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>> THIS LEGENDARY JOURNALIST AND
BEST-SELLING AUTHOR IS KNOWN AS
THE DEAN OF THE WHITE HOUSE
PRESS CORPS.
HELEN THOMAS RETURNS AS MY
SPECIAL GUEST NEXT ON "I
REMEMBER."
>> HI, I'M JIM PECK.
WELCOME "I REMEMBER."
JOINING US AGAIN TONIGHT IS
HELEN THOMAS.
AS A JOURNALIST, SHE'S COVERED
THE WHITE HOUSE FOR MORE THAN 45
YEARS.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
>> HELEN THOMAS WAS A LONG-TIME
WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT FOR
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL.
CURRENTLY SHE IS A COLUMNIST FOR
HEARST NEWSPAPERS.
IN 1961, SHE CLOSED JOHN F.
KENNEDY'S PRESIDENTIAL PRESS
CONFERENCES WITH THE FAMOUS LINE
"THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT."
THOMAS TRAVELED WITH PRESIDENT
RICHARD NIXON TO CHINA IN 1972,
THE ONLY FEMALE PRINT JOURNALIST
ON THE TRIP.
SHE ALSO WENT ON TO COVER
PRESIDENT GERALD FORD, JIMMY
CARTER, RONALD REAGAN, GEORGE
HERBERT WALKER BUSH AND
BILL CLINTON.
NEVER AFRAID TO SPEAK HER MIND,
IN MARCH OF 2006, MS. THOMAS
ASKED PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
ABOUT HIS DECISION TO INVADE
IRAQ WITH THE QUESTION, "WHY DID
YOU REALLY WANT TO GO TO WAR?"
AS AN AUTHOR, HER BOOKS INCLUDE
"FRONT ROW AT THE WHITE HOUSE,
MY LIFE AND TIMES."
SHE FOLLOWED THAT WITH "THANKS
FOR THE MEMORIES, MR. PRESIDENT,
WIT AND WISDOM FROM THE FRONT
ROW AT THE WHITE HOUSE."
IN HER RECENT BOOK "WATCHDOGS OF
DEMOCRACY?
THE WANING WASHINGTON PRESS
CORPS AND HOW IT HAS FAILED THE
PUBLIC," HELEN THOMAS HAS A
MESSAGE FOR OTHERS IN THE
PROFESSION THAT SHE HAS LOVED
FOR SO MANY YEARS.
>> THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE,
I ASKED, THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOOO
IS "WATCHDOGS OF DEMOCCY?,"
BUT IT HAS A QUESTION MARK AT
THE END OF THAT, WHY DID YOU PUT
THAT QUESTION MARK IN?
>> BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE
PRESS FELL DOWN ON THE JOB, IN
THE RUNUP TO THE WAR IN IRAQ.
I THINK THAT THEY DEFAULTED ON
WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO.
THEY GAVE UP THEIR ONE WEAPON,
WHICH IS SKEPTICISM, AND IT WAS
SO CLEAR, THIS PRESIDENT WANTED
TO GO TO WAR.
>> THAT'S A GREAT WORD,
SKEPTICISM.
ARE YOU CONSCIOUS OF BEING A
SKEPTIC ALWAYS?
>> I'M CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT
THAT I SHOULD BE ASKING THE
QUESTIONS BECAUSE I HAVE THE
PRIVILEGE OF DOING SO.
I'M SURE THERE ARE MULTITUDES
OUT THERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ASK
THE PRESIDENT A QUESTION FL AND
I THINK -- OR PRESS SECRETARY,
WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE THAT
PRIVILEGE, I THINK YOU SHOULD
NOT LET THE PEOPLE DOWN.
>> YOU DON'T WASTE THAT
OPPORTUNITY?
>> RIGHT.
>> ARE YOU CONCERNED WITH WHAT
YOU SEE IN NEWS TODAY?
>> VERY MUCH SO.
I WAS CONCERNED CERTAINLY AFTER
9-11, THAT REPORTERS FELT THAT
TO BE PATRIOTIC AND TO BE
AMERICAN, THAT THEY WERE NO
LONGER -- I'M -- I DON'T KNOW IF
THIS IS REALLY TRUE, BUT THIS IS
HOW I THOUGHT, THAT THEY REALLY
RETREATED, THEY WENT SILENT WHEN
THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASKING THE
QUESTIONS, NO MATTER WHAT.
