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Front Row at the White House: my life and times
"I'm still here, still arriving at the White House in the wee hours of the morning, reading the papers and checking the wire, still waiting for the morning briefing, still sitting down to write the first story of the day and still waiting to ask the tough questions." From the woman who has reported on every president from Kennedy to Clinton for United Press a unique glimpse into the White House -- and a telling record of the ever-changing relationship between the presidency and the press. From her earliest years, Helen Thomas wanted to be a reporter. Raised in Depression-era Detroit, she worked her way to Washington after college and, unlike other women reporters who gave up their jobs to returning veterans, parlayed her copy-aide job at the Washington Daily News into a twelve-year stint as a radio news writer for UPI, covering such beats as the Department of Justice and other federal agencies. Assigned to the White House press corps in 1961, Thomas was the first woman to close a press conference with "Thank you, Mr. President," and has covered every administration since Kennedy's. Along the way, she was among the pioneers who broke down barriers against women in the national media, becoming the first female president of the White House Correspondents Association, the first female officer of the National Press Club and the first woman member, later president, of the Gridiron Club. In this revealing memoir, which includes hundreds of anecdotes, insights, observations, and personal details, Thomas looks back at a career spent with presidents at home and abroad, on the ground and in the air. She evaluates the enormous changes that Watergate brought, including diminished press access to the Oval Office, and how they have affected every president since Nixon. Providing a unique view of the past four decades of presidential history, Front Row at the White House offers a seasoned study of the relationship between the chief executive officer and the press -- a relationship that is sometimes uneasy, sometimes playful, yet always integral to democracy. "Soon enough there will be another president, another first lady, another press secretary and a whole new administration to discover. I'm looking forward to it -- although I'm sure whoever ends up in the Oval Office in a new century may not be so thrilled about the prospect."
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 1999
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About the author
Helen Thomas
97 books47 followersHelen Thomas was a noted news service reporter, a Hearst Newspapers columnist, and member of the White House Press Corps. She served for fifty-seven years as a correspondent and, later, White House bureau chief for United Press International (UPI). Thomas covered every president from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama, was the first woman officer of the National Press Club, was the first woman member and president of the White House Correspondents Association, and the first woman member of the Gridiron Club.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
March 12, 2016
"Front Row at the White House: My Life and Times" by Helen Thomas is one of the best books of its kind that I have ever read. Richly insightful, highly informative and at turns revelatory, it is not simply a story of Helen Thomas' life and career in journalism. It is also an ongoing history of the eight Presidential administrations --- from John F. Kennedy to Bill Clinton --- that Helen Thomas covered as a journalist with United Press International (UPI).
Of all the journalists of the White House Press Corps, Helen Thomas was the one I always respected. She would ask the President the hard questions and she always did her job thoroughly and responsibly. I was once fortunate enough, as a high school senior early in the Reagan years, to be part of a group of students she spoke to in Washington. The experience increased my respect for her and for the generation of journalists she represented.
For me, two of the best selling points about this book are Helen Thomas' remarks about the various White House press secretaries she's had to deal with over the years, and her observations about each of the Presidents she covered. (Her impressions of President Kennedy resonated very deeply with me. I doubt that many people know that, for a brief time following his military service, JFK had worked as a journalist with the Hearst News Service, covering the first meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945. I think that helps to explain in many ways how well he understood and appreciated the work of the press in a democratic society --- and the rapport he had with them as President.)
In summing up this review, I'd like to cite the following remarks Helen Thomas made after receiving an award in 1982 from Danny Thomas in connection with the organization that supports St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN:
"I have always thought a president should know right from wrong. When a president deals in less than the truth, the country is the victim. Too often in my years at the White House there has been a lack of candor and misjudgment of the character of the people in a democratic society. Secrecy in matters of public interest can be destructive.
