Thomas to speak on Bush

Helen Thomas, one of the most noted women in political journalism, will consider “Some Questions on the George W. Bush Administration”
in an 11 a.m. talk at the Miller Center Aug. 16.

Thomas, a Hearst Newspapers columnist, served for 57 years as a correspondent for United Press International and as White House bureau chief. In 1960, she covered then President-elect John F. Kennedy and served as a member of the UPI team while he was in office. It was during this first White House assignment that Thomas began closing presidential press conferences with “Thank you, Mr. President.”

Thomas traveled with President Nixon to China during his breakthrough visit in 1972 and has traveled around the world several times with Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush, covering every economic summit.

She was the first woman officer of the National Press Club after it opened its doors to women following a 90-year span of being an exclusive men-only group. Raised in Detroit, Thomas graduated from Wayne State University. Her first journalism job was as copy girl for the now defunct Washington Daily News.