>> WHY?
>> WELL, I DO THINK THEY WERE
AFRAID OF BEING LABELED AS
UNPATRIOTIC AT THE TIME.
THEN IT SEGUED INTO THE WAR,
WHERE THEY FELT THAT THE PUBLIC
WAS WATCHING AND THEY WOULD BE
JEOPARDIZING THE TROOPS.
MY ONLY EXAMPLE IS WHEN I USED
TO ASK MEAN QUESTIONS OF OTHER
PRESIDENTS, I WOULD GET THESE
CALLS, WHO IN THE HELL ELECTED
YOU?
WHY DO YOU ASK SO MANY -- AFTER
9-11 AND AFTER IT SEEMED BEST
JUST SILENCE.
I WOULD GET THESE CALLS, WHERE
IS THE PRESS?
WHERE ARE YOU?
WHY HAVEN'T YOU -- YOU KNOW, AND
THEY WOULD -- THE PEOPLE WOULD
BE THINKING OF THE QUESTIONS.
>> WELL, DOES THAT SAY THEN THAT
THE QUALITY OF REPORTING IS
DIMINISHING?
>> I THINK THAT IT'S DECLINING.
CONGRESS DIDN'T ASK THE
QUESTIONS EITHER.
GAVE UP ITS RIGHT TO DECLARE A
WAR.
IT WAS SO CLEAR THEY DIDN'T ASK
FOR ANY EVIDENCE, ANY PROOF.
>> THAT'S NOT THAT UNCOMMON.
GULF OF TONKEN DID THE SAME
THING.
JOHNSON PUSHED THAT RESOLUTION
THROUGH TO MAKE IT A FULL WAR IN
VIETNAM.
>> THEY LEARNED SOME LESSONS.
>> I'M CURIOUS, AND I DON'T
WATCH A WHOLE LOT OF NETWORK
NEWS ANYMORE.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN
VIETNAM MORE.
I MEAN, PEOPLE WERE TOTALLY HAD.
>> WHAT I SEE ON NEWS IS A LOT
OF ENTERTAINMENT.
WHEN I RECEIVE NEWS, IN THE NEWS
BLOCK TALKING ABOUT WHO IS ON
SURVIVOR TONIGHT, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S JUST FLATOUT WRONG.
>> VERY SAD.
AND I DO THINK THAT -- AND I'M
TALKING, YOU KNOW, OUT OF -- I
DON'T THINK I REALLY UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE CORPORATE HEADS WANT AS
SUCH.
TRAGEDY NOW HAS BECOME A COUNTRY
OF ONE NEWSPAPER TOWNS.
WALL STREET DETERMINES IF YOU'RE
NOT MAKING 25% PROFIT, THEN
YOU'RE NOT VIABLE ANYMORE, YOU
HAVE TO FOLD.
AND IN THE OLD DAYS, A FAMILY
OWNED A NEWSPAPER, THEY MADE THE
MONEY IN REAL ESTATE OR OTHER
ENDEAVORS.
THE NEWSPAPER WAS A COMMUNITY
EFFORT.
IT WAS CONTRIBUTIONS BACK TO THE
COMMUNITY, IT WAS PUBLIC
SERVICE.
SO ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND AS
FOR THE CORPORATE HEADS ON THE
NETWORKS IN NEW YORK, I MEAN, I
THINK THE PROFIT LINE, THE
BOTTOM LINE, BEAN COUNTERS AND
EVERYTHING, THAT NEWS HAS BECOME
SECONDARY.
>> I INTERVIEWED A FELLOW WHO
WAS A LONGTIME NEWSMAN IN
MILWAUKEE, LITERALLY PUT THE
FIRST NEWSCAST ON TELEVISION IN
THIS CITY BACK IN THE LATE
1940'S AND I ASKED HIM WHAT IS
NEWS AND HE SAID WHEN HE STARTED
OUT, NEWS MEANT TELLING PEOPLE
WHAT THEY NEEDED TO KNOW.
NOW IT'S SHOWING PEOPLE WHAT
THEY WANT TO SEE.
THAT TO ME IS AN UNBRIDGEBLE
GULF.
