Helen Thomas

Helen Thomas
Helen Thomas 2009.jpg
Helen Thomas in February 2009
Born Helen Thomas
August 4, 1920 (1920-08-04) (age 90)
Winchester, Kentucky, USA
Occupation Author, retired journalist and columnist
Spouse(s) Douglas B. Cornell (1971–82)
Ethnicity Lebanese Arab
Nationality American
Religious belief(s) Greek Orthodox
Years active 1943–2010
Official website

Helen Thomas (born August 4, 1920) is an American author and former news service reporter, member of the White House Press Corps and columnist.[1] She worked for the United Press International (UPI) for 57 years, first as a correspondent, and later as White House bureau chief. She was an opinion columnist for Hearst Newspapers from 2000 to 2010, writing on national affairs and the White House.

Thomas, one of the most notable Arab-Americans of her time,[2][3] covered every President of the United States from the last years of the Eisenhower administration until the second year of the Obama administration. She was the first female officer of the National Press Club, the first female member and president of the White House Correspondents' Association, and the first female member of the Gridiron Club. She has written five books; her latest, with co-author Craig Crawford, is Listen Up, Mr. President: Everything You Always Wanted Your President to Know and Do (2009).

Thomas retired on June 7, 2010, following negative reactions to comments she made that Israel should "get the hell out of Palestine", and the Jews should go back to "Poland, Germany.... and America and everywhere else". [1][4][5][6][7][8]

Contents

Early life

Thomas' parents, George and Mary (née Rowady) Thomas, immigrated to the U.S. from Tripoli, located in northern Lebanon.[9][10][11][12] Her parents could neither read nor write,[9] and her father's surname, which was "Antonious", was anglicized to "Thomas" at Ellis Island.[10] She was born in Winchester, Kentucky,[13] the seventh of nine children but was largely reared in Detroit, Michigan, where her family moved when she was four years old, and where her father ran a grocery store.[14][15][16]

Thomas said "I was very lucky to be born in America.... [My family was] never hyphenated as Arab-Americans. We were American, and I have always rejected the hyphen and I believe all assimilated immigrants should not be designated ethnically."[17] Of growing up in Detroit in the 1920s, she said, "They wanted to make you feel you weren't 'American'... We were called 'garlic eaters'".[16] She was called "foreigner" in Detroit schools, leading to her coming home in tears.[16]

She was raised as a Christian in the Greek Orthodox Church[10]

Thomas attended Wayne University in Detroit, graduating with a bachelor's degree in English in 1942.[18]

Early career

Her first job in journalism was as a copygirl for the now-defunct Washington Daily News, but shortly after she was promoted to cub reporter, she was laid off as part of massive cutbacks at the paper. Thomas joined United Press International in 1943 and reported on women's topics for its radio wire service, earning $24 ($305 in current dollar terms) a week.[19][20] Later in the decade, and in the early fifties, she wrote UPI's "Names in the News" column, for which she interviewed numerous Washington celebrities.[21] After 1955, she covered federal agencies such as the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

Thomas served as president of the Women's National Press Club from 1959–60. In 1959, Thomas and a few of her fellow female journalists forced the National Press Club, then barred to women, to allow them to attend an address by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.

Presidential correspondent

Thomas with Gerald R. Ford and Dick Cheney in 1976

In November 1960, Thomas began covering then President-elect John F. Kennedy, following him to the White House in January 1961 as a UPI correspondent. Thomas became known as the "Sitting Buddha." It was during Kennedy's administration that she ended all presidential press conferences with a signature "Thank you, Mr. President",[22] reviving a tradition started by UPI’s Merriman Smith during the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt.[23]

Throughout her career as a correspondent, Thomas earned a reputation for being relentless and demanding.[24] In an interview with Fidel Castro, USA Today founder Al Neuharth asked the Cuban leader what the difference was between democracy in Cuba and democracy in the United States. Castro replied, "I don't have to answer questions from Helen Thomas."[25]

Thomas was the only female print journalist to travel to China with President Richard Nixon during his historic trip in 1972.[26] (Barbara Walters was a member of the NBC News team that went to the People's Republic of China to cover the visits of President Richard Nixon in 1972.) She traveled around the world several times with all US Presidents since Richard Nixon, and covered every Economic Summit since 1975, working up to the position of UPI's White House Bureau Chief, a post she would hold for over 25 years. While serving as White House Bureau Chief, she authored a regular column for UPI, "Backstairs at the White House",[27] a column begun by Merriman Smith.[28] The column provided an insider's view of various presidential administrations.

