Helen Thomas: Reagan Was A Freeloader?

Just an interesting tidbit that might help reveal some of the mindset behind at least one White House reporter that covered Ronald Reagan during his presidency, Helen Thomas. It isn't shocking, or overly embarrassing. As a result of a post of mine on her that's gotten a lot of attention, an individual who interacted with her professionally during the Reagan years forwarded me an email exchange with Ms. Thomas after she penned an article on the Reagan diaries in June. Not wanting to be played, I asked that the email be sent as an attachment, which it subsequently was. Her published piece concludes:

As a reporter having covered him for eight years in the White House, I am sure the press could have done a better job if we had known the real Ronald Reagan.

But is that true? Apparently not.

From: xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:xxxxxxxxxx.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 6:18 PM
To: (Helen Thomas)

Subject: Reagan's Diaries

Ms Thomas, I just read your piece on President Reagan's diaries.  I'm sorry to have to say this, but you had no excuse not to get to know President Reagan.  I was a member of the military staff serving at the White House all during the Reagan administration.  I've met you several times, during both social and business occasions.  After all these years I remember well the attitude you displayed during trips to, in particular Santa Barbara and the Ranch.  You showed no sense of curiosity toward the President's policies and I thought showed only the utmost disdain for the man, his Presidency, and his achievements.  For you now, 20-some years after the fact to write that "if we had known the real Ronald Reagan" you could have done a better job is, to be polite, disingenuous.  You had the opportunity then.  You chose not to take
advantage of it.

Sincerely,

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ms. Thomas' reply:

I still have disdain for (a) president subsidized most of his adult life by his rich friends, even his retirement home;  who hated the poor and unions even tho  he was head of a union six times; helent;

I like presidents who have more heart

Have to love that open, inquisitive mind of a prominent journalist. No wonder many people are opting to read blogs, instead.

Comments

[IslamoLlama]

How dare Helen Thomas not give gushing praise to St. Ronney? Doesn't she know that she's just committed blasphemy? Where's a stake and some lighter fluid when you need them? There's only one way to deal with a woman like this.

Journalists openly stating their dislike for a politician. Absolutely unheard of. I mean, really.

[Techie]

And IL misses the point once again.

HT "I could have done a better job if I had known him better"

Response: "You could have, but you missed numerous opportunities."

HT "Well, I hated the guy."

Forget gushing praise, "fair shake" seems harder to come by.

[M. Murcek]

I like how she writes just like Rosie O'Donnell...

[BobInStamford]

Reagan wasn't a freeloader, he was an addled old geezer in diapers - there IS a distinction. Carry on, patriots!

[seekeronos]

"--- How dare Helen Thomas not give gushing praise to St. Ronney? Doesn't she know that she's just committed blasphemy? ---"

Actual, IL and BiS...

It's a free country (for the time being). We don't mind that you have no respect for the most excellent Ronaldus Magnus Reagan. But like "Ms." Thomas, you reveal your devoted partisan to socialism and know-nothing glib statements that belie an ignorance (to put it lightly) of who the Gipper was and was about.

And Ms. Thomas has even less of an excuse than you two two-bit anklebiters - she had every opportunity to get to know him, and threw it away out of vain pride.

[Mikey NTH]

For a journalist she was rather incurious about the person she was assigned to cover. Instead of taking the opportunity to get to know President Reagan and why he takes the policy positions he does, she came in with a closed mind and just stuck with her preconceived notions. Many historians, political scientists, and ordinary citizens would have given dearly to have the access that Ms. Thomas had, access that she never used.

I do not see why anyone considers Ms. Thomas a great journalist, by failing to find out anything than what she already thought she knew, she failed at her job. She is a pamphleteer, but not a journalist.

[David M]

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 12/08/2007 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention updated throughout the day…so check back often.
http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2007/12/web-reconnaissance-for-12082007.html

[wf]

More heart! I bet she cried when Diana died. I´ll be charitable and put it down to the leftwing herd instinct that someone actually reflexively defends this childlike drivel.

[Jim C]

BiS,

What a childish cheap shot. You are a real piece of work... or piece of something anyway. Rather than criticise the man's policies or actions, you chose a low down adhominiem attack.

Jim C