She was a White House correspondent throughout the administrations of nine presidencies, and she counted herself friend to none of them. Opinionated, tenacious, journalistically incorruptible — Helen Thomas was the Grand Dame of the Washington press corps not by seniority but by virtue of integrity.
Helen Thomas died today at age 92 after a long illness, in the capitol city that’s been the indelible backdrop of her career. We can’t hope to ever see another like her, but we can fervently wish that journalists everywhere strive forever toward her example.