May 24, 2005: Headlines: Journalism: History: Presidents - Kennedy: South Bend Tribune: Helen Thomas's favorite president remains John F. Kennedy: "He told us to reach for the stars. He gave us hope of a better world," she said. Kennedy signed the first nuclear test ban treaty, created the Peace Corps and correctly declared the United States would land a man on the moon within a decade.
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May 24, 2005: Headlines: Journalism: History: Presidents - Kennedy: South Bend Tribune: Helen Thomas's favorite president remains John F. Kennedy: "He told us to reach for the stars. He gave us hope of a better world," she said. Kennedy signed the first nuclear test ban treaty, created the Peace Corps and correctly declared the United States would land a man on the moon within a decade.
Helen Thomas's favorite president remains John F. Kennedy: "He told us to reach for the stars. He gave us hope of a better world," she said. Kennedy signed the first nuclear test ban treaty, created the Peace Corps and correctly declared the United States would land a man on the moon within a decade.
Helen Thomas's favorite president remains John F. Kennedy: "He told us to reach for the stars. He gave us hope of a better world," she said. Kennedy signed the first nuclear test ban treaty, created the Peace Corps and correctly declared the United States would land a man on the moon within a decade.
Press icon candid in talk at IUSB ; Helen Thomas aims barbs at Bush and media, too
May 24, 2005 - South Bend Tribune
SOUTH BEND -- Legendary White House journalist Helen Thomas provided her view Monday on more than four decades of watching history in the making.
An unabashed liberal, Thomas saved her most biting criticism for President Bush.
"We have to hold the president's feet to the fire. And when there is as much secrecy and disinformation as this administration has pedaled, we're all in trouble," she told an enthusiastic audience Monday night at Indiana University South Bend.
Thomas said she remains a true believer in democracy, and that a free press is an essential part of democracy.
The current president "evokes the name of God often and has even said that the Almighty told him to invade Iraq," Thomas said. Like no other president, Bush has dangerously broken down the wall of separation of church and state, she said.
Thomas didn't aim all her barbs at the president. She saved some for the news media itself since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"The press fell down on the job. We are accused of being lapdogs now instead of playing our traditional role of watchdogs," the veteran journalist said.
"We let the president lead the country into a mindless war against a Third World country and people who did nothing to us," Thomas said. There was no evidence of weapons of mass destruction or threats from Iraq, she said.
"We wonder why we are now hated so much in the world when we used to be mankind's greatest hope," she said in her talk, which was sponsored by Teachers Credit Union.
Thomas started covering the White House in 1961 while working for United Press International. She resigned from UPI in 2000. Now in her mid-80s, Thomas continues to work as a White House correspondent and syndicated columnist for King Features.
Thomas hopscotched through more than 40 years of presidential history, telling anecdotes about each president and sprinkling her talk with humorous stories and poignant quotations.
Her favorite president remains John F. Kennedy.
"He told us to reach for the stars. He gave us hope of a better world," she said. Kennedy signed the first nuclear test ban treaty, created the Peace Corps and correctly declared the United States would land a man on the moon within a decade.
When an audience member noted Kennedy's habit of deflecting questions at press conferences, Thomas said she was impressed that he took a strong stand on many things, including war and peace.
"Believe me, he's Einstein compared to what we have today," she said to a burst of audience laughter and applause.
Staff writer Margaret Fosmoe:
mfosmoe@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6329
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Story Source: South Bend Tribune
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