Posted on 04/29/2006 6:28:38 AM PDT by oxcart
Legendary White House correspondent Helen Thomas has sharply questioned U.S. presidents for 46 years, but when she spoke at Centre College Thursday, she had a question for the American people.
“Where is the outrage?”
The subject of that outrage, Thomas said, should be the war in Iraq and President George W. Bush.
She made a plea for peace and suggested Bush do as President Lyndon Johnson was advised in Vietnam, “Declare a victory and leave.”
Thomas, a Winchester native, said she was glad to come home to find the word “liberal isn't demonized” here.
The 85-year-old was quick on her feet, passing out wit and witticism to a packed house at Weisiger Theatre. She was invited to be the sixth speaker in the Press Distinguished Lecture Series, named in honor of Kentucky civic leaders O. Leonard and Lillian H. Press.
Thomas has covered every president since John F. Kennedy, who she said was her favorite. She started in Washington D.C. as a copy girl making $17.50 a week and worked her way up to a position at United Press International, which she kept until 2000. Thomas still works as a White House correspondent for Hearst Newspapers.
“There is truth in the papers,” she said. “It's in the comic strips.”
Each president, she said, has come with his own disdain of the press. Kennedy said as president he was reading more and enjoying it less. What Johnson said about the press was “unprintable,” Thomas said.
When President Reagan was told a press helicopter in Honduras had been fired upon, he said, “There is some good in everyone.” President Clinton was asked why the press corps followed him on his morning jogs and he said they just wanted to see him drop dead.
After razzing both presidents and press, Thomas answered questions.
Asked who was her favorite president and why, she said Kennedy because he knew the difference between war and peace.
Asked if there was ever a justifiable reason for America to go to war, she said conflicts should be resolved through the United Nations and non-violent pressure. Thomas agreed with the decision to invade Afghanistan but said that bombing Iraq has just been on the agenda of neo-conservatives to secure oil and posturing in case of a third World War.
Asked what has been Bush's greatest accomplishment, she quoted Eisenhower, who on the occasion of being asked what policy decisions then Vice President Richard Nixon participated in, said, “Give me a week and I'll think of something.”
She was asked if the media is doing its job, a reference to an earlier comment Thomas made about how the press hadn't asked hard questions after 9/11 because they feared being called unpatriotic. Thomas answered the question by saying, “I think the media is coming out of their coma.”
Asked if there was anyone in the political arena today with the same qualities as Kennedy, Thomas said, “No.” She said presidents come into themselves once they are in office. “There is no such thing as an instant president.”
Asked who she thought would get the Democrat and Republican nominations for president in 2008, Thomas said Hillary Clinton and John McCain. She added that she is always wrong.
Asked if bloggers have had any impact on journalism, she said there has been a tremendous effect, putting some politicians out of business. However, she said, “We have reached the stage where everyone with a laptop thinks they're a journalist. ... It's very frightening.”
As the country goes to see United 93, I have the same question for the nation.
Boo!
Skank.
Is there a car in that picture?
Very good!!!
What car? I don't know what you're talking about.
Thanks. Now I remember it.
...ain't that the truth.
The only men brave enough are winners of the Medal of Honor, and they are all too patriotic to put up with Helen's crap.
Kennedy told at least a couple of close friends that he got terrible headaches if he didn't have sex at least once a day.
Great movie.
Nah. Becoming irrelevant isn't the sad part. The sad part is trying to hang onto it with your fingernails.
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