[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 533 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 533

   Recognizing Helen Thomas for her pioneering career as a woman in 
journalism, her lifelong commitment to journalistic independence as an 
 essential pillar of American democracy, and her unflagging and honest 
coverage of every President of the United States since John F. Kennedy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 11, 2009

  Ms. Lee of California submitted the following resolution; which was 
      referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing Helen Thomas for her pioneering career as a woman in 
journalism, her lifelong commitment to journalistic independence as an 
 essential pillar of American democracy, and her unflagging and honest 
coverage of every President of the United States since John F. Kennedy.

Whereas Helen Thomas was born on August 4, 1920, in Winchester, Kentucky;
Whereas Helen Thomas attended public schools in Detroit, Michigan, and graduated 
        from Wayne State University in 1942;
Whereas Helen Thomas started her career in journalism as a copy girl on the 
        Washington Daily News;
Whereas Helen Thomas joined United Press International (UPI) in 1943 and 
        reported on women's topics for their radio wire service;
Whereas beginning in 1955, Helen Thomas had several reporting assignments 
        revolving around the Federal Government, including the Department of 
        Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Health, 
        Education, and Welfare, and Capitol Hill;
Whereas Helen Thomas began covering then President-elect John F. Kennedy in 1960 
        and followed him to the White House in 1961 as a UPI correspondent;
Whereas during the Kennedy administration, Helen Thomas was the first woman to 
        close a presidential news conference with the now traditional 
        salutation, ``Thank you, Mr. President'';
Whereas Helen Thomas was the only female print journalist to travel with 
        President Richard Nixon to China during his historic trip in 1972;
Whereas Helen Thomas has covered every White House Economic Summit since 1975;
Whereas Helen Thomas served as UPI's White House Bureau Chief for over 25 years 
        and authored a column, ``Backstairs at the White House'', which provided 
        a distinctive insider's view of presidential administrations;
Whereas Helen Thomas was the first female officer of the National Press Club 
        after it opened its doors to women for the first time in 1971;
Whereas Helen Thomas was the first woman officer of the White House 
        Correspondents Association and became its first woman president in 1975;
Whereas in 1975, Helen Thomas also became the first woman member of the oldest 
        journalistic organization in Washington, DC, the Gridiron Club, which 
        represents major newspapers, news services, news magazines, and 
        broadcast networks, and was elected as its first woman president in 
        1993;
Whereas Helen Thomas has been named the ``Newspaper Woman of Washington'' by the 
        American Newspaper Women's Club, ``Woman of the Year'' by Ladies Home 
        Journal, and one of the most influential women in America by the World 
        Almanac;
Whereas in 1998, Helen Thomas was the inaugural recipient of the Helen Thomas 
        Lifetime Achievement Award, now awarded annually to an individual or 
        individuals for a lifetime of contribution to the journalism profession;
Whereas as a central figure of the White House Press corps, Helen Thomas is 
        commonly referred to as ``First Lady of the Press'' or ``Dean of the 
        White House Press Corps''; and
Whereas Helen Thomas continues to report on the White House and regularly ask 
        pointed questions of the Obama Administration: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes Helen Thomas 
for her pioneering career as a woman in journalism, her lifelong 
commitment to journalistic independence as an essential pillar of 
American democracy, and her unflagging and honest coverage of every 
President of the United States since John F. Kennedy.
                                 <all>