Lecture: Helen Thomas
"I'm not a woman, I'm a reporter," declared Helen Thomas, dean of the White House press corps, in a September 28, 2004 talk at New York's "21" Club. She spoke to members of New York Women in Communications, Inc., a not-for-profit organization of nearly 800 communications professionals that celebrated its 75th anniversary on April 20, 2004. NYWICI strives to help its members advance their careers, and to honor role models such as Thomas.
Thomas, 84, spoke passionately about the newsmedia's responsibility to the public, especially in relationship to politics. For 57 years, she has served as the White House bureau chief and correspondent for United Press International. She also serves as a syndicated columnist for the Hearst family of newspapers. Thomas was the first woman officer of the National Press Club and the first woman officer of the White House Correspondents Association. Patricia O'Connell, the moderator of the event, described Thomas as a woman with lots of "first woman who..." credits in her biography. In 2002, she won the NYWICI's Matrix Award, in recognition of her work in the field of newspaper journalism.
The audience of women listened intently as Thomas stressed the need to ask public officials tough, probing questions. The press should shine a constant spotlight on officials to expose corruption, she said, noting that too many newspapers have fallen asleep on the job. However, she allowed, some "reporters are beginning to come out of their comas." In her opinion, the "press is the only institution in society that can question the president." It should ask tough questions on behalf of the people, who deserve to know the truth, she said.
"Reporters are beginning to come out of their comas"
Thomas also reminisced about presidents from John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush. Although she punctuated some of her stories with the flash of a smile, many of her anecdotes highlighted the tension between the press corps and the White House, which in Thomas's experience often seems to view reporters as a nuisance. She also shared memories of her personal interactions with each president she had covered. "President Ford said that if God had created the world in six days, on the seventh day he could not have rested—he would have had to have explained it to Helen Thomas," Thomas said.
In a role reversal, the audience questioned the veteran reporter during the Q&A session that followed her talk. Audience members wanted to know everything from who was her favorite president (answer: Ronald Reagan) to how she feels about the Iraq war. Afterwards, she shook hands with several women, all apparently excited to meet the woman referred to as "The First Lady of The Press."
RELATED LINKS
- AEI Speakers Bureau, for information about Helen Thomas as a guest speaker.
- New York Women in Communication Inc. official website, including information about membership and future events. http://www.nywici.com