"At the White House, I see instant history and watch the man who has push-button power over our lives. For that reason, I hope that only the most highly principled persons will occupy the Oval Office. It has not always been so. I do believe that our democracy can endure and prevail only if the American people are informed. The people decide, and therein lies the transcending greatness of the land we love."
Helen Thomas continued to cover the White House up to the first term of President Barack Obama. She passed away in July 2013. She was 92 years old.
Of all the journalists of the White House Press Corps, Helen Thomas was the one I always respected. She would ask the President the hard questions and she always did her job thoroughly and responsibly. I was once fortunate enough, as a high school senior early in the Reagan years, to be part of a group of students she spoke to in Washington. The experience increased my respect for her and for the generation of journalists she represented.
For me, two of the best selling points about this book are Helen Thomas' remarks about the various White House press secretaries she's had to deal with over the years, and her observations about each of the Presidents she covered. (Her impressions of President Kennedy resonated very deeply with me. I doubt that many people know that, for a brief time following his military service, JFK had worked as a journalist with the Hearst News Service, covering the first meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945. I think that helps to explain in many ways how well he understood and appreciated the work of the press in a democratic society --- and the rapport he had with them as President.)
In summing up this review, I'd like to cite the following remarks Helen Thomas made after receiving an award in 1982 from Danny Thomas in connection with the organization that supports St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN:
"I have always thought a president should know right from wrong. When a president deals in less than the truth, the country is the victim. Too often in my years at the White House there has been a lack of candor and misjudgment of the character of the people in a democratic society. Secrecy in matters of public interest can be destructive.
"At the White House, I see instant history and watch the man who has push-button power over our lives. For that reason, I hope that only the most highly principled persons will occupy the Oval Office. It has not always been so. I do believe that our democracy can endure and prevail only if the American people are informed. The people decide, and therein lies the transcending greatness of the land we love."
Helen Thomas continued to cover the White House up to the first term of President Barack Obama. She passed away in July 2013. She was 92 years old.
February 1, 2018
I remember Helen Thomas as a journalistic bloodhound, in the front row of White House news conferences. Her book, “Front Row at the White House,” is basically a loosely-organized series of anecdotes about her 30+ years covering eight presidents from Kennedy to Clinton. This book has been on my TBR pile for years, and honestly, I waited too long to read it. The big scandal 20 years ago was Clinton’s impeachment over lying and obstructing justice in his affair w/ Monica Lewinsky. Thomas was horrified and upset w/ Clinton for doing this to the presidency, as upset w/ Clinton as she was w/ Nixon over Watergate. I actually REMEMBER the press conferences about Watergate (vaguely), so I’m a little surprised that she seems more upset about Lewinsky than the break-in to Democratic headquarters in 1972. Watergate was 26 years before she wrote this book, and it has now been 20 years since the Clinton scandals of
The 90’s. The Clintons have lived through more scandals, and more presidential campaigns, since then.
I just couldn’t help wondering: what would
Helen have thought of a President Trump...?!
The 90’s. The Clintons have lived through more scandals, and more presidential campaigns, since then.
I just couldn’t help wondering: what would
Helen have thought of a President Trump...?!
March 2, 2010
Oh Helen. Why don't you tell me a little about yourself? I want to know what makes you tick. What made you and how you feel. I do not want an endless monologue about the people you met in your career and the awards and accolades you have won. After trudging through the first half of your book, I know more about the last eight Presidents of the US than I know about you. And the book is suppose to be about you! Or so says the title.
October 26, 2008
Helen can be annoying, and it could have been much better, but it does give one a taste of what it is to be a White House correspondent.
December 8, 2018
There was some interesting material in here but it is presented in a disorganized way. I understand that she had so much history to write about that she was probably overwhelmed by the task. However, an editor should have insisted on helping her present the material in a better way. Right now, it's hard to follow because she jumps from President to President, place to place, anecdote to anecdote, all within the same chapter. Her personal history is interspersed with the political history. She apparently had few boundaries between the two.
