>> CATHY: BETTY WILSON, FORMER "STAR TRIBUNE" POLITICAL REPORTER EXTRAORDINAIRE, DIED LATE LAST MONTH AT THE AGE OF 99.

BETTY WAS A PIONEER.

ONE OF THE FIRST FEMALE REPORTERS IN A MALE-DOMINATED SPACE AT THE STATE'S CAPITOL.

THE PIONEERING WILSON IS LEGENDARY FOR HER TENACIOUS COVERAGE OF POLITICIANS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.

AFTER SHE RETIRED, SHE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT FORMER GOVERNOR RUDY PERPICH, WHOM SHE COVERED FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

SHE WAS A FREQUENT GUEST ON "ALMANAC," BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER SHE STOPPED COVERING THE CAPITOL FULL TIME.

SHE SAT DOWN WITH ERIC AND FORMER "ALMANAC" HOST JAN SMABY THE DAY AFTER HER RETIREMENT IN MARCH OF 1991.

HERE'S PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> Eric: WELL, WAS YESTERDAY A DAY OF MIXED EMOTIONS AT THE CAPITOL, NOT BECAUSE ANYTHING GOT ACCOMPLISHED BUT BECAUSE IT WAS A DAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RETIREMENT OF ONE OF THE GREAT TREASURES OF MINNESOTA POLITICAL REPORTING.

IT WAS BETTY WILSON DAY AT THE CAPITOL.

"STAR TRIBUNE" REPORTER BETTY WILSON GOT A NICE CITATION, PLAQUE FROM THE GOVERNOR, PROBABLY BECAUSE POLITICIANS AND OTHERS IN THE STATE WILL MISS HER WRITING ABOUT POLITICIANS.

I DON'T THINK THEY'LL MISS HER PHONE CALLS THAT UCH.

SHE HAS SPENT MORE THAN 20 YEARS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

I SUPPOSE TO YOU IT SEEMS LIKE 50.

BUT IT'S BEEN 20.

ARE YOU A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT?

>> ERIC, HOW CAN YOU ASK THAT?

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: YOU CAN TELL US NOW.

WHAT ARE YOU?

>> I'M JUST A HARDWORKING REPORTER.

>> Eric: YOU DON'T VOTE, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> Eric: WHY NOT?

>> BECAUSE WHEN YOU VOTE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE, AND I JUST ALWAYS FELT LIKE I WAS A LITTLE LESS OBJECTIVE IF I DID THAT.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO RESUME VOTING NOW THAT YOU ARE A QUOTE, UNQUOTE, RETIRED JOURNALIST?

>> I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

>> BETTY WILSON, OF THE THREE OF US AT THIS TABLE, I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO AN CLAIM THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WATCH YOU ON BOTH SIDES OF YOUR REPORTING PEN.

I HAVE SEEN YOU AT WORK, AND I'VE ALSO TRIED TO DODGE YOUR PHONE CALLS, EVEN HIDING UNDER THE DESK, BUT SOMEHOW YOU HAD X-RAY EYES THAT I WAS STILL THERE.

YOU HAVE GAINED THROUGH THE YEARS A REPUTATION AS BEING ONE OF THE MOST DOGGED AND COMPETITIVE JOURNALISTS IN THE BUSINESS.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU SAY THANK YOU.

BUT WHY SO COMPETITIVE?

WHY SO COMPETITIVE?

>> BECAUSE IT'S A COMPETITIVE BUSINESS.

IF YOU DON'T COMPETE, YOU DON'T SURVIVE.

AND ERIC, HE'S A TOUGH COMPETITOR.

YOU KNOW, HE SAYS THESE NICE THINGS ABOUT ME, YOU KNOW.

>> Eric: OH, SHUCKS AND STAB YOU IN THE BACK AT THE AME TIME.

WELL, DID YOU FEEL YOU HAD TO START THAT WAY BECAUSE, I MEAN, BACK WHEN YOU STARTED, WAS GENDER AN ISSUE?

>> OH, SURE.

>> Eric: DID YOU HAVE TO BE TOUGHER?

>> THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT.

JAN, YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS YOURSELF, EVEN HOUGH YOU'RE MUCH YOUNGER, WOMEN HAVE TO WORK HARDER.

>> THANK YOU, BETTY.

[ Laughter ]