Thomas was the only member of the White House Press Corps to have her own seat in the White House Briefing Room. All other seats are assigned to media outlets.

Departure from UPI

On May 17, 2000, the day after it was announced that the UPI had been acquired by News World Communications Inc., an international media conglomerate founded and controlled by Unification Church leader Reverend Sun Myung Moon which owns The Washington Times and other news media, Thomas resigned from the UPI after 57 years with the organization.[29] She later described the change in ownership as "a bridge too far".[30][29] Less than two months later, she joined Hearst Newspapers as an opinion columnist, writing on national affairs and the White House.[31]

After leaving her job as a reporter at the UPI, Thomas became more likely to air her personal, negative views. In a speech at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she quipped, "I censored myself for 50 years when I was a reporter. Now I wake up and ask myself, ‘Who do I hate today?’"[32]

George W. Bush administration

During President George W. Bush's first term, Thomas reacted to then-Press Secretary Ari Fleisher's statements about arms shipments to the terrorists by asking: "Where do the Israelis get their arms?" He responded "There's a difference Helen, and that is --". "What is the difference?", she asked. He responded: "The targeting of innocents through the use of terror, which is a common enemy for Yasir Arafat and for the people of Israel, as well as --". She interrupted him, saying: "Palestinian people are fighting for their land." He responded: "I think that the killing of innocents is a category entirely different. Justifying killing of innocents for land is an argument in support of terrorism."[33]

In January 2003, following a speech at a Society of Professional Journalists banquet, Thomas told an autograph-seeker, "I'm covering the worst president in American history." The autograph-seeker was a sports writer for The Daily Breeze and her comments were published. After that she was not called upon during a press conference for the first time in over four decades. She wrote to the President to apologize.[34]

Traditionally, Thomas sat in the front row and asked the first question during White House press conferences. However, according to Thomas in a 2006 Daily Show interview, this ended because she no longer represented a wire service. During the Bush administration, Thomas was moved to the back row during press conferences; she still sat in the front row during press briefings. She was called upon at briefings on a daily basis but no longer ended Presidential news conferences saying, "Thank you, Mr. President." When asked why she was seated in the back row, she said, "they didn’t like me...I ask too mean questions."[35]

Thomas in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room half an hour before morning gaggle, 2007

On March 21, 2006, Thomas was called upon directly by President Bush for the first time in three years. Thomas asked Bush about the War in Iraq:

I'd like to ask you, Mr. President, your decision to invade Iraq has caused the deaths of thousands of Americans and Iraqis, wounds of Americans and Iraqis for a lifetime. Every reason given, publicly at least, has turned out not to be true. My question is: Why did you really want to go to war? From the moment you stepped into the White House, from your Cabinet...your Cabinet officers, intelligence people, and so forth...what was your real reason? You have said it wasn't oil...quest for oil, it hasn't been Israel, or anything else. What was it?

