Monday 1 September 2008

Helen Thomas: national treasure

WASHINGTON � Helen Thomas has covered nine presidents, becoming such a fix at the White House she's been dubbed "first lady of the press."



Now Thomas, 88, reminisces about her career in a new HBO documentary that traces her journey, from a Detroit childhood as the girl of immigrants to her work as White House correspondent.



Filmmaker Rory Kennedy's uncle was the first prexy Thomas interviewed at the White House.



Thomas recalls her career as a White House correspondent for United Press International and, later, Hearst newspapers. The exceptional includes vintage video and photos of presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton and the stream President Bush, along with Thomas' verbal sparring in presidential press conferences.



Thomas' personal story is similarly compelling, Kennedy said.



"Her parents couldn't read or write, and here is this fair sex who affected to Washington, where she didn't know anybody, and made a life for herself," Kennedy said.










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