For instance, if I was the editor, I would have said something like Hey, how about starting out with the history of the White House Press Room? She does a good job of explaining how it got established and how different Presidents changed it over time. That would have been a nice introduction to the whole book. Instead, she buries that, starting it on page 124, in the middle of something about what she does for exercise....
The few chapters that come across as clean and clear, all of a piece, are: the chapter on her husband Doug, the chapter on Martha Mitchell, and the chapter on all the First Ladies. Those are structured well. But they are chapters 10, 11, and 12. The chapters before that are a mish-mosh.
Anyway, you might enjoy this book if you enjoy the minutiae of a reporter's life. But be prepared to sort through a lot of stuff thrown together...
I had always thought of Helen Thomas as someone who challenged politicians and didn't let them get away with easy answers. However, in this book she comes across as someone who was schmoozing with the politicians behind the scenes far too much to really challenge them. She seemed more like someone who was actually enamored of being around famous people and into superficial stuff that I had assumed she despised. I was disappointed to find out the reality in her own words....
For instance, if I was the editor, I would have said something like Hey, how about starting out with the history of the White House Press Room? She does a good job of explaining how it got established and how different Presidents changed it over time. That would have been a nice introduction to the whole book. Instead, she buries that, starting it on page 124, in the middle of something about what she does for exercise....
The few chapters that come across as clean and clear, all of a piece, are: the chapter on her husband Doug, the chapter on Martha Mitchell, and the chapter on all the First Ladies. Those are structured well. But they are chapters 10, 11, and 12. The chapters before that are a mish-mosh.
Anyway, you might enjoy this book if you enjoy the minutiae of a reporter's life. But be prepared to sort through a lot of stuff thrown together...
I had always thought of Helen Thomas as someone who challenged politicians and didn't let them get away with easy answers. However, in this book she comes across as someone who was schmoozing with the politicians behind the scenes far too much to really challenge them. She seemed more like someone who was actually enamored of being around famous people and into superficial stuff that I had assumed she despised. I was disappointed to find out the reality in her own words....
November 25, 2017
Review: Helen Thomas provides the reader with a unique glimpse of eight US Presidents – one that an ordinary citizen is unable to obtain. As the “antithesis of the usually nameless and faceless wire service reporter.” (p.121), Thomas gives an honest look at the Presidency and the lives of the First Ladies. The author seems to document the most interesting and rare realities of the Presidents in the White House, aboard Air Force One, and abroad. She describes the idiosyncrasies, vulnerabilities, joys, and sorrows of the Presidents throughout, and also gives the reader a firm appreciation of what it is like to hold a remarkable journalist position for so many years – its joys and challenges (one gets a feel for the skills and endurance necessary to cover the President – see p. 175). Chapter 7 “…And I’d Like a Follow-up” is an especially interesting chapter, discussing issues such as her inability to solve every cab driver’s problem by asking the President questions about Ethiopia and Nigeria. Chapter 9 “On the Road” uncovers what it is like to travel along with the President aboard Air Force One. Other favorite chapters include Chapter 12 “The Smallest Sorority”, which details the personalities of eight First Ladies from Jackie Kennedy to Hillary Clinton (their idiosyncrasies and how they handled the press), as well as Chapter 13 “A Splendid Misery”, which details the eight Presidents. Thomas is truly about finding the truth, but she also has a great sense of humor and somehow manages to stay down to earth; she knows how to connect with the reader in ways that we might only hope our Presidents would. This book should have been titled “THE Journalist”, and it is truly a great read.
