White House handles Helen Thomas' fan mail

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/blogs/yeas-and-nays/Almost-Famous_-White-House-handles-Helen-Thomas_-fan-mail-90040487.html

White House handles Helen Thomas' fan mail
By: Nikki Schwab and Tara Palmeri
Washington Examiner
04/06/10 9:00 PM EDT


Hearst Newspapers columnist Helen Thomas has become such a Washington fixture that she receives fan mail. And because she's known for her White House reportage it's the White House Lower Press Office that gets some of it.

Much like the United States Postal Service accepts Santa Claus' mail heading to the North Pole, the staffers at the Lower Press Office sift through her mail -- addressed to Helen Thomas, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue -- and give it to the veteran White House correspondent every three months.

"That's us," press staffer Katie Hogan told Yeas & Nays. "We sort through Helen's fan mail."

Thomas apparently views it as a good thing too, having joked that she's happy her mail is "screened" for security, her publicist Diane Nine revealed.

"Obviously, people in the public eye can also have detractors," Nine continued. It's not surprising that the 89-year-old journo has accumulated some fans over the years.

She has covered every presidential campaign since John F. Kennedy's in 1960 (he remains her favorite president), written numerous books and has a reserved front-row seat, plaque and all, in the White House's James S. Brady Press Briefing Room. She's also become a figure in pop culture, appearing in the films "The American President" and "Dave" and assisting Stephen Colbert in royally roasting President George W. Bush during the comedian's infamous White House Correspondents Association Dinner appearance.

Oh, and for those not willing to send snail mail, the journalist has a Facebook fan group, with more than 2,100 members, as well. Thomas was traveling Tuesday and not available for comment.

[Jennicut]

1. I love her, she is an institution.

I don't always agree with her 100% of the time, but I love that she is getting more respect from this administration then the last. She does her job well, and is a real journalist. And she handles it all at 89! Same age as my Grandma.

[Ian David]

3. Helen Thomas is younger than McCain. n/t

[Jennicut]

6. She certainly acts like it!

McCain is a very old 73.

[lunatica]

2. She answers her emails too.

She's no unreachable princess in her ivory tower. Helen Thomas is a devoted journalist through and through.

[Arkana]

4. Counting down till someone says that the Obama administration throws out/alters her fan mail

to make her seem less popular.

[GentryDixon]

5. Which is most likely what happened during the Bush

terror reign.