Bush responded by discussing the War on Terror, and stated as a reason for the invasion that Saddam Hussein chose to deny inspectors and not to disclose required information.[36] Thomas was criticized by some commentators for her exchange with Bush.[37]

In July 2006, she told The Hill, "The day Dick Cheney is going to run for president, I'll kill myself. All we need is another liar... I think he'd like to run, but it would be a sad day for the country if he does."[38]

At the July 18, 2006, White House press briefing, Thomas remarked, "The United States ... could have stopped the bombardment of Lebanon. We have that much control with the Israelis... we have gone for collective punishment against all of Lebanon and Palestine." Press Secretary Tony Snow responded, "Thank you for the Hezbollah view."[39] Other members of the press weighed in. According to Washington Post television critic Tom Shales, questions like the one above have sounded more like "tirades" and "anti-Israeli rhetoric."[40] However, Greg Mitchell of Editor & Publisher described Shales' attack as "disturbing".[41]

In a press conference on November 30, 2007, Thomas questioned White House Press Secretary Dana Perino as to why Americans should depend on General David Petraeus in determining when to re-deploy U.S troops from Iraq. Perino began to answer when Thomas interjected with "You mean how many more people we kill?" Perino immediately took offense, responding,

Helen, I find it really unfortunate that you use your front row position, bestowed upon you by your colleagues, to make such statements. This is a...it is an honor and a privilege to be in the briefing room, and to suggest that we, the United States, are killing innocent people is just absurd and very offensive.[42]

A December 4, 2007, CNN report by Jeanne Moos showed video of a seating chart of reporters covering a press conference given by President Bush concerning reports of Iran not having pursued nuclear weapons since 2003. The spot for Thomas was crossed out with an X and she was never called upon.[43]

Obama administration

President Barack Obama presenting Thomas cupcakes on her 89th birthday[44]

On February 9, 2009, Thomas was present in the front row for newly elected President Obama's first news conference. President Obama called on her with the statement "Helen. I'm excited, this is my inaugural moment",[45] seemingly a reference to her long-term presence in the White House Press Corps.[46] Thomas asked if any Middle Eastern country possessed nuclear weapons. Obama replied that he didn't want to "speculate" on the matter.

On July 1, 2009, Thomas commented on the Obama administration's handling of the press, "we have had some control but not this control. I mean I'm amazed, I'm amazed at you people who call for openness and transparency and you have controlled...".[47][48][49] She also said that not even Richard Nixon tried to control the press as much as President Obama.[50]

On August 4, 2009, Thomas celebrated her 89th birthday. President Obama, whose birthday is also August 4, presented Thomas with birthday cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday to her before that day's press conference.[51]

Controversy and resignation

Comments on Israel and Jews

Thomas retired abruptly on June 7, 2010, following negative reaction to comments she had made about Israel, Jews, and Palestine during a brief interview with Rabbi David Nesenoff of RabbiLive.com.[1][4][5][6][7][8] Nesenoff was on the White House grounds for an American Jewish Heritage Celebration Day, and he questioned Thomas as she was leaving the White House via the North Lawn driveway:[7][52][53][54]

Nesenoff: Any comments on Israel? We're asking everybody today, any comments on Israel?

Thomas: Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine.

Nesenoff: Oooh. Any better comments on Israel?

Thomas: Remember, these people are occupied and it's their land. It's not German, it's not Poland ...

Nesenoff: So where should they go, what should they do?

Thomas: They go home.

Nesenoff: Where's the home?

Thomas: Poland. Germany.

Nesenoff: So you're saying the Jews go back to Poland and Germany?

Thomas: And America and everywhere else. Why push people out of there who have lived there for centuries? See?

—May 27, 2010, RabbiLive.com [7]

A one-minute excerpt of the May 27, 2010 interview was posted on Rabbi Nesenoff's site on June 3, 2010. On June 4, Thomas issued a statement on her personal web site:

I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon.[55][56][57]

Repercussions

Thomas's agency, Nine Speakers, Inc., dropped her as a client because of her remarks.[58][59] Craig Crawford, who co-authored Listen up, Mr. President, said "I ... will no longer be working with Helen on our book projects.”[60] Her scheduled delivery of a commencement speech at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland, was canceled by the school.[61] The White House Correspondents' Association, over which she once presided, issued a statement calling her remarks "indefensible".[62] On June 7, Thomas abruptly tendered her resignation from Hearst Newspapers.[63]

