Helen Amelia Thomas (1920-2013), was a respected American reporter, political correspondent and author who broke professional and social gender barriers in the field of journalism. In particular she is known for her coverage of ten different Presidential administrations and her role as a premier member of the White House Press Corps for five decades. As a woman reporting at the White House Thomas earned the praise of her colleagues and soon became the first female member of the National Press Club, a member of the White House Correspondents ' Association, and later the Gridiron Club. Thomas also served as president of the Women 's National Press Club (1959-1960), became the first woman promoted to the post of White House bureau chief (1974)
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Raised in Detroit Michigan, Thomas was educated at Wayne State University while working at the Washington Daily News, and received her Bachelor 's degree (B.A.) in English (1942). Following her graduation, Thomas was hired by United Press, later United Press International, as a wire service journalist and began reporting on Washington events and covering federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department of Health, and Education. Thomas ' first Presidential assignment came when she covered President-elect John Kennedy 's (1917-1963, Pres. 1961-1963) family vacation. Soon afterwards Thomas began regularly covering Presidential press briefings and in 1970 was made the official White House correspondent for UPI, making her the first woman to hold that post. Later, in 1971, the National Press Club, admitted female members and made Thomas an officer. Afterwards, in 1974 Thomas became the first woman to become UPI 's White House Bureau Chief, a post she would hold until 2000. In 1975 Thomas also became the first female member of Washington 's press organization, the Gridiron Club which in 1993 she would also become President of. During this period Helen Thomas married her colleague, Douglas B. Cornell (1906-1982, m. 1971-1982), who was also a White House reporter with whom she remained until his …show more content…
Several years later, in 2006, Thomas was one of the first reporters to openly question the public and political rational for the war in Iraq (2003-2011) undertaken by President George W. Bush (1946-, Pres. 2001-2009). Her critiques of the Presidency during this period led her to be criticised by her colleagues and resulted in her being subsequently ignored by both the Bush administration and President Bush himself during future press conferences. In addition to which, during the Bush administration Thomas was moved to the back row as opposed to her iconic placement at the front of the White House Briefing Room. Helen Thomas soon also began critiquing the failure of the media to thoroughly question many of the decisions made by the Bush government. Unfortunately, compounding these difficulties and despite her respectable career at the White House, Thomas ' reputation was tarnished after she made a number of contentious comments regarding Israel and the Middle East. As a result Helen Thomas, after being admonished by the White House Correspondents ' Association and criticized by the White House, retired from Hearst Newspapers in 2010. For a brief period afterwards, from 2011 to 2012, she would continue as a journalist and write a regular column for the
Raised in Detroit Michigan, Thomas was educated at Wayne State University while working at the Washington Daily News, and received her Bachelor 's degree (B.A.) in English (1942). Following her graduation, Thomas was hired by United Press, later United Press International, as a wire service journalist and began reporting on Washington events and covering federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department of Health, and Education. Thomas ' first Presidential assignment came when she covered President-elect John Kennedy 's (1917-1963, Pres. 1961-1963) family vacation. Soon afterwards Thomas began regularly covering Presidential press briefings and in 1970 was made the official White House correspondent for UPI, making her the first woman to hold that post. Later, in 1971, the National Press Club, admitted female members and made Thomas an officer. Afterwards, in 1974 Thomas became the first woman to become UPI 's White House Bureau Chief, a post she would hold until 2000. In 1975 Thomas also became the first female member of Washington 's press organization, the Gridiron Club which in 1993 she would also become President of. During this period Helen Thomas married her colleague, Douglas B. Cornell (1906-1982, m. 1971-1982), who was also a White House reporter with whom she remained until his …show more content…
Several years later, in 2006, Thomas was one of the first reporters to openly question the public and political rational for the war in Iraq (2003-2011) undertaken by President George W. Bush (1946-, Pres. 2001-2009). Her critiques of the Presidency during this period led her to be criticised by her colleagues and resulted in her being subsequently ignored by both the Bush administration and President Bush himself during future press conferences. In addition to which, during the Bush administration Thomas was moved to the back row as opposed to her iconic placement at the front of the White House Briefing Room. Helen Thomas soon also began critiquing the failure of the media to thoroughly question many of the decisions made by the Bush government. Unfortunately, compounding these difficulties and despite her respectable career at the White House, Thomas ' reputation was tarnished after she made a number of contentious comments regarding Israel and the Middle East. As a result Helen Thomas, after being admonished by the White House Correspondents ' Association and criticized by the White House, retired from Hearst Newspapers in 2010. For a brief period afterwards, from 2011 to 2012, she would continue as a journalist and write a regular column for the