Favorite Quotes: “It’s been said that the questions I ask of presidents are the kind that are on the mind of a ‘housewife from Des Moines,’ and I hope that is true. To me, she personifies what the nation wants to know, and too many times these presidents have forgotten they are responsible and accountable to her and the country.” (p. 14); “He stood over the three news tickers in the corridor and noticed the glass was smudged and motioned a secretary to come over. ‘Now,’ he said, ‘if you use a little Bon Ami...’ Detroit was in flames and here was the president of the United States telling a secretary what kind of cleanser to use to get the glass clean.” (p. 78); “Following the invasion of Grenada, President Reagan visited the island, and at a reception for the reporters and photographers accompanying him, he spoke of Thomas Jefferson’s ideals regarding the need for a free press. But when reminded that he [Reagan] had conducted the invasion in secrecy and that reporters and photographers were barred from the island for about ten days until the operation was completed, Reagan said Jefferson was ‘wrong.’” (p. 102); “I have wondered now and then how it all holds together without collapsing under its own weight. Sometimes I’ve thought there’s some obscure, low-level functionary who’s been down in a subbasement since the Roosevelt administration, some ‘Wizard of Oz’ type who knows every detail, every move, every facet of the operation and late at night, when all these high –level types are looking for answers, they seek out this person who tells them what to do.” (pp. 129-130).
Favorite Quotes: “It’s been said that the questions I ask of presidents are the kind that are on the mind of a ‘housewife from Des Moines,’ and I hope that is true. To me, she personifies what the nation wants to know, and too many times these presidents have forgotten they are responsible and accountable to her and the country.” (p. 14); “He stood over the three news tickers in the corridor and noticed the glass was smudged and motioned a secretary to come over. ‘Now,’ he said, ‘if you use a little Bon Ami...’ Detroit was in flames and here was the president of the United States telling a secretary what kind of cleanser to use to get the glass clean.” (p. 78); “Following the invasion of Grenada, President Reagan visited the island, and at a reception for the reporters and photographers accompanying him, he spoke of Thomas Jefferson’s ideals regarding the need for a free press. But when reminded that he [Reagan] had conducted the invasion in secrecy and that reporters and photographers were barred from the island for about ten days until the operation was completed, Reagan said Jefferson was ‘wrong.’” (p. 102); “I have wondered now and then how it all holds together without collapsing under its own weight. Sometimes I’ve thought there’s some obscure, low-level functionary who’s been down in a subbasement since the Roosevelt administration, some ‘Wizard of Oz’ type who knows every detail, every move, every facet of the operation and late at night, when all these high –level types are looking for answers, they seek out this person who tells them what to do.” (pp. 129-130).
May 14, 2009
I recently attended a CityClub meeting at which Helen Thomas was honored/shared some of her personal stories. She is truly an amazing woman. So witty, bright, intuative, and funny. And, what a trailblazer. I really enjoyed learning more about her background (I was pleasantly surprised to learn that she's Lebanese American) and the history of the relationship between the press and the white house.
December 8, 2014
Many people didn't seem to like Helen Thomas~I was always interested in her. This book offered me a great POV of a reporter as well as different POV's of the presidents and news she observed. There was a lot of information in this book about private moments in the White House, funny moments, and a lot more. A great read for me and for anyone wanting to have a more inside look at the Presidents that were covered by her.
August 2, 2018
Ms. Thomas led a fascinating life covering US presidents from JFK to Obama. Many insights into their personalities & governing styles. Loved the personal moments she had w/ them. Appreciated the mutual respect between the Office & the press. Wish Ms. Thomas was around to cover the current administration. She was a force to be reckoned with & would have loved to watch her now.
November 26, 2016
I adore Helen Thomas. Learning more about her and her career through her own words made me love and respect her even more. An eye opening read to see how the relationship and between the POTUS and the media has evolved throughout the administrations.
January 21, 2012
I felt like the book told a lot of what she saw, but not enough of who she is. That being said, I did learn a lot and really enjoyed Helen's stories of her amazing career.