>> IT'S A VERY GOOD DEFINITION
NOW, AND YOU KNOW, I STILL WANT
PEOPLE TO READ NEWSPAPERS,
BECAUSE I DON'T THINK -- I SAY
GREAT REPORTERS, I THINK, WHERE
NETWORKS COME TO THE WHITE HOUSE
AT 5:30 A.M., NIRVANA BECOMES TO
GET A MINUTE OR A MINUTE AND A
HALF ON THE 6:30 P.M. NEWS AND
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ALL DAY.
I MEAN, YOU SURE CANNOT TELL THE
STORY IN THAT KIND OF --
>> YET NEWSPAPER READERSHIP IS
DECLINING.
>> VERY MUCH SO.
I MEAN, THE INTERNET AND ALL OF
THESE THINGS.
YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT ALL
THE WORTH OF NEWSPAPER.
A NEWSPAPER ENGULFS YOU.
YOU'RE NOT JUST GETTING ONE
STORY, YOU'RE GETTING
EVERYTHING.
I READ A NEWSPAPER WITH A BOX OF
KLEENEX BY MY SIDE.
THINGS ARE SO SAD THESE DAYS.
>> DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE A
REPORTER, A JOURNALIST?
>> FROM MY HIGH SCHOOL DAYS, MY
SOPHOMORE, I SAW MY BY LINE IN
THE HIGH SCHOOL PAPER AND MY EGO
SWELLED AND STARTED WORKING ON
THE SCHOOL PAPER, WHICH IS
USUALLY THE TRACK, YOU KNOW, AND
I LOVED OF THE AM BEEENS, THE
CAMARADERIE, THE SENSE OF
INDEPENDENCE, YOU COULD CUT SOME
CLASSES, I COULD BE NOSEY.
>> YOU COULD INDULGE YOUR
KNOWSINESS.
I HAVE A -- NOSEYNESS.
I HAVE A FEELING YOU DIDN'T
START BEING NOSEY WHEN YOU GOT
ON THE PAPER.
>> CURIOSITY I THINK YOU HAVE TO
HAVE, TH ENTHUSIASM, ENERGY, THE
THINGS -- YOU HAVE TO WANT TO BE
THERE.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME YOU
WERE HERE, ALSO A HEALTHY DOSE
OF SKEPTICISM.
>> RIGHT.
>> WERE YOU ALWAYS THAT WAY?
>> I THINK -- YES, I ALWAYS WAS.
ONCE I WAS ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD AND
A FRIEND CAME TO OUR HOME, AND I
KEPT ASKING HER QUESTIONS ABOUT
HER DRESS AND THIS AND THAT, AND
SHE SAID TO ME, YOU'RE SO
INQUISITIVE, WHICH WAS A MILE
LONG WORD, SO I HAVE WENT TO MY
SISTER AND SAID WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN?
WHAT'S INQUISITIVE?
ANYWAY, I SOON FOUND OUT.
>> WHAT WERE NEWSROOMS LIKE WHEN
YOU STARTED?
I ALWAYS THINK OF BEN HECK'S
PLAY, THE FRONT PAGE.
>> I THINK THAT WAS A PRETTY
GOOD REPLICA.
ACTUALLY HAD A TREMENDOUS SENSE.
I REMEMBER MY FAMILY, WHEN I
STARTED WORNGING FOR U. --
WORKING FOR U.P.I., THERE WERE
25 TELETYPES, AND MY FAMILY CAME
TO SEE ME AND THEY SAID HOW DO
YOU STAND THIS NOISE?
I SAID WHAT NOISE?
SO NO, THERE WAS AN EXCITEMENT
WHEN THERE'S A BIG STORY
BREWING, EVERYBODY WAS IN IT, AN
EVEN PEOPLE WHO HAD ALREADY LEFT
UPI WOULD CALL IN AND SAY DO YOU
NEED ANY HELP.
>> HOW ACCEPTED WERE YOU AS A
WOMAN?
THERE WEREN'T MANY IN THE
NEWSROOMS.
>> I HATE TO THINK IT, BUT IT'S
REALLY TRUE THAT I GOT MY BREAK
BECAUSE THEY WERE DRAFTING EVERY
YOUNG MAN WHO HAD A PULSE.
IF HE WAS BREATHING, HE WAS
GOING TO WORLD WAR II, AND IN
WORLD WAR II, A LOT OF WOMEN GOT
HIRED, AND FIRED RIGHT AFTER THE
WAR.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> YOU CAN GO HOME NOW.
