EOTO: Helen Thomas

 Helen Thomas was a pioneer for women journalist all across the world. Her career spanned over sixty years, with thirty of those spent sitting front row at White House press conferences.

You can not write about Helen Thomas without discussing her tough questions which no president was sparred from.

That being said before getting into her later career lets take a trip down memory lane in terms of Thomas's life.

Thomas first developed a love for journalism in high school finding that it helped fulfill her deeply curious nature. She took that love with her to Wayne State University where she graduated with a bachelors degree in English. While attending the University Thomas worked for the school paper which exposed her to real journalistic writing and furthered her love for the profession. 

In 1943 she joined the United Press and began completing regular assignments with them.

In 1961 Thomas became a White House Correspondent where she spent the next 30 years sitting front row firing off questions with no remorse. 

The press security for President Clinton even said "She has single-handedly gotten under the skin of every president since JFK". 

All nine presidents that saw themselves being grilled by Thomas had differing relationships with the firecracker journalist. 

Nixon for example invited Thomas on his historic trip to China, making her the only female journalist on the trip.

 This close relationship allowed for Thomas to get insider information to write incredible expose pieces on the Watergate scandal.

Her relationships were not always good with the current presidents. She had a incredible distain for President George H.W. Bush,  one time even saying he was "The worst president in American history."

President Bush was almost scared of the "First Lady of Press", he had her moved from her iconic front row seat to one further in the back.

The day Bush did finally call on Thomas she was ready. She quickly challenged Bush's decision to declared war in Iraq and did not back down even when staring down the most powerful man in America. 

Having worked with presidents for decades Thomas had an obvious respect for the office but said, “I respect the office of the presidency, but I never worship at the shrines of our public servants. They owe us the truth.”

These feelings she had towards the presidents was a huge reason why she asked such challenging questions. She knew that the American people deserved the truth and the only way to get it is to be straight forward with your questions and to not idolize these public figures because then you will not be willing to ask the hard questions that are needed.

This strong willed nature Thomas had helped pave the way to her being a woman of firsts.

In 1959 Thomas along with other female journalist forced the all male member National Press Club to allow them to attend the address from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. 

Eleven years later ,in 1971, the National Press Club finally allowed for female members and Thomas had the honor of being their first female officer. 

Thomas will go down in journalism history for many different reasons; her sharp questions, being a trailblazer for women, and for her iconic closing line. 

Thomas unofficially ended every White House press conference with four iconic words, "Thank you Mr. President.". 

This catch phrase was known to belong to Thomas and all other journalist in the press room took that as the closing off the press conference. 

Thomas will forever be an iconic figure in the journalism world but especially in political and presidential writing. 

She forced open so many doors for women and exhibited the idea that just because you are woman does not mean you need to be meek rather you should be the loudest voice in the room.