March 1, 2016
Front Row at the White House by Helen Thomas
4 stars
I so enjoyed this book. I picked it up on cassette at my library when I was scanning the shelves for something that would fit the history tag. Before the end of the tapes, I ordered a used copy so I could read it and soak in the details. This memoir of Thomas’ years as a White House reporter and correspondent was published in 1999 and covers spresidencies through the Clinton years. It is full of fascinating personal insights about the history of the past century. I was especially interested in her take on the changing role of women in the press and the descriptions of traveling with the president on Air Force One. I intend to read Thank You, Mr. President and then her more recent book Watch Dogs of Democracy? to try and get the complete picture of this woman’s life work.
4 stars
I so enjoyed this book. I picked it up on cassette at my library when I was scanning the shelves for something that would fit the history tag. Before the end of the tapes, I ordered a used copy so I could read it and soak in the details. This memoir of Thomas’ years as a White House reporter and correspondent was published in 1999 and covers spresidencies through the Clinton years. It is full of fascinating personal insights about the history of the past century. I was especially interested in her take on the changing role of women in the press and the descriptions of traveling with the president on Air Force One. I intend to read Thank You, Mr. President and then her more recent book Watch Dogs of Democracy? to try and get the complete picture of this woman’s life work.
August 19, 2013
Thomas makes no bones about her liberal leanings, but throughout her tenure with UPI she never lost sight of her mission as a reporter. Thomas remained a constant throughout the eight administrations she covered. The variable over those years were the administrations themselves. It is that variable that I found most interesting about her book. Eight presidents and eight wildly variable views of the press and the president 's relationship with the people who reported White House news. Helen did not work to be loved. She worked to get the news. And get it she did.
March 17, 2017
This was at times repetitive: Thomas used the same stories in different contexts. As I got further into the book it seemed that Thomas was a bit self-aggrandizing; however, she is a remarkable woman who used clear and sharp questioning in her role as a White House correspondent which kept the public informed. One point she made over and over again is that a free press is vital to maintain a democracy. I agree. Her writing is journalistic and not as elegant as some books I've been reading lately.
January 16, 2020
"In college I found out how the other half lives. I hadn't thought much about that before. My personal ideals stretched into broader ideals for all humanity. I love life. I love people. I love trees and rivers and hills and lakes and fields and good books and music and fires under great trees and in fireplaces. I love good conversation and heated debate and politics and newspapermen and politicians. I love good, kindly, mellow, well-balanced people. I love green grass and blue skies and F street when it rains...
Nothing you or anyone else can say, can make me fall in love. If I do not love, I may not get married. Don't you see that, while my life is not your life, I am happy living my life... I am happily and courageously living my life in the way that seems best to me..."
-Letter from Betty Lersch
"Learning of the plight of women reporters who were shut out of the all-male club and access to their speakers, Mrs. Roosevelt held regular news conferences in the White House exclusively for women reporters. And she made news, since most of her information came from none other than her husband; so women reporters got a few "scoops" in the bargain, shutting out the men.
On April 3, 1933, Mrs. Roosevelt announced to the assembled women that 'beer would be served at the White House as soon as it was legal to do so,' indicating that the Volstead Act—Prohibition—was on its way out. Mrs. Roosevelt's little "announcement" gave the women who covered her not only a heads-up about Prohibition but a one-up on the men covering her husband."
"The other was the White House dinner on April 29, 1962, which brought together forty-nine Nobel Prize laureates. [...] What I found even more remarkable about the evening was that Nobel prize-winning scientist Linus Pauling had spent the day outside the White House in a ban-the-bomb rally. On seeing him, Kennedy said, 'I'm glad you decided to come inside.'"
"I can say that after all these years of president-watching, I'm still in awe of the presidency and what it means to Americans, but not necessarily in awe of the man who was sitting there at any given time."
"There has always been news management, and every president likes to see his image projected in a favorable light. But what gets me is the corollary that news must be "managed" because the American citizen—and voter—is viewed as some kind of "problem"; presenting controlled information in a controlled environment presumes that the audience has no ability to make a connection or draw an intelligent conclusion."