On June 8, in an interview on NBC's Today Show, President Obama called her remarks "offensive" and "out of line", and said her retirement was "the right decision". He remarked that it was a "shame" her celebrated career had to end in such controversy, and at the same time he recognized her long service covering U.S. presidents, calling her "a real institution in Washington."[64] Her comments also garnered rebukes from numerous others, including White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, former special counsel to and White House spokesman for President Bill Clinton, Lanny Davis, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, and Hoover Institution senior fellow Victor Davis Hanson.[65][66] [67][55]

The President of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), Kevin Smith, said Thomas’s comments were “offensive” and “inexcusable."[4] Her alma mater, Wayne State University strongly condemned what it called her "wholly inappropriate comments."[4]

Thomas' defenders came up with several arguments designed to either defend her comments or put them into what they felt was a proper context. These arguments included the belief that Thomas' "get the hell out of Palestine" remark only referred to Israelis who had moved into the West Bank, even though she did not state or imply this in either her initial comments or subsequent apology (Former United States Representative Paul Findley said Thomas' comments plainly concerned settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories but had been twisted out of context: "She made no reference to Jews in pre-1967 Israel, where all Jews can lawfully reside."[68]), that she was completely correct and should not have felt any reprecussions (Hezbollah called Thomas' comments "courageous, bold, honest and free opinion," while Hamas said she had "told the truth."[69][70]), or that her comments could not be explained away but should not erase what she had achieved in her memorable career (Sam Donaldson, another former White House correspondent, praised Thomas' achievements as an early woman journalist, and said her comments likely reflected the view of many people of Arab descent.[71]

After Thomas' resignation, a front row seat at White House briefings was awarded to Fox News.[72]

In August 2010, a group of Holocaust survivors and relatives criticized the Arab American National Museum of Dearborn, Michigan for its plans to place a statue of Helen Thomas in its museum, saying that it would be immoral to honor her and that "American values are at stake."[73][74]

Awards

Thomas has received numerous awards and more than 30 honorary degrees. In 1976, Thomas was named one of the World Almanac's 25 Most Influential Women in America.[75]

In 1986 she received the William Allen White Foundation Award for Journalistic Merit from the University of Kansas.[22] Thomas received an Al Neuharth Award for Excellence in the Media from the Freedom Forum in 1991. The White House Correspondent's Association honored her in 1998 by establishing the Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2000, her alma mater, Wayne State University, established an award for journalists in her honor, the Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity award.[76] In 2007, Thomas received a Foremother Award from the National Research Center for Women & Families.