>> BECAUSE THE PUBLISHERS AND
EDITORS DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT
THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE EXPLODING,
I MEAN, THE GROWING PAINS, AND
THE YOUNG G.I.'S, COLLEGE
EDUCATED, BUT 21, 22 YEARS OLD,
WHO WERE MAKING $24 A WEEK, THEY
LEARNED ABOUT THE CHIP, THEY
LEARNED ALL THE NEW TECHNOLOGY,
THEY CAME BACK AS COLONELS AND
MAJORS, AND SO FORTH, AND THEY
WEREN'T ABOUT TO COME BACK AND
BE A CUB REPORTER, SO -- BUT
THEY DID GET RID OF A LOT OF
WOMEN AND THEN THEY FINALLY
STARTED REHIRING IN THE 1950'S.
>> WHAT KIND OF STORIES WERE YOU
COVERING BACK THEN?
>> I WAS WRITING LOCAL RADIO
NEWS AND I WAS EDITING A WIRE
WHERE YOU SHORTENED THE STORIES
AND -- THE MAJOR STORIES FOR THE
BUREAUS IF WASHINGTON AND THE
FEDERAL AGENCIES AND SO FORTH,
AND I WAS DOING SOME PERSONALITY
PROFILES.
BUT --
>> YOU DIDN'T EVER HAVE TO DO
THE SOCIAL PAGE THOUGH?
>> NO.
ACTUALLY, NOT.
BUT WOMEN HAD BEEN RELEGATED TO
THAT BEFORE THE WAR.
SO FORTH.
YOU APPLIED FOR A JOB AND YOU
WERE A WOMAN, YOU WERE USUALLY
SHUNTED TO THE SOCIETY PAGES,
WHICH WASN'T BAD, BECAUSE THERE
WAS A LOT OF NEWS IN THE SOCIAL
PAGES.
>> SALLY GREEN MADE A CAREER OUT
OF IT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SURE DID.
>> WHAT WAS -- WHAT WAS THE
THING THAT BROKE YOU OUT OF
BEING THAT PERSON ON THE SMALL
TOWN INTO COMING TO WASHINGTON?
>> DETROIT IS NOT A SAW POND.
>> THAT'S WHERE YOU STARTED,
RIGHT?
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A BIG TOWN.
>> THAT'S STILL A BIG TOWN.
>> WELL, I WAS -- IT WAS WARTIME
AND I THOUGHT THAT THAT'S WHERE
THE STORY IS.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN
HISTORY, AND I HAD A COUSIN WHO
WAS IN WASHINGTON, SO I CAME TO
VISIT HER ON THE PRETEXT, BUT
ALSO TO LOOK FOR A JOB.
>> TALK ABOUT SOME PRESIDENTS.
WE TALKED THE LAST TIME A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT CLINTON AND NIXON,
SHOULD BILL CLINTON HAVE BEEN
IMPEACHED?
>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
I MEAN, I REALLY THINK THAT HE
CERTAINLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHERE HE WAS, AND I THINK HE
MISSED HIS CHANCE FOR GREATNESS,
BUT I THINK HE WAS A GOOD
PRESIDENT, IN MANY WAYS.
>> I ALWAYS FELT HE SHOULDN'T
HAVE BEEN ASKED THAT QUESTION.
>> HE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN.
>> WHAT'S ANY MAN GOING TO SAY?
>> HIS PROBLEM WAS THAT HE HIRED
A HIGH POWERED WASHINGTON
LAWYER, INSTEAD OF A GOOD
CRIMINAL LAWYER WHEN HE WAS
BEING DEPOSED, THE LAWYER SHOULD
HAVE SAID, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
ONE WOMAN, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO BE PROBING AND FISHING AND SO
FORTH, BUT --
>> HE WAS LIKE A PIT BULL.
>> HE HAD THIS BOB BENNETT, BILL
BENNETT'S BROTHER, AND I THINK
THEY WERE IN SUCH AN ELITE SIDE,
THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHO THEY
WERE -- WHAT THEY HAD TO DEFEND.
>> AND HE ENDED UP, BECAUSE HE
LIED IN THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT
REALLY CAUSED ALL THE PROBLEMS?
>> IT WAS -- IT WAS BIZARRE.
BIZARRE.
WHO ELSE WOULD HAVE BEEN, YOU
KNOW, I MEAN, -- BUT OF COURSE
HE MADE TERRIBLE MISTAKES BY
SAYING ANYTHING.