"And despite all the physical changes that have been made for our convenience and comfort, I'll still say there is something to be said for walking the acreage on a Texas ranch at twilight, standing with a president and watching for the deer to come out, and listening to him talk about his hopes and dreams for the country."
"And then, even if your face is a famous one, something you may have said or done long ago or some manner in which you treated someone can come back to haunt you. In the spring of 1998, my colleague Paul Basken was walking to the entry one afternoon and saw a man standing at the guard's desk, looking through his pockets, bringing up one item after another while the guard kept shaking his head no. It seems the visitor had forgotten to bring a photo ID and his credit cards weren't proof enough of his identity.
Paul leaned over to the guard and said quietly, 'Hey that's Henry Kissinger."
The guard leaned over to Paul and said, equally quietly, 'I know.'"
"I've often said I don't waste my sympathy on presidents. They're responsible for their actions, and when they screw up, they have to be held accountable."
"Our profession still tries to maintain its ethical standards, but I see the task becoming more and more difficult in view of the changes in mass communications. There is nothing wrong with high ratings or huge profits or healthy circulation. But economic performance is one thing, journalistic integrity is another. [...] For in our hands lies the ability to ruin reputations and lives. I do not take that responsibility lightly."
"I know how difficult it is in these days to get the full story, the full meaning and the full context, and most times we do fall short. But we must keep trying."
Nothing you or anyone else can say, can make me fall in love. If I do not love, I may not get married. Don't you see that, while my life is not your life, I am happy living my life... I am happily and courageously living my life in the way that seems best to me..."
-Letter from Betty Lersch
"Learning of the plight of women reporters who were shut out of the all-male club and access to their speakers, Mrs. Roosevelt held regular news conferences in the White House exclusively for women reporters. And she made news, since most of her information came from none other than her husband; so women reporters got a few "scoops" in the bargain, shutting out the men.
On April 3, 1933, Mrs. Roosevelt announced to the assembled women that 'beer would be served at the White House as soon as it was legal to do so,' indicating that the Volstead Act—Prohibition—was on its way out. Mrs. Roosevelt's little "announcement" gave the women who covered her not only a heads-up about Prohibition but a one-up on the men covering her husband."
"The other was the White House dinner on April 29, 1962, which brought together forty-nine Nobel Prize laureates. [...] What I found even more remarkable about the evening was that Nobel prize-winning scientist Linus Pauling had spent the day outside the White House in a ban-the-bomb rally. On seeing him, Kennedy said, 'I'm glad you decided to come inside.'"
"I can say that after all these years of president-watching, I'm still in awe of the presidency and what it means to Americans, but not necessarily in awe of the man who was sitting there at any given time."
"There has always been news management, and every president likes to see his image projected in a favorable light. But what gets me is the corollary that news must be "managed" because the American citizen—and voter—is viewed as some kind of "problem"; presenting controlled information in a controlled environment presumes that the audience has no ability to make a connection or draw an intelligent conclusion."
"And despite all the physical changes that have been made for our convenience and comfort, I'll still say there is something to be said for walking the acreage on a Texas ranch at twilight, standing with a president and watching for the deer to come out, and listening to him talk about his hopes and dreams for the country."
"And then, even if your face is a famous one, something you may have said or done long ago or some manner in which you treated someone can come back to haunt you. In the spring of 1998, my colleague Paul Basken was walking to the entry one afternoon and saw a man standing at the guard's desk, looking through his pockets, bringing up one item after another while the guard kept shaking his head no. It seems the visitor had forgotten to bring a photo ID and his credit cards weren't proof enough of his identity.
Paul leaned over to the guard and said quietly, 'Hey that's Henry Kissinger."
The guard leaned over to Paul and said, equally quietly, 'I know.'"
"I've often said I don't waste my sympathy on presidents. They're responsible for their actions, and when they screw up, they have to be held accountable."