Bibliography

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 JTA staff (June 7, 2010). "Helen Thomas quits". Washington DC: Jewish Telegraphic Agency. http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/06/07/2739488/helen-thomas-quits. Retrieved June 11, 2010. 
  2. ↑ Marilyn D. Anderson (January 2006). "Arab Americans (World Almanac Library of American Immigration)". World Almanac Library. p. 44. http://books.google.com/books?id=E103mxJ2820C&pg=PA44&dq=%22Helen+Thomas%22+arab&hl=en&ei=np0dTMy7MsH78AbD3-HGDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEwQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=%22Helen%20Thomas%22%20&f=false. Retrieved August 6, 2010. 
  3. ↑ Randa A. Kayyali (December 2005). "The Arab Americans". Greenwood Publishing Group. http://books.google.com/books?id=w2rc0RI7EqYC&pg=PA157&dq=%22Helen+Thomas%22+arab&hl=en&ei=np0dTMy7MsH78AbD3-HGDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22Helen%20Thomas%22%20&f=false. Retrieved August 6, 2010. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Judson Berger (June 10, 2010). "Groups Consider Renaming 'Helen Thomas' Awards". FOX News. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/10/groups-consider-renaming-helen-thomas-awards-controversy/?test=latestnews. Retrieved June 17, 2010. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Timothy Bolger (June 16, 2010). "L.I. Rabbi Faces Blowback for Helen Thomas Expose". Long Island Press. http://www.longislandpress.com/2010/06/16/l-i-rabbi-faces-blowback-for-helen-thomas-expose/. Retrieved June 17, 2010. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sam Youngman; Emily Goodin (June 7, 2010). "Helen Thomas quits after Israel remarks". The Hill. Archived from the original on June 11, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5qPIVDRlZ. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 , Rabbi David Nesenoff; Helen Thomas. (posted June 7, 2010, recorded May 27, 2010). Helen Thomas, Complete Version, (2 minutes). [video]. Washington D.C.: RabbiLive.com. http://www.rabbilive.com/RabbiLIVE/Helen.html. Retrieved June 17, 2010. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 BBC News staff (June 7, 2010). "US reporter Helen Thomas quits over Israel comments". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10259646.stm. Retrieved June 7, 2010. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Elders with Andrew Denton – episode 4: Helen Thomas". Abc.net.au. July 7, 2008. http://www.abc.net.au/tv/elders/transcripts/s2721488.htm. Retrieved June 17, 2010. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Helen Thomas (May 3, 2000). Front Row At The White House: My Life And Times (link to Ch. 1). Simon & Shuster. http://www.northshire.com/siteinfo/bookinfo.php?isbn=9780684868097&item=0. Retrieved June 11, 2010. 
  11. ↑ Contemporary Heroes and Heroines. Vol. 3. Gale Research, 1998; Encyclopedia of World Biography Supplement, Vol. 19. Gale Group, 1999; Current Biography, H.W. Wilson Co., 1993.
  12. ↑ Helen Thomas (1975). Dateline: White House. Macmillan. ISBN 0026176203. 
  13. ↑ "Helen Thomas, Consumer Advocate". National Press Club speech. NPR. July 13, 2000. http://www.npr.org/programs/npc/2000/000713.hthomas.html. Retrieved June 11, 2010. 
  14. ↑ From staff and wire reports (June 7, 2010). "Famed Winchester native, Helen Thomas, retires amid controversy". WinchesterSun.com. http://www.winchestersun.com/stories/2010/06/07/loc.931294.sto. Retrieved June 20, 2010. 
  15. ↑ Encyclopedia Britannica staff. "Helen Thomas (American journalist)". Britannica Online Encyclopedia. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/592820/Helen-Thomas. Retrieved June 20, 2010. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Gregory Orfalea (November 2005). The Arab Americans: a history. Interlink Pub Group Inc. ISBN 1566565979. http://books.google.com/?id=FuhpfUECtRcC&printsec=frontcover&q. Retrieved June 20, 2010. 
  17. ↑ Hugh Downs (September 3, 2002). My America: what my country means to me by 150 Americans from all walks of life. Simon & Shuster. ISBN 9780743233699. http://books.google.com/?id=h4qpzo7yNxEC&pg=PA238&dq=tripoli+%22helen+thomas%22&q=tripoli%20%22helen%20thomas%22. 
  18. ↑ Reuters staff (May 16, 2000). "Helen Thomas Quits UPI". Reuters. CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/05/16/national/main196040.shtml. Retrieved June 11, 2010. 
