Helen Thomas: "The dean of the Washington, D.C. press corps"

Regarded as the dean of the Washington, D.C., press corps, reporter Helen Thomas (born 1920) served as White House bureau chief for United Press International (UPI) from 1974 to 2000.

To those who regularly watch presidential press conferences, Helen Thomas was a familiar figure. Usually dressed in red (a tradition dating back to the administration of Ronald Reagan) and always seated in the front row, she was invariably the first or second reporter the president calls upon. It is an honor she earned by virtue of her long and distinguished career in Washington, and it was one she relished. Besides, it afforded her the perfect opportunity to do what she does best--bluntly challenge the president (and other public officials) to tell the plain, unvarnished truth. "We (reporters) are not there to curry presidential favor, nor can we respond to efforts at presidential intimidation," she asserted in her memoir, Dateline: White House.

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[1948WOW]

Helen Thomas, you make me prouder to be a woman. Thank YOU so much for asking the questions that should be asked.

I sign my emails to my 4 sons as WOW which is MOM written upside down.

I'm now a GrandWOW of 4.

Thank YOU for all of your questions over the years. You show the true spirit of America, which is the respect and dignity for all.

This Grandma is for Obama!!

[bamboobaby2003]

I want her for prez..........

[TSquared2001]

We need more Helen Thomas', Andrea Mitchel (the reporter not the analyst) and Amy Goodman's in the media.

[hamid495]

@1948WOW

You are proud of Helen, I am proud of you with your kind of mentality. I do not know why I think you are a woman, God bless you whatever. Helen is is the first female journalist with balls. God bless you.

[deceiver123m]

Helen Thomas is a good reporter and she likes to tell it like it is as much as she can. Everyone is well aware of the many powers holding her voice back.

[dicklacock]

@zenithbay They need to pass the torch on to Amy Goodman or Keith Olbermann. SOMEBODY who's not afraid to speak truth to power.

[Kabaraz]

Helen thomas speaks the truth, she only seeks the truth, and I respect that above all.

[Kabaraz]

I LOVE YOU HELEN THOMAS! :)

[unpinoy]

These are the kind of people who should be respected. True wisdom. While many in her generation and even young generations have succumbed to selfish motivations, it is great to know people like Helen Thomas, being one of the few. This gives me reason to be hopeful that good people still exist, no matter how few they are.

[TSquared2001]

It just means that the press needs to get some BALLS to ask TOUGH questions.

[zenithbay]

Long live Ms. Helen thomas........