"Our profession still tries to maintain its ethical standards, but I see the task becoming more and more difficult in view of the changes in mass communications. There is nothing wrong with high ratings or huge profits or healthy circulation. But economic performance is one thing, journalistic integrity is another. [...] For in our hands lies the ability to ruin reputations and lives. I do not take that responsibility lightly."
"I know how difficult it is in these days to get the full story, the full meaning and the full context, and most times we do fall short. But we must keep trying."
August 6, 2022
Disappointing book on so many levels, especially from a life-time journalist. The book is not of the writing quality I would expect, and the stories were lacking, especially for having the “front row” seat for so long.
There are some portions of the book that have interesting stories, the sad stories of how women were discriminated against on so many levels – and for so long -- and her coverage of Nixon going to China was stimulating but not nearly as much detail or fine writing as one would expect from a ‘front row’ seat; if you want to read about that visit, read Henry Kissinger’s “On China.”
In addition to a dull book with lackluster writing, Thomas spent pages reviewing what anyone would know already about presidents or their wives; clearly, she did not write for her audience. Filling the book read by people who love journalism, history or a simply nerds with material one could learn from a google search either was just a way to fill pages or was poor writing and editing. Surprisingly, it was a chore to complete this book.
There are some portions of the book that have interesting stories, the sad stories of how women were discriminated against on so many levels – and for so long -- and her coverage of Nixon going to China was stimulating but not nearly as much detail or fine writing as one would expect from a ‘front row’ seat; if you want to read about that visit, read Henry Kissinger’s “On China.”
In addition to a dull book with lackluster writing, Thomas spent pages reviewing what anyone would know already about presidents or their wives; clearly, she did not write for her audience. Filling the book read by people who love journalism, history or a simply nerds with material one could learn from a google search either was just a way to fill pages or was poor writing and editing. Surprisingly, it was a chore to complete this book.
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July 16, 2019ABD de kadın gazetecilerin Beyaz Saray'a adımını bile atamadığı bir dönemde (pek de uzak bir tarih değil.. belki de şaşırdınız ama öyleydi işte...) başkanların basın toplantısına girebilen ilk kadın muhabir Helen Thomas idi. .
Elbette büyük mücadelelerden sonra gerçekleştirebilmişti bu devrimi.
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CNN International'ın yayına geçtiği günden itibaren pek çok farklı başkanın basın toplantısında soru alırken hep ön sırada, hep aynı koltukta izledim bu güçlü kadını...
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Yalnızca diğer Beyaz Saray muhabirleri değil ABD Başkanlarları dahi ayrı bir saygı gösterirlerdi son nefesine kadar o koltuğu hic kimseye kaptırmayan Helen Thomas'a !
.
Elbette büyük mücadelelerden sonra gerçekleştirebilmişti bu devrimi.
.
CNN International'ın yayına geçtiği günden itibaren pek çok farklı başkanın basın toplantısında soru alırken hep ön sırada, hep aynı koltukta izledim bu güçlü kadını...
.
Yalnızca diğer Beyaz Saray muhabirleri değil ABD Başkanlarları dahi ayrı bir saygı gösterirlerdi son nefesine kadar o koltuğu hic kimseye kaptırmayan Helen Thomas'a !
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March 27, 2019
Fascinating to listen to. Thomas started her career during WWII, when women were much more rare in journalism and print was king. I got a journalism degree immediately after Watergate-- I watched John Dean's testimony in the Watergate hearings the summer after my freshman year in college. The internet was unheard of, and television was king, but CNN didn't exist. It was really interesting to hear about the evolution of the news, how much has changed and how much hasn't. I enjoyed it a lot (and got quite a bit of my craft project done while listening to the audio book.)
April 2, 2025
Found this for 75 cents at a used book store. Some interesting information, now nearly 30 years old, about the life and experiences of a longtime White House reporter. Somewhat funny to hear her takes on the 'scandals' from the 1990s and earlier, many of which seem positively quaint today. Good for a beach read if you find it in a rented condo, you are a presidential history nerd, and you don't have anything else to do.