  19. ↑ BBC staff (May 16, 2000). "Veteran journalist quits White House". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/751363.stm. Retrieved June 7, 2010. 
  20. ↑ Kayyali (December 2005). "The Arab Americans". Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 157. http://books.google.com/books?id=w2rc0RI7EqYC&pg=PA157&dq=%22Helen+Thomas%22+%22winchester%22+1920&hl=en&ei=pZkdTJ_5GMGqlAehxJTrDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CFoQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=%22Helen%20Thomas%22%20%22winchester%22%201920&f=false. Retrieved August 6, 2010. 
  21. ↑ Thomas, Helen. Dateline: White House. Macmillan, 1975, page xiii.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Pittsburgh Press staff (June 24, 1985). "Helen Thomas honored". The Pittsburgh Press: p. A2. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U4McAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UWIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5835,5656080&dq=helen-thomas+thank-you-mr-president&hl=en. Retrieved June 12, 2010. 
  23. ↑ Mike Allen (February 20, 2007). "Helen Thomas Moving Back After 46 Years Down Front". Politico. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2847.html. Retrieved June 12, 2010. 
  24. ↑ Jimmy Orr (August 16, 2008). "Helen Thomas featured on HBO special". 'Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2008/0816/helen-thomas-featured-on-hbo-special. Retrieved June 11, 2010. 
  25. ↑ "NOW with Bill Moyers" (Transcript). PBS. January 16, 2004. http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript303_full.html. Retrieved June 11, 2010. 
  26. ↑ UPI staff (February 8, 1972). "Nixon's China Trip Journalists Chosen". UPI. The Pittsburgh Press. p. 8. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZvcbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qFMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5872,2624976&dq=helen-thomas+nixon+china&hl=en. Retrieved June 11, 2010. 
  27. ↑ Helen Thomas (March 11, 1980). "Backstairs At The White House". Nashua Telegraph (New Hampshire). UPI: p. 7. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=t58rAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PPwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6171,1845216&dq=backstairs-at-the-white-house+helen-thomas&hl=en. Retrieved June 11, 2010. 
  28. ↑ Merriman Smith (February 17, 1954). "Backstairs At The White House". The Times-News (Hendersonville, NC). United Press: p. 2. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TAMaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gSMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5290,1927066&dq=backstairs-at-the-white-house+thomas&hl=en. Retrieved June 11, 2010. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Stout, David (May 17, 2000). "Helen Thomas, Washington Fixture, Resigns as U.P.I. Reporter". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/17/us/helen-thomas-washington-fixture-resigns-as-upi-reporter.html?pagewanted=1. Retrieved March 7, 2008. 
  30. ↑ Greg Winter (July 10, 2000). "Helen Thomas Is Back as a Columnist With Hearst". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0DE2D91538F933A25754C0A9669C8B63. Retrieved April 15, 2008. 
  31. ↑ AP staff (July 6, 2000). "Helen Thomas joins Hearst as a columnist". Associated Press. The Free-Lance Star (Fredericksburg, VA). http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iDIzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QwgGAAAAIBAJ&pg=4944,1288668&dq=helen-thomas&hl=en. Retrieved June 12, 2010. 
  32. ↑ Susan Stewart (August 17, 2008). "Just a Few More Questions, Ms. Thomas". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/18/arts/television/18hele.html?ref=arts. Retrieved June 12, 2010. 
  33. ↑ Ari Fleisher (March 1, 2005). "Taking Heat: The President, The Press And My Years In The White House". Harper Collins. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZZV7BY-sFbIC&dq=israel+%22Helen+Thomas%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s. Retrieved June 16, 2010. 
  34. ↑ Ann McFeatters (Summer 2006). "Thank 'You', Ms. Thomas". Ms. Magazine. http://www.msmagazine.com/summer2006/thankyoumsthomas.asp. Retrieved June 12, 2010. 
  35. ↑ "Five Minutes With: Helen Thomas" (Interview). Campus Progress (Center for American Progress). February 28, 2006. http://www.campusprogress.org/features/779/five-minutes-with-helen-thomas. Retrieved June 12, 2010. 
