Helen Thomas was a trailblazer, breaking through barriers for women reporters while covering every President since John F. Kennedy.
It was during her White House assignment with JFK that she began closing presidential press conferences with "Thank you, Mr. President."
Helen Thomas had the distinction of having traveled around the world several times with Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush, during the course of which she covered every Economic Summit.
She was the only woman print journalist traveling with then President Nixon to China during his historic trip in 1972.
In addition to being the White House Bureau Chief, Thomas also served as White House correspondent for United Press International for 57 years. After leaving this post, she joined Hearst Newspapers as a syndicated columnist.
The World Almanac has cited her as one of the "25 Most Influential Women in America."