Thank You, First Lady of the Press

Helen Thomas didn’t expect to be asked to describe what she had eaten for breakfast. Yet Thomas’ editor at the wire service United Press International wanted to know exactly that in 1972.

The only female journalist to accompany President Richard Nixon on his eight-day tour of China, in what was the first opening of the country to Western eyes in 20 years, Thomas’ reports described not only the political occurrences of the visit but detailed elements of a different culture – including the food – for curious readers halfway across the world.

Often referred to as the “First Lady of the Press,” Thomas’ 57 years with UPI in the White House press corps established her as a vital voice that has shaped the culture and climate of 10 presidencies. The 89-year-old journalist visited GW Tuesday night for an event hosted by the School of Media and Public Affairs, GWTV, and WRGW to discuss her newest book, Listen Up, Mr. President: Everything You Always Wanted Your President to Know and Do.

Thomas, who received an honorary doctorate from GW and is a former SMPA Shapiro Fellow, first joined UPI in 1943 and reported on a variety of topics for their radio service before moving to coverage of federal agencies. Thomas began as a White House correspondent following President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1960 and has been there ever since, refusing to leave.

“I was the man who came to dinner,” Thomas said.

The author of five books, Thomas is also credited with establishing the tradition of ending presidential press conferences with a simple, “Thank you, Mr. President.”

Thomas’ coverage of several administrations afforded her the opportunity to closely observe and connect with presidents. From trading witty remarks with favorite President Kennedy to trekking across the south lawn of the White House with President Johnson (an experience female reporters referred to as “The Bataan Death March,” as they struggled to keep moving while their high heels sunk into the grass), Thomas nevertheless did not allow camaraderie to hinder objective reporting. The relationship between the president and the press, Thomas said, should not be founded on friendship.

“There’s no reason they should like us,” she said. “We keep asking them questions.”

Indeed, Thomas’ dogged determination to demand satisfactory answers to often-ignored questions helped to cement her reputation as a reporter willing to approach the toughest issues.

“Helen Thomas has been a pain in the butt to every president she has covered,” said Mike Freedman, director of The GW Global Media Institute in an introduction for the event. “And we are the better for it.”

The first female member of several news organizations, including the National Press Club, Thomas helped to delineate a role for women as professional journalists. Her male colleagues somehow accepted her, she said, and now Thomas believes the field is dominated by females.

Gillean Smith, the daughter of Thomas’ former UPI boss journalist Merriman Smith (who won the Pulitzer Prize for his reporting of the Kennedy assassination), has known Thomas her entire life and remembers admiring Thomas’ sparkling jewelry when she was a child. Smith said she now appreciates and respects Thomas’ role in shaping who was allowed, and encouraged, to participate in the media.

“I admire what you have done for women, for the field of journalism,” Smith said to Thomas during the question-and-answer period.

Thomas continues to be a regular in the White House press room; she now shares her opinions as a columnist for Hearst International. Having been trained to value objective reporting, Thomas admits it was a strange transition to be asked to write about her views. Yet the change was manageable, she said, in part because interest in and compassion for the people has always fueled her reporting.

“I never bowed out of the human race when I became a reporter,” she said. “I never deprived myself of thinking, caring, believing, but it didn’t get into my copy.”

Thomas shared some of those beliefs and cares in her description of the issues facing the Obama administration.  She voiced particular anger in regards to the health care issue, her voice rising as she demanded to know how Capitol Hill “hypocrites” could deny affordable health care to other Americans while they enjoy their own medical benefits.

“I’m very disappointed in the women in Congress,” she said. “They are mothers and grandmothers – to deny children health care? Who are these people?”

Thomas also faulted President Obama for failing to take a harder stance on the issue, noting that his inability to show sufficient backbone may hinder his ability to handle future problems.

“I think his heart’s in the right place,” she said. “He has good convictions, but he lacks courage.”

Audience members appreciated that Thomas’ views avoided exulting a particular party or individual, demonstrating her commitment to her individual perception of truth instead of relying on ideological loyalty to shape her observations.

Self-described Republican Emily Smith ’11 won an autographed copy of Thomas’ new book through a ticket raffle. She appreciated the frankness with which Thomas assessed Obama.

“She was not overtly critical, but she was very honest,” said Smith. “I think she called him out.”

It is something Thomas has been doing for several decades – and will continue to do as long as she can. As long as politicians keep talking, Thomas says she’ll keep listening.

“I think it’s best to know everything,” she said. “Except maybe not where the nuclear weapons are.”