Tracking the presidencies of ten U.S. administrations, Helen Thomas established herself as a permanent fixture within the White House press corps. Spanning a career of over half a century, her trajectory moved from early roles in radio wire services to serving as the chief bureau manager for United Press International, where she redefined the boundaries for women in political journalism.
Formative Years and Education
Born in Winchester, Kentucky, in 1920, Helen Amelia Thomas was raised in Detroit, Michigan. She attended Martin Luther King High School and subsequently enrolled at Wayne State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1942. During her upbringing in Detroit, she encountered societal prejudice as an immigrant's daughter, which shaped her views on ethnic and national identity. She identified with the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch.
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Thomas began her professional life as a copygirl for the Washington Daily News. In 1943, she joined United Press, where her initial work focused on women's topics and celebrity profiles before transitioning to government reporting, including assignments at the Department of Justice. A vocal advocate for gender equality in media, she played a key role in ending the exclusion of women from the National Press Club in 1959 by forcing its doors open for a speech by Nikita Khrushchev.
White House Correspondency
In 1961, Thomas became a White House correspondent, gaining prominence for closing presidential press conferences with her signature phrase, 'Thank you, Mr. President.' Throughout her tenure, she became the first woman to hold several key roles, including president of the White House Correspondents' Association and member of the Gridiron Club. She served as the sole female print journalist to accompany Richard Nixon during his 1972 visit to China and maintained a designated seat in the White House Briefing Room.
Career Conclusion
Thomas resigned from United Press International in 2000 following the organization's acquisition by News World Communications. She subsequently transitioned to Hearst Communications, where she served as a columnist covering national affairs until 2010. Following her departure from Hearst, she contributed to the Falls Church News-Press until 2012. She authored six books during her career and received numerous honors, including the Siena Medal, the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, and the IWMF Lifetime Achievement Award.
Fast facts
- Born: 1920, Winchester, Kentucky
- Died: 2013, Washington, D.C.
- Alma Mater: Wayne State University
- Primary Employer: United Press International
- Notable Membership: White House press corps
- Major Recognition: Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award (2009)
- Burial Site: Forest Lawn Cemetery
Questions readers ask
How many presidents did Helen Thomas cover?
She covered ten U.S. presidents, spanning from the Kennedy administration through the second year of the Obama administration.
Why did Helen Thomas leave Hearst Newspapers in 2010?
She retired following the public backlash resulting from remarks she made regarding Israel during an unstructured, amateur interview.
