Tag Archives: press club

Helen Thomas

BY B. JAY COOPER
Reprinted from BJayCooper.com

Before I started my job in the White House press office, a veteran there warned me, “when you come in, at 6 or 7 a.m., Helen Thomas will be sitting on the credenza outside the press secretary’s’ office and will ask you questions about overnight stories. Do not say a word, not even ‘no comment.’ She will top her story with your quote before you even know what the facts are.”

The first day I walked into the White House, at a time of day when few were in their offices, the first person I saw was a guard and then I ran into Helen sitting on that credenza who asked, nonchalantly, something about an overnight story. I didn’t even say good morning, worried I’d be quoted.

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