I do remember her during the Reagan years. I can still hear him saying "Helen?" when prompting her to ask her first question. And SC, you are correct :

"In November, 1960, Ms. Thomas began covering then President-elect John F. Kennedy, following him to the White House in January, 1961 as a member of the UPI team, then headed by the late Merriman Smith. It was during this first White House assignment that Helen Thomas began closing Presidential press conferences with "Thank you, Mr. President," a custom that continued."




http://www.harrywalker.com/speakers_template_printer.cfm?Spea_ID=222


Don Cardi