Helen Thomas, Former Dean of White House Press Corps, to Keynote ACLU of WV Bill of Rights Dinner
By HNN Staff
South Charleston, WV (HNN) – The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia Foundation is pleased to announce that Helen Thomas, former White House Bureau Chief for United Press International, will be the keynote speaker for this year's Bill of Rights Dinner to be held on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. at the India Center, 800 Green Road in South Charleston.
The Bill of Rights Dinner is the ACLU's annual benefit that brings together civil libertarians from around the state to celebrate the year's past victories in defense of the Constitution. The event also honors those who have helped to make those victories possible and looks ahead to the challenges of the coming year.
"We are delighted to have as our keynote speaker a prominent journalist who is a passionate and dedicated advocate of a free press and the First Amendment," said Andrew Schneider, Executive Director of the ACLU of West Virginia. "Her speech will be very timely given the trend by Washington towards restricting public access to Federal records and the recent controversy over journalists' refusal to reveal confidential sources."
Helen Thomas served for 57 years as a correspondent for United Press International and has been covering the White House for them from the time John F. Kennedy took office in 1961 through the current presidency of George W. Bush. Thomas, who is now a columnist for Hearst Newspapers, has broken down many barriers for women journalists. In addition to serving as the President of the Women's National Press Club from 1959-1960 (which has since merged with the National Press Club), she was the first woman officer of the National Press Club after it opened its doors to women members following a 90-year span of all-male membership. She also became the first female officer of the White House Correspondents Association and its first woman President in 1975-76. Ms. Thomas became the first female member of the Gridiron Club in 1975, at the time a 90-year institution, and its President in 1993-1994.
The ACLU of West Virginia will also honor State Senator Randy White and ACLU-WV cooperating attorneys Allan Karlin and Robert Bastress for their contributions to civil liberties at the November 19 benefit.
Tickets for the event are $75 and can be reserved by contacting the ACLU of West Virginia at (304) 345-9246.