behind. the white house released this statement, michelle and i were satd to learn about the passing of helen thomas. helen was a true pioneer, opening doors and breaking down barriers for generations of women in journalism. she covered the white house since president kennedy s, and during that time, she never failed to keep presidents, myself included, on their toes. and this statement from the white house correspondents association. she, by the way, was the first female president of the white house correspondents association. they say, women and men who followed in the press corps all owe a debt of gratitude for the work of helen that she did and the doors that she opened. all of our journalism is the better for it. and i think we saw some of the strongest comments come from some of my colleagues who continue to be reporters to this very day. mark noller, the sort of unofficial historian here at the white house. he tweeted out today, helen had her faults, but as a news gatherer,