Helen Thomas

AKA Helen A. Thomas

Born: 4-Aug-1920
Birthplace: Winchester, KY

Gender: Female
Race or Ethnicity: Middle Eastern
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Journalist

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: White House reporter since 1961

Veteran print journalist and strident liberal Helen Thomas has been in the White House press corps ever since the start of the Kennedy administration in 1961. While her longevity at the post once afforded some ceremonial perks -- front row seat in the press room, always called on first at Presidential briefings -- things have changed considerably under George W. Bush. Thomas has been reassigned to the back of the room and is rarely called on anymore for questions.

When she is called upon to ask a question, the results are usually hilarious. Thomas asks a pointed question, and White House spokesman Scott McClellan sidesteps it. Thomas interrupts with a more pointed follow-up question, and interrupts again as McClellan sidesteps that. McClellan eventually gives up and calls on another reporter.

In a November 2002 talk at MIT, Thomas revealed: "I censored myself for 50 years when I was a reporter. Now I wake up and ask myself, 'Who do I hate today?'" Two months later, the answer to that question revealed itself in an off-the-record comment to a reporter from the Torrance, California Daily Breeze following the Society of Professional Journalists annual awards banquet. "This is the worst President ever. He is the worst President in all of American history." The Breeze ran the quote, and the rest is history.

Father: George Thomas (George Antonious)
Mother: Mary
Sister: Katharine (b. 1902)
Sister: Anne
Brother: Matry
Sister: Sabe
Sister: Isabelle
Sister: Josephine
Sister: Barbara
Sister: Genevieve (d. 1988)
Brother: Tommy (d., age 12)
Husband: Douglas B. Cornell (b. 1906, m. Oct-1971, d. 1982)

High School: Eastern High School, Detroit, MI
University: BA, Wayne State University (1942)

Gridiron Club 1975
National Press Club
White House Correspondents Association
Roast: Helen Thomas (1993)
Roast: Walter Cronkite (1997)
Roast: Bob Schieffer (2004)
Syrian Ancestry Paternal

FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
Fahrenheit 9/11 (17-May-2004) Herself [VOICE]
Dave (7-May-1993) Herself