'It's not a popularity contest'

 

“We don't go into journalism to be popular. It is our job to seek the truth and put constant pressure on our leaders until we get answers.” – Helen Thomas

 

Born in Winchester, KY on this date in 1920, Thomas plowed new ground for women in journalism and gave true meaning to the term “Watchdog for Democracy.”  

 

The author of 6 bestselling books, led by Front Row at the White House, she was a news reporter for 60 years, writing thousands of articles and doing a syndicated column for the United Press International.  She literally began her career in the trenches (as a copygirl at the Washington Daily News) and ended it as the UPI's Chief White House correspondent, earning every major newswriting award and 30 honorary doctorate degrees along the way.

 

Thomas, who died in 2013, was the first female officer of the National Press Club, and the first female member and president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, covering the administrations of 11 U.S. presidents from Eisenhower to Obama, and often drawing their ire for her tough questions. 

 

“Presidents deserve to be questioned,” she said. “Maybe irreverently, most of the time.  I don’t think a tough question is being disrespectful.”