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Helen Thomas: Nixon Didn't Try to Control Press Like This

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 2, 2009 4:12 PM CDT

(Newser) – Helen Thomas has covered a lot of presidents, and she’s not much of a fan of how the current one manages the press. The 89-year-old reporter tells CNS that Obama’s White House tries to stage-manage news conferences and other media events like no other. “Nixon didn’t try to do that,” Thomas said. “They couldn’t control (the media). They didn’t try.”

She cites the recent example of the White House calling a Huffington Post reporter to give him a heads-up that he’d be allowed to ask a question, and CNS carries a transcript of her snippy exchange with press chief Robert Gibbs on the subject. “I’m not saying there has never been managed news before, but this is carried to fare-thee-well—for the town halls, for the press conferences,” she said. “It’s blatant.”

Helen Thomas, in November.
Helen Thomas, in November.   (Getty Images)
Helen Thomas, Bill Plante of CBS and Jennifer Loven of the Associated Press at a briefing in November.
Helen Thomas, Bill Plante of CBS and Jennifer Loven of the Associated Press at a briefing in November.   (Getty Images)
Helen Thomas asks a question at a White House briefing.
Helen Thomas asks a question at a White House briefing.   (AP Photo)
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What the hell do they think we are, puppets? They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them. - Helen Thomas

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 38 comments
Doctor-Zaius
Jul 3, 2009 12:48 PM CDT
Jeff Gannon.
AdaptAndOvercome
Jul 3, 2009 12:42 PM CDT
This is the same Helen Thomas that the Bush Administration had kicked out of the press room. So, maybe she is correct in saying that she's never seen it controled like this because under Bush she wouldn't have been allowed to see how and what he controled in the press room.
justme
Jul 3, 2009 12:31 PM CDT
Obama's political machine is awesome in its ability to get most of the press in line. They had better move fast, however, because I have noticed that even MSNBC and Huffington have have run/ posted negative material. The end of the honeymoon is nearing, especially with the costs of healthcare, further troop increases in Afghanistan and no end yet to the economic slide.

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