HE SHOULD HAVE JUST SAVED NO
COMMENT.
THIS IS THE WAY GEORGE BUSH 41
HANDLED THIS WHEN HE WAS ASKED
BY A BROADCASTER.
>> OH, THAT'S RIGHT.
I FORGOT ABOUT THAT.
>> ARE YOU ASKING ME IN THE OVAL
OFFICE?
I MEAN, GOT ON HIS HIGH HORSE.
HOW DARE YOU.
>> IS IT FUN TO BE THE KIND OF
REPORTER YOU'VE BONE?
>> OF COURSE.
-- YOU'VE BEEN?
>> OF COURSE.
EVERY MINUTES.
>> WHAT ARE THE PERKS?
>> I THINK IT'S VERY REWARDING
TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE COVERING
HISTORY EVERY DAY, I MEAN, I'M
ALWAYS GLAMOURIZING IT, BUT IT'S
REALLY TRUE.
YOU ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE
POWERS THAT BE WHO MAKE THE
DECISIONS FOR ALL MANKIND.
YOU'RE CONSTANTLY LEARNING.
WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU WANT?
>> AND PLUS YOU GET TO RIDE ON
AIR FORCE ONE.
>> I RODE ON AIR FORCE ONE A
LOT.
>> THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
>> IT IS.
BUT YOU DON'T DARE FALL ASLEEP.
BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT MIGHT COME
BACK AND SAY SOMETHING, SO
YOU'RE ALWAYS --
>> IS IT -- THAT LOOKED VERY
GLAMOROUS TO ME, BUT I KNOW A
LOT OF REPORTERS, I'VE DONE JUST
A TINY BIT OF REPORTING, AND
WHAT I REMEMBER MOST IS NEVER
GETTING A BITE TO EAT AND NEVER
GETTING A CANS TO GO TO THE BAT
PROEM.
>> WELL, YOU SHOULD -- CHANCE TO
GO TO THE BATHROOM.
>> WELL, YOU SHOULD NEVER PASS
UP THOSE CHANCES MENT'S ON ITS
CAMPAIGN THEY HAVE TRY TO
ACCOMMODATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
BUT IF YOU'RE WRITING A STORY,
THE STORY IS THE THING, AND YOU
DON'T HAVE TIME TO.
>> AND ONCE THE CANDIDATE MOVES,
YOU GO WITH HIM.
AND YOU DIDN'T GET THAT
SANDWICH --
>> THAT'S IT.
>> HE DID.
>> BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE GET FAT
ON THOSE.
THEY EAT A LOT OF JUNK FOOD.
>> AT WHAT POINT DOES A
PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL LIFE BECOME
FAIR GAME?
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT YOU
SHOULD NEVER BE ASKED THAT
QUESTION AND ALL THEN THE FORCE
CAME OUT.
>> IT'S ALL FAIR GAME NOW,
BECAUSE E EVEN IF THE MAINSTREAM
PRESS STAYED AWAY FROM THE STORY
BECAUSE THEY FELT PRIVATE
LIFE-PERSONAL LIFE, IT DOESN'T
HAPPEN ANYMORE BECAUSE THE
TABLOIDS ARE SURE TO CARRY IT
AND WE WOULD BE ACCUSED IN THE
MAINSTREAM OF COVERING UP, SO IF
YOU WANT A PRIVATE LIFE, I USED
TO SAY, DON'T GO INTO PUBLIC
LIFE, AND YOU SHOULD DECIDE AT
THE AGE OF 5 AND LIVE
ACCORDINGLY.
IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO --
>> MY DAD ALWAYS SAID IF YOU
THINK YOU'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING
WRONG, RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE AND
YOU FIND OUT.
BUT PRESIDENT KENNEDY WAS FAR
MORE ACTIVE THAN PRESIDENT
CLINTON.
>> IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD.
WE HAD A *** REVOLUTION, A
REVOLUTION IN THE 1960'S, THE
WHOLE TURN AROUND OF OUR SOCIAL
LIFE AND SO FORTH.
BEFORE THAT, THERE WAS A BASIC
GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT, THAT YOU
DIDN'T REALLY RIGHT ABOUT
SOMETHING UNLESS IT IMPINGED ON
THEIR PUBLIC DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES.
