ... I plan to retire from appearing on television at all."

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Walters, who will turn 84 in September, has suffered from some health issues this year. Ahead of the presidential inauguration in January, she fell and bumped her head, and was later diagnosed with chickenpox. But she stressed that her retirement has nothing to do with illness. "I'm perfectly healthy," she insisted. "This is my decision."

"I want to leave when people are saying, 'Why is she leaving?' rather than 'Why won't she leave?'" Walters told her co-hosts.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg also stopped by The View to congratulate Walters on her career and wish her well.

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Walters will continue serving as a co-executive producer on The View, and has not ruled out making future appearances on the show.

"I will come back," she promised. "I'm not walking into the sunset."

Check out the video of Walters' announcement below. Are you sad to see her retire?