Legendary White House Correspondent
Helen Thomas, a Hearst Newspapers columnist, who served for 57 years as a correspondent for United Press International and White House bureau chief, was born in Winchester, Kentucky. She was raised in Detroit, Michigan where she attended public school and later graduated from Wayne State University. Upon leaving college, she served as a copy girl for the old, now defunct Washington Daily News. In 1943, Ms. Thomas joined United Press International and the Washington Press Corps. She left UPI in May 2000 and joined Hearst Corporation as a columnist writing on the White House and other national affairs.
For twelve years Thomas wrote radio news for UPI, her work day beginning at 5:30 AM. Eventually she covered the news of the Federal Government, including Justice, the FBI, HEW, and Capitol Hill.
In November, 1960, Thomas began covering then President-elect John F. Kennedy, following him to the White House in January, 1961 as a member of the UPI team, then headed by the late Merriman Smith. It was during this first White House assignment that Thomas began closing Presidential press conferences with "Thank you, Mr. President," a custom that continued.
In September, 1971, Pat Nixon scooped Thomas by announcing her engagement to Associated Press' retiring White House correspondent, Douglas B. Cornell, at a White House party hosted by then President Nixon in honor of Cornell.
Thomas was the only print journalist traveling with then President Nixon to China during his break-through trip in January 1972. Since then, she went to China with then Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Presidents Ford, Reagan and Bush. She has the distinction of having traveled around the world several times with Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton, during the course of which she covered every Economic Summit.
In a natural follow-up to her national bestseller, Front Row at the White House, the dean of the White House press corps presents a vivid and personal presidential chronicle, Thanks for the Memories, Mr. President. Her newest book, released in June 2006, Watchdogs of Democracy? : The Waning Washington Press Corps and How It Has Failed the Public, is a sure hit. Thomas has covered an unprecedented nine presidential administrations, endearing herself with her trademark "Thank you, Mr. President," at the conclusion of White House press conferences. Thomas has amassed many wonderful tales about her personal interactions with and observations of the presidents and their families.
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Politics, The White House
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