Helen Thomas Quotes

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Helen Thomas

Profession : Journalist

Birth : August 4, 1920

We got the vote, which we should've been born with, in 1920. Everything we've had to struggle for - it's ridiculous.

Helen Thomas

There are better ways we can transform this virulent hatred - by living our ideals, the Peace Corps, exchange students, teachers, exporting our music, poetry, blue jeans.

Helen Thomas

I covered two presidents, LBJ and Nixon, who could no longer convince, persuade, or govern, once people had decided they had no credibility, but we seem to be more tolerant now of what I think we should not tolerate.

Helen Thomas

We in the press have a special role since there is no other institution in our society that can hold the President accountable. I do believe that our democracy can endure and prevail only if the American people are informed.

Helen Thomas

Every president thinks that all information that comes to the White House is their private preserve after they all promise an open administration on the campaign trail, but some are more secretive than others. Some want to lock down everything.

Helen Thomas

I love my work, and I think that I was so lucky to pick a profession where it's a joy to go to work every day.

Helen Thomas

I don't think there are any rude questions.

Helen Thomas

I've never covered the president in any way other than that he is ultimately responsible.

Helen Thomas

We are the only institution in our society that can question a president on a regular basis and make him accountable. Otherwise, he could be king.

Helen Thomas

It's like I say to young people who ask me about going into journalism: If you want to be loved, don't go into this business.

Helen Thomas

I wrote that President Bush is passing on to President-elect Obama two wars and an economic debacle. I call it a depression. And he is arming Israel against the Palestinians in every way in Gaza.

Helen Thomas

I have a background and an understanding of what's happened in the Middle East that a lot of people don't have, because there's been no interest.

Helen Thomas

When you speak of the press, of course, you have to speak of different segments of the press. Reporters, straight reporters, wire services, you stick to the facts; you don't create the story, per se. You cover what is happening.

Helen Thomas

I'm not anti-Jewish; I'm anti-Zionist.

Helen Thomas

I'm of Arab background.

Helen Thomas

People will never know how hard it is to get information, especially if it's locked up behind official doors where, if politicians had their way, they'd stamp 'top secret' on the color of the walls.

Helen Thomas

The presidency awed me, but presidents do not. Perhaps I have always expected too much of them, but I believe that when they reach the highest office in the land, they should live up to the greatest honor that can come to a person in American political life. Some have stood the test better than others.

Helen Thomas

We began to see the renovation of our offices as a subtle part of the Nixon war against the press.

Helen Thomas

I covered Kennedy when she was three years old and the darling daughter of President Kennedy who doted on her and whose mother did everything to protect her from the prying press.

Helen Thomas

Many voters think about the makeup of the Supreme Court when they are choosing a president. The justices deal not only with constitutional issues but also with social issues that were unknown to the founding fathers who wrote the Constitution more than 200 years ago.

Helen Thomas