Obama praises late White House correspondent Helen Thomas for holding leaders accountable

July 20, 2013 at 5:20PM

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama calls the late White House correspondent Helen Thomas "a true pioneer" who broke down barriers "for generations of women in journalism."

Thomas, who covered 10 presidents, died Saturday in Washington. She was 92.

Obama says Thomas "never failed to keep presidents — myself included — on their toes."

He praised her for her "fierce belief" that democracy works best when "we ask tough questions and hold our leaders to account."

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