  36. ↑ "Press Conference of the President". The White House. March 21, 2006. http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060321-4.html. Retrieved June 12, 2010. 
  37. ↑ Julie Millican (March 27, 2006). "O'Reilly, others smear veteran journalist Helen Thomas over exchange with Bush". Media Matters. http://mediamatters.org/items/200603270001. Retrieved June 12, 2010. 
  38. ↑ Albert Eisele (July 28, 2006). "Reporter: Cheney's Not Presidential Material". The Hill. http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/UndertheDome/072805.html. 
  39. ↑ Lynn Sweet (July 18, 2006). "Tony Snow: On Lebanon-Not calling for cease fire if it leaves status quo intact". Lynn Sweet: The scoop from Washington (Chicago Sun-Times). http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2006/07/tony_snow_on_lebanonnot_callin.html. Retrieved June 12, 2010. 
  40. ↑ Tom Shales (August 18, 2008). "A Story With a Few Holes: Portrait of Helen Thomas Obscures Flaws". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/17/AR2008081702454.html. Retrieved June 12, 2010. 
  41. ↑ Greg Mitchell, "Tom Shales Hits Helen Thomas -- Way Out of Line?", Editor & Publisher, August 18, 2008
  42. ↑ White House Office of the Press Secretary (November 30, 2007). "Press Briefing by Dana Perino and Mark Dybul, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator". The White House. http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/11/20071130-5.html. Retrieved June 12, 2008. 
  43. ↑ Moos, Jeanne (December 4, 2007). "Presidential press follies". CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/offbeat/2007/12/04/moos.president.press.follies.cnn. Retrieved November 13, 2008. 
  44. ↑ Cook, Dave.; Orr, Jimmy.Obama shares a birthday and a smooch with Helen Thomas. Christian Science Monitor. August 4, 2009.
  45. ↑ NBC News, February 9, 2009
  46. ↑ Jeff Zeleny (February 10, 2009). "New Media Breaks in, but Tradition Lives On". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/us/politics/10media.html. 
  47. ↑ "White House Reporters Grill Gibbs Over ‘Prepackaged’ Questions for Obama". CSPAN-2. July 1, 2009. http://www.breitbart.tv/white-house-reporters-grill-gibbs-over-selected-questions-for-obama/. Retrieved July 2, 2009. 
  48. ↑ Kim LaCapria (July 2, 2009). "Helen Thomas calls Obama administration out on social media smokescreen". The Inquisitr (Nichenet Pty Ltd). http://www.inquisitr.com/28013/helen-thomas-calls-obama-administration-out-on-social-media-smokescreen/. Retrieved August 9, 2009. 
  49. ↑ Daniela Sicuranza; Stephen Clark (July 1, 2009). "White House Disputes Criticism That Health Care Town Hall Meeting Is Staged". FOX News. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/01/white-house-disputes-criticism-town-hall-meeting-staged/. Retrieved August 9, 2009. 
  50. ↑ Penny Starr; Fred Lucas (July 1, 2009). "Helen Thomas: Not Even Nixon Tried to Control the Media Like Obama". Cybercast News Service. http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=50445. Retrieved August 9, 2009. 
  51. ↑ Mark Silva (August 4, 2009). "Obama Celebrates two birthdays – his and Helen Thomas’". The Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-birthday5-2009aug05,0,6598638.story. Retrieved August 4, 2009. 
  52. ↑ Jon Ward (June 13, 2010). "Why we'll miss Helen Thomas". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/11/AR2010061105355.html. Retrieved June 14, 2010. 
  53. ↑ Sam Stein (June 4, 2010). "Ari Fleischer: Fire Helen Thomas". The Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/04/ari-fleischer-fire-helen-thomas_n_601565.html. Retrieved June 5, 2010. 
  54. ↑ Amy Goodman (June 8, 2010). "Veteran White House Reporter Helen Thomas Retires After Israel Remarks" (Transcript). Headlines (Democracy Now!). http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/8/veteran_white_house_reporter_helen_thomas. 
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 "Ex-Spokesmen Lead Charge for White House Reporter Helen Thomas to Be Fired". Fox News. June 6, 2010. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/06/ari-fleischer-helen-thomas-fired/. Retrieved June 6, 2010. 
  56. ↑ Natasha Mozgovaya (June 5, 2010). "Jews should leave Palestine and return to Europe, top U.S. journalist says". Haaretz. http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/jews-should-leave-palestine-and-return-to-europe-top-u-s-journalist-says-1.294284/. Retrieved June 12, 2010. 
