Elisabeth Hasselbeck Tries to Mend Relationship With Rosie O'Donnell

NEW YORK – Elisabeth Hasselbeck spent Memorial Day weekend trying to patch things up with Rosie O'Donnell after a heated political argument on "The View" last week led O'Donnell to leave the show about a month early.

Hasselbeck said Monday on "The View" she and O'Donnell were "in communication a lot," though she didn't say if they spoke on the phone or just e-mailed. O'Donnell had said before she didn't think she and Hasselbeck would ever speak again.

Hasselbeck says they tackled the hot topic of "the power of forgiveness." She says they have "begun that process" and that enabled them "to move on in a positive way."

Show creator Barbara Walters said she, too, was e-mailing O'Donnell because she says they remain "close friends." She says O'Donnell is welcome back on "The View" at any time.

Earlier, O'Donnell said she might never speak to Hasselbeck again.

In a video entry posted on her blog, O'Donnell said Hasselbeck called after their now-infamous argument and spoke to O'Donnell's partner Kelli. But O'Donnell said she didn't speak to Hasselbeck and "probably won't." She said they exchanged e-mails.

Click here to view the video blog.

O'Donnell quit "The View" after she called Hasselbeck "cowardly" for not defending her when critics said she compared U.S. troops to terrorists.

During the argument, the director used a split screen with O'Donnell on one side and Hasselbeck on the other. She said when she saw the split screen that's when she "knew it was over." She has said it made "The View" look like "The Jerry Springer Show."

ABC announced Friday O'Donnell would not be back on "The View," two days after she and Hasselbeck argued on air.

"We had hoped that Rosie would be with us until the end of her contract three weeks from now, but Rosie has informed us that she would like an early leave. Therefore, we part ways, thank her for her tremendous contribution to 'The View' and wish her well," Brian Frons, the president of Disney-ABC's Daytime Television Group, said in a statement.

After a colorful eight months on the show, punctuated by her feud with Donald Trump and frequent flare-ups with the more conservative Hasselbeck, O'Donnell's contract had been set to terminate on June 22.

"I brought Rosie to the show. Rosie contributed to one of our most exciting and successful years at 'The View.' I am most appreciative. Our close and affectionate relationship will not change," said Walters.

"I'm extremely grateful. It's been an amazing year and I love all three women," O'Donnell said in a statement.

O'Donnell, who lifted ratings for the sagging talk show, said last month she would be leaving because she could not agree to a new contract with ABC executives.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.