August 31, 2024
Liked the book..historical..so much insight into each president...have always admired her....aggressive and inquisitive.... I always loved the polite "Thank you Mr. President" she would say when time was up at a press conference in the White House...that honor was passed to her by a former male reporter...
November 6, 2021
From traveling on Air Force One with the press to personal impressions of public figures to just how the sausage is made, it was a great read. She's not as progressive as perhaps I remember, but I loved reading her takes on the various things and people she covered regardless. Plus, she's quite a trailblazer in journalism - she chronicles her many firsts as a woman in the field.
June 22, 2022
Am currently watching the tv series “Gaslight”. I remembered I read this book many years ago and it had a chapter on Martha Mitchell, the protagonist of the series, so I reread a few chapters. She told the truth ( Martha did).
February 28, 2017
Helen give great insights into many presidents' relationships with the press over the years. No better time to read this!
December 20, 2018
An excellent look at life in the WH Press Corp from a legend in the business.
May 18, 2019
Great respect for Helen Thomas, but I found this book far too repetitive.
July 2, 2019
Some interesting insight into the inner workings of the White House and the reporting of the news. Somewhat repetitive. Also good information about each President that Ms. Thomas worked with.
July 24, 2019
#92 of 120 books pledged to read during 2019
September 12, 2024
This was ok. Good insight into the press pool. A lot has changed since then for sure.
August 9, 2013
Interested in having a chat with someone who has known and reported on eight US Presidents? That's basically what this book is. A candid, off-the-cuff chat with Helen Thomas about everything from Monica Lewinsky to Watergate to the many charities that have benefited from the First Ladies of the US.
As Thomas carries you through her own story, each of the First Ladies and then each POTUS from Kennedy to Clinton this book has a bit of repetition, some parts that could have been tightened up a bit from a writer's perspective, but overall it is definitely worth reading. The disjointed layout can be a bit confusing, as her memories bounce between decades, but it also lends a conversational tone to the book. As an added benefit, this allows insight into a first lady you may never have given a second thought to, or a president you may have hated or revered unjustly. Read this book, if for nothing else than because you will gain insight and it will change the way you view the role of media in the presidency.
As Thomas carries you through her own story, each of the First Ladies and then each POTUS from Kennedy to Clinton this book has a bit of repetition, some parts that could have been tightened up a bit from a writer's perspective, but overall it is definitely worth reading. The disjointed layout can be a bit confusing, as her memories bounce between decades, but it also lends a conversational tone to the book. As an added benefit, this allows insight into a first lady you may never have given a second thought to, or a president you may have hated or revered unjustly. Read this book, if for nothing else than because you will gain insight and it will change the way you view the role of media in the presidency.
May 28, 2010
How in the name of common sense did Helen Thomas, mistress of the concise question and pithy press piece, forget a simple proverb that has served her so well? Namely, Short and Sweet is Hard to Beat.
The stories she tells succeed at about a 60% clip. Not bad for a memoir. And, she was in alot of the right places at alot of the right times to have a treasure chest of wonderful anecdotes. But, she tells them in a whirlwind fashion with few pauses and little by way of transitions. Its not quite stream of conscious, but it comes close at times. She compounds the error of run-on stories by letting chapters within the book run up to about 80 pages. That is simply too long.
I had expected better writing from a very gifted journalist. She's a national treasure. This book is not.
The stories she tells succeed at about a 60% clip. Not bad for a memoir. And, she was in alot of the right places at alot of the right times to have a treasure chest of wonderful anecdotes. But, she tells them in a whirlwind fashion with few pauses and little by way of transitions. Its not quite stream of conscious, but it comes close at times. She compounds the error of run-on stories by letting chapters within the book run up to about 80 pages. That is simply too long.
I had expected better writing from a very gifted journalist. She's a national treasure. This book is not.
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