>> reporter: she would become a political commentator for npr and in 1988, she would join abc news. >> we're following two major stories tonight. >> reporter: she would contribute to abc's "this week" and then co-anchor the program with sam donaldson. >> what is your definition of womanizing, sam? >> most women know it when they see it, senator. >> reporter: and through the years, every big political night, cokie was there, too. her interviews with presidents and first ladies. cokie was an author and historian, too, writing more than a half dozen books. so often telling the untold contributions of women in america. and she wrote a book called "we are our mothers' daughters", and she said this not so long ago. >> what has been the best piece of advice someone has given you -- >> listen to your mother. >> well, that worked out well. >> reporter: cokie would win emmys. she was named a living legend by the library of congress. she was cited one of the 50 greatest women in the history of broadcasting.