White House Correspondent Helen Thomas retires

Helen Thomas and I at the White House James Brady Briefing Room in 2008

It is unfortunate that a prominent journalist career has to end with a blip.But in the case of Helen Thomas that is exactly what happened. The controversial remarks made by Helen Thomas stating that the "people in Israel should leave the Paletinians homeland and return to Poland, Germany, and America," was a bit too much to swallow the backlash for her frail 89-year old body and spirit. Long Time White House correspondent Helen Thomas retired. 

Helen Thomas legacy though will be viewed as the toughest interrogative W.H. correspondent that took no stuff from United States Presidents beginning with John F. Kennedy through Ronald Reagon and ending with President Barack Obama.

I had a chance to speak with Helen Thomas for roughly 30-minutes before and after taking the above photo. In our conversation Helen Thomas felt ignored by most of the Presidents she covered. Helen knew that when the times would get tough on Presidents the less they would call her name. 

Helen Thomas remained vigilant with dignity and continued the wait while gracing the front roll of a Presidential press conference. Thomas stated to me that when was called by a President that she was ready "sock it to them."

President Obama called on her in the early days of his Presidency but rarely has the President called on her during the difficult days of the varied tough issues. Thomas mentioned that if President Obama calls on her ever again that she has something for him. Helen Thomas considered all Presidents including President Obama to walk on eggshells after a few months in office. Thomas exact words were "He (President Obama) is just like all the Presidents that I have covered. They end up listening to their advisors and not call on me."

Helen Thomas was a tough cookie, especially on the so-called tough Presidents such as George W. Bush.

America was better served with Helen Thomas 'socking it to the Presidents' and she will be missed. 

Helen Thomas resigned this week at age 89. While the official reasoning for Helen Thomas's resignation may have been because of the controversial comments regarding Israel, I strongly believer that Helen Thomas resign moreso because she was 89 year old. On the White House grounds, Thomas was always in need of her assistant to help her walk. It was Helen's time to retire.

Thank you Helen Thomas for 'Keeping it Real' these past six decades.