OTHERWISE, IT WAS NO MAN'S LAND.
>> DID YOU KNOW ABOUT HIS
PRIVATE LIFE?
>> NO, THERE WERE ALWAYS RUMOR
THOUGH.
I DIDN'T PERSONALLY KNOW.
SECRET SERVICE PROBABLY KNEW AND
REPORTERS WHO WERE WITH HIM, BUT
I SAW HIM AS A DIFFERENT PERSON,
YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T REALLY -- I
GUESS IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT
MUCH, BECAUSE I THOUGHT WHAT
KIND OF A PRESIDENT IS HE.
>> IT SEEMS TO ME THAT'S WHAT IT
WOULD HAVE TO COME DOWN TO, THAT
WE --
>> AT THE SAME TIME.
>> FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT.
>> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN,
YOU KNOW, IN THIS DAY AND AGE.
THE LINE WAS DRAWN IN THE PAST.
>> AND NOW, ANYTHING IS FAIR
GAME.
OF COURSE YOU ALSO HAVE THE
INTERNET.
HOW HAS THAT AFFECTED THE WORLD
OF THE PRESS?
>> WELL, EVERYONE WITH A LAPTOP
THKS THEY'RE JOURNALISTS.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT, YOU
KNOW.
SOMETIMES THEY'RE RIGHT ON
TARGET AND OTHER TIMES, BUT THEY
HAVE NO STANDARDS FOR ACCURACY
AND THEY'RE NOT -- OUR REPORTS
ARE ON THE FRONT PAGE EVERY DAY,
AND WE'RE -- AND THERE ARE
10,000 PEOPLE WHO CAN
IMMEDIATELY FIND OUT WHETHER
YOU'RE RIGHT OR WRONG, AND SO
YOU CAN'T AFFORD THAT.
>> IT'S A -- IT'S ABSOLUTELY
WIDE OPEN, THERE'S SO MUCH -- I
THINK WE HAVE SO MUCH
INFORMATION AND SO LITTLE
UNDERSTANDING THESE DAYS.
>> I THINK THERE'S A LOT TO
THAT, BECAUSE OF TIME ELEMENT.
EVERYTHING IS MOVING SO FAST.
NO ONE STOPS TO WAIT FOR THE
EXPLANATION.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY WE'RE IN
THIS WAR.
AND TO THIS DAY, THREE AND A
HALF YEARS PLUS, WE STILL DON'T
HAVE A LEGITIMATE EXPLANATION
FOR BEING IN A WAR IN IRAQ.
>> HAVE YOU ASKED YOUR FINAL
QUESTION TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES, BECAUSE I DON'T
BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING TO GET
CALLED ON IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
YEARS.
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
IT'S BEEN FUN.
>> YOU GOT IT OUT THERE.
NO ONE EVER ACCUSED YOU OF BEING
SHY.
>> NO.
>> IS THAT ONE OF THE ATTRIBUTES
THAT A GOOD REPORTER HAS.
TELL ME WHAT MAKES A GOOD
REPORTER.
>> WHAT MAKES A GOOD REPORTER IS
TO BE -- HAVE A NOSE FOR NEWS IN
FACT, AND BE WILLING TO PUT
EVERYTHING ASIDE FOR THE STORY.
THE STORY IS THE SAME AND YOU'RE
ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR LAST STORY,
LIT REAM.
YOU DON'T REST -- LITERALLY.
YOU DON'T REST ON ANY LAURELS.
BUT I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO BE
POLITE OF COURSE, EVERYBODY
DESERVES THAT, AND THEY ALSO CAN
SAY NO COMMENT.
YOU CAN'T -- YOU SHOULDN'T FORCE
ANYTHING OUT OF PEOPLE, AND YOU
SHOULD BE COURTEOUS, BUT YOU
SHOULD ASK THE QUESTIONS, AND IF
YOU WERE SCK IT, YOU'D DO IT IN
FOUR PARAGRAPHS TO KEEP THE
CAMERA ON YOU, BUT I BELIEVE THE
SHORTEST DISTANCE --
>> YOU KNOW ME SO WELL AND WE
HARDLY MET.
>> THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN
TWO POINTS IS A STRAIGHT LINE.
WHY DID YOU DO IT?
WHY IS MY FAVORITE QUESTION.
>> WHO WERE THE PEOPLE YOU
LOOKED UP TO?
