Thomas, Helen (1920–)
Thomas, Helen (1920–)
American journalist. Born Aug 4, 1920, in Winchester, Kentucky; dau. of George Thomas and Mary Thomas; grew up in Detroit; Wayne State University, BA, 1942; m. Douglas B. Cornell (journalist), Oct 11, 1971 (died 1982); no children.
Journalist who covered the White House through 8 presidential administrations and 4 decades, becoming one of the most respected members of the American press; joined the national staff of United Press International (UPI) and began covering the Justice Department (1956); named chief White House correspondent, one of American journalism's most coveted assignments (1970); was the only print journalist to accompany Richard Nixon to China (1972); promoted to White House bureau chief by UPI (1974), the 1st woman to head the White House Bureau for a national wire service; elected 1st woman president of White House Correspondents Association (1975); elected 1st woman head of Gridiron Club (1975); remained chief correspondent until her retirement from UPI (June 2000), the day after it was purchased by News World Communications, a company founded by Reverend Sun Myung Moon; was hired by Hearst News Service (July 2000).
See also memoirs Dateline: White House (1975) and Front Row at the White House (1999); and Women in World History.