  57. ↑ Helen Thomas (June 4, 2010). "Helen Thomas". http://helenthomas.org/. Retrieved June 4, 2010. 
  58. ↑ Patrick Gavin (June 6, 2010). "Thomas gets dropped by agency". Politico. http://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/0610/Thomas_gets_dropped_by_agency.html. Retrieved June 12, 2010. 
  59. ↑ Kristina Wong (June 6, 2010). "Columnist Draws Fire for Telling Jews 'Go Home'". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/hearst-columnist-helen-thomas-fire-telling-jews-back/story?id=10842149. Retrieved June 12, 2010. 
  60. ↑ Martina Stewart (June 6, 2010). "Helen Thomas under fire for saying Jews in Israel should go back to Germany, Poland". CNN. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/06/helen-thomas-under-fire-for-saying-jews-in-israel-should-go-back-to-germany-poland/. Retrieved June 7, 2010. 
  61. ↑ Martin Weil (June 7, 2010). "Helen Thomas agrees to bow out as commencement speaker at Walt Whitman High". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/06/AR2010060604269_pf.html. 
  62. ↑ "Statement issued by the board of the White House Correspondents' Association". June 7, 2010. http://www.whca.net/blogs.htm. 
  63. ↑ Reuters (April 7, 2010). "Groups Consider Renaming 'Helen Thomas' Awards". FOX News. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/10/groups-consider-renaming-helen-thomas-awards-controversy/?test=latestnews. Retrieved June 17, 2010. 
  64. ↑ Mimi Hall (June 8, 2010). "Obama calls Helen Thomas' comments "offensive"". USA Today. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/06/obama-calls-helen-thomas-comments-offensive/1. Retrieved June 12, 2010. 
  65. ↑ Patrick Gavin (June 7, 2010). "Gibbs rebukes Thomas". Politico. http://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/0610/Gibbs_rebukes_Thomas.html?showall. 
  66. ↑ Times, Arkansas (June 17, 2010). "Smart Talk,". Arkansas Times. http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/smart-talk-june-17/Content?oid=1205627. Retrieved June 17, 2010. 
  67. ↑ Victor Davis Hanson. "Helen Thomas, Turkey, and the Liberation of Israel". National Review. http://article.nationalreview.com/436085/helen-thomas-turkey-and-the-liberation-of-israel/victor-davis-hanson. Retrieved June 17, 2010. 
  68. ↑ Findley, Paul (7 June 2010). "Paul Findley on Helen Thomas". The State Journal Register. http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x1332188316/Paul-Findley-Helen-Thomas-was-quoted-out-of-context. 
  69. ↑ James Taranto (June 7, 2010). "Helen Thomas and Peter Beinart". Opinion (The Wall Street Journal). http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704002104575291341382226952.html. Retrieved August 6, 2010. 
  70. ↑ AFP staff reporter (June 9, 2010). "Hezbollah lauds Helen Thomas: Lebanese group stands by disgraced White House correspondent; praises criticism of 'racist' Israel". AFP. YNetNews. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3902922,00.html. Retrieved June 17, 2010. 
  71. ↑ Howard Kurtz (June 6, 2010). "Helen Thomas never shied from piping up. In the end, that was the problem". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/07/AR2010060701493.html. Retrieved July 26, 2010. 
  72. ↑ Elise Viebeck (August 1, 2010). "Fox News to move to front-row White House briefing-room seat". The Hill. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/112079-fox-news-to-move-to-front-row-briefing-room-seat. Retrieved August 5, 2010. 
  73. ↑ Niraj Warikoo (August 6, 2010). "Holocaust survivors condemn tribute to newswoman, call proposed honor immoral". The Detroit Free Press. http://www.freep.com/article/20100806/NEWS05/8060364/Holocaust-survivors-condemn-tribute-to-newswoman-call-proposed-honor-immoral. Retrieved August 6, 2010. 
  74. ↑ David Ng (August 6, 2010). "Journalist Helen Thomas still making waves". Art (Los Angeles Times). http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/08/journalist-helen-thomas-still-making-waves.html. Retrieved August 7, 2010. 
  75. ↑ 25 Most Influential Women [1976.] World Almanac.
  76. ↑ AP reporter (June 9, 2010). "Wayne State to keep award named for Helen Thomas". Associated Press. Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-helenthomas-detro,0,5962872.story. Retrieved June 9, 2010. 

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