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Richard Cochrane is trained in chemistry and metallurgy but is far more interested and practiced as a political and fund raising consultant, writer and amateur historian. He grew