>> GIGGLES.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO INSULT YOU.
I MEANT BROADCASTERS.
>> TO BE INSULTED BY HELEN
THOMAS IS NOT A NEGATIVE.
>> THEY KNOW HOW TO HOLD THE
CAMERA.
>> WHO WERE THE PEOPLE YOU
LOOKED UP TO AS YOU WERE COMING
UP IN THIS PROFESSION?
>> MAYOR PRINCIPAL SMITH, WHO
WAS -- MR. SMITH, WHO WAS IN
DALLAS, HE WAS IN THE THIRD CAR
FOR UNITED PRESS, HE KNEW OF THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GUNSHOT AND
BACK FIRE, HE HAD THE WIN DOPE
DOWN, CALLED IN THE BULLETIN,
WON THE PULITZER ON THAT.
MY LATE HUSBAND, WHO WAS WITH
THE A.P., HAD COVERED WHITE
HOUSE FROM F.D.R. ON.
>> CEDRIC CORNELL.
>> AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II HE
HAD DISPATCHES LAID OUT IN
BERLIN, LONDON, TOKYO,
WASHINGTON, YOU NAME IT.
AND HE DICTATED THE END OF THE
WAR.
STANDING OVER A TELETYPE.
THE EDITOR CAME OVER AND LOOKED
AT IT, TOOK ONE LOOK AT THE
FIRST PARAGRAPH, SAID LET IT
ROLL.
HE DICTATED FOR AN HOUR AND A
HALF THE END OF THE WAR.
>> NO KIDDING.
WOW!
THAT'S KIND OF INTERESTING.
>> BUT THAT WAS HIS FORTHE, TO
BE ABLE TO PUT EVERYTHING AND
THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE IN THE
WRAPUP STORIES IN A.P., WHEN
IT'S COMING FROM 10 DIFFERENT
DIRECTIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR PRONOUNCING
THAT WORTH CORRECTLY, FORTE,
EVERYONE SAY FORTE, IT SHOULD BE
FORTH FORT E.
YOUR HUSBAND WAS CALLED
MR. HABEAS CORPUS, WHY?
>> BECAUSE HE COVERED FUNERALS
SO WELL.
>> I'M GLAD I BROUGHT THAT UP.
>> HE CAN GET ALL THE COLOR -- I
MEAN, HE HAD A GREAT EMPATHY
WITH PEOPLE, AND A TREMENDOUS
WRITER.
>> WHAT IS YOUR FORTE?
>> NOTHING?
>> NO, NO.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET AWAY SO
EASILY.
>> I JUST -- I THINK MY FORTE IS
KNOWING THAT IT'S A GREAT
PROFESSION AND WANTING -- I
MEAN, I GUESS I WALK IN WHERE
ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD, BECAUSE I
THINK I SHOULD.
>> FEARLESSNESS ON OUR BEHALF.
>> I THINK IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO
QUESTION AN OFFICIAL, BUT I
DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD BLOW IT,
YOU KNOW.
YOU SHOULD REALLY BE READY TO --
AND I DON'T BULLY OR ANYTHING.
I CERTAINLY DON'T -- I JUST ASK
THEM STRAIGHT, WHY.
>> SOMETIMES THEY DISLIKE YOU
FOR THAT.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH BEING
DISLIKED?
>> SURE.
>> YOU ARE.
>> I HAVE MEAN, I DON'T LIKE
BEING DISLIKED.
BUT I DON'T MIND, I WOULDN'T
CHANGE MY POSITION UNLESS IT
PROVED OTHERWISE, SO I DON'T --
WE NEVER WENT INTO THIS
PROFESSION TO BELOVED.
FAR FROM IT.
>> I WONDER IF THAT'S STILL AS
TRUE, WHEN I SEE PEOPLE GLUED TO
THE TELEVISION AND TELEVISION
STATIONS HIRING PEOPLE WHO ARE
GOOD LOOKING, WHO READ WELL,
HAVE GOOD EYE CONTACT, BUT I
WONDER HOW OFTEN THEY ASK, DO
YOU READ ANYTHING.
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IN YOUR
LIBRARY.
>> I HONESTLY THINK THAT MOST OF
THE BROADCASTERS NOW, AND
REPORTERS ARE VERY GOOD, I MEAN,
THEY REALLY HAVE TO BE UP,
BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH
COMPETITION FOR THEIR JOBS AND
SO FORTH.
AND IT'S TRUE, YOU HAVE TO BE
PROBABLY BEAUTIFUL IN MANY WAYS
TO GET THOSE KIND OF JOBS, BUT
AT THE SAME TIME I THINK THEY
REALLY ARE GOOD.
AND THEY'RE LEARNING.
>> THAT'S ENCOURAGING.
AND I --O, THEY ARE.
THEY'RE ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS
NOW.
THEY'RE COMING OUT OF THEIR COMA
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> WHAT -- IF WE WERE SITTING
HERE WITH A ROOMFUL OF COLLEGE
JOURNALISM STUDENTS, WHAT WOULD
YOU TELL THEM?
>> I WOULD TELL THEM THEY'RE ON
THE RIGHT TRACK, THAT THEY WILL
NEVER -- THE ONLY PEOPLE I HAVE
EVER KNOWN WHO HAVE REGRETTED
GOING INTO THE PROFESSION WERE
THOSE WHO HAD TO LEAVE TO PUT
THE KIDS THROUGH COLLEGE, TO
MAKE MORE MONEY, TO GO INTO
PUBLIC RELATIONS AND SO FORTH.
THAT YOU -- WHEN YOU WANT TO GET
UP IN THE MORNING AND FIND OUT
WHAT'S GOING ON AND YOU LOVE
YOUR JOB, THAT'S WHAT I'VE
ENCOUNTERED EVERYWHERE FOR A
JOURNALIST.
>> AND YOU MET SOME FASCINATING
PEOPLE.
WHO ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT
STAND OUT?
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
ONES THAT YOU LOOKED UP TO.
>> I THINK WALTER CON CRIET,
BILL MOYERS WHO HAD BEEN A PRESS
SECRETARY TO LBJ.
DONAHUE I LIKE VERY MUCH IN THE
BROADCASTING.
JAMES WESTIN OF NEW YORK
"NEW YORK TIM
TIMES": -- OF "NEW YORK TIMES."
BOB HERBERT OF "NEW YORK TIMES"
WRITING GREAT COLUMNS.
I LIKE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HEART AND
SOUL AND IT COMES THROUGH IN
THEIR WORK.
>> WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE CORPORATE MANAGEMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE NBC, CBS, AND ABC
ANY MORE.
WE HAVE GENERAL ELECTRIC AND
DISANY AND VIACOM FOR CBS.
THAT SEEMS TO ME TO BE A REALLY
CONTRARY POSITION TO BE IN.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
IN THE OLD DAYS, SURE, THEY
WANTED TO MAKE MONEY, NO DOUBT
ABOUT IT, BUT THEY ALSO HAD A
GREAT RESPECT FOR AN INDEPENDENT
NEWS DIVISION, AND DANIEL SHORE
TOLD ME THE STORY, SAID THAT
ONCE A YEAR AT LEAST, BILL PALEY
WOULD MEET WITH ALL THE
CORRESPONDENTS --
>> OUT OF CBS WE SHOULD MENTION.
>> EITHER IN LONDON OR NEW YORK,
OR GO TO A RESTAURANT, AND ONCE
THE CORRESPONDENT SAID TO HIM,
PALEY SAID WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE
BOTTOM LINE, AND HE SAID, YOU
GET THE STORY AND I'LL WORRY
ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE.
I DON'T THINK YOU HEAR THAT
ANYMORE.
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
WHY DID ED MORROW FALL OUT OF
FAVOR WITH PALEY?
>> BECAUSE PALEY THOUGHT HE WAS
LOSING MONEY I THINK.
I THINK HE THOUGHT HE WAS
WALKING THE LINE, GETTING TOO
CLOSE TO CHALLENGING THE POWERS
THAT BE.
I THINK EVERYBODY RETREATS A
LITTLE BIT UNDER THAT KIND OF
ONUS FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
>> AND OF COURSE, MORROW TOOK ON
JOE MCCARTHY.
I HAVE TO MENTION THIS BOOK
AGAIN, D "WATCHDOGS OF DEMOCRAC"
WITH A QUESTION MARK AND BELIEVE
ME YOU WILL FIND IT FASCINATING
WITH HELEN THOMAS, FORMERLY UPI
AND NOW HEARST NEWSPAPERS.
THIEWP BEING WITH US.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT TIME AS WE
CONTINUE TO REMEMBER.