Helen Thomas

Helen Amelia Thomas (August 4, 1920 – July 20, 2013) was an American author and news service reporter. She was a member of the White House press corps and opinion columnist. Thomas was the first female White House press correspondent.  

Thomas was the only female print journalist to travel to China with President Richard Nixon during his historic trip in 1972. She traveled around the world several times with all U.S. Presidents since Richard Nixon. She covered every Economic Summit since 1975. 

Thomas worked 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." 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.

Awards
Thomas 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. 

In 1993, Thomas won the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.
In 1995 she received the Courage in Journalism Award.

In April 2012, Thomas received an award from the Palestine Liberation Organization. The award was presented by Hanan Ashrawi to "recognize Thomas' long career in the field of journalism, during which she defended the Palestinian position every step of the way."

Personal life
Thomas was born on August 4, 1920 in Winchester, Kentucky. She is of Lebanese descent. Thomas was raised in Detroit, Michigan. She studied at Wayne University. Thomas was married to Douglas B. Cornell from 1971 until Cornell's death in 1982. They had no children. Thomas died on July 20, 2013 in Washington, D.C. from natural causes, aged 92.

References

Other websites






 "Truth, Fear and War" , speech by Thomas, September 13, 2003.
 Oral History Interview with Helen Thomas, from the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library 
 Oct. 2010 Interview of Helen Thomas by Scott Spears (WMRN)

Category:1920 births
Category:2013 deaths
Category:American historians
Category:Journalists from Michigan
Category:Writers from Detroit
Category:Journalists from Kentucky