Born in Kentucky and raised in Michigan, Helen Thomas said she always wanted to be a journalist. Thomas grew up in Detroit, went to public grade and high school and later attended Wayne State University. At a young age, she became interested in history. She decided to start work on the high school newspaper. Within no time, she discovered how much she loved it. The first time Thomas saw her name in a newspaper by-line, she said her ego-swelled and she was hooked.

After college, Thomas went straight to Washington. She got her first job serving as a copy girl for the Washington Daily News. She made $17.50 a week. In 1943, Thomas was hired by United Press International, a national wire service.  For the next seventeen years, she wrote stories about the happenings of Washington. She covered everything from the FBI to the Justice Department to Capitol Hill. In 1960, Thomas joined the presidential campaign trail. She followed John F. Kennedy all the way to the White House, eventually becoming UPI’s White House correspondent through the next nine presidents.

Soundbytes


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JOHP :: Helen Thomas Resources::

Early Life

China and Hollywood

Life after United Press International

Advice for Young Journalists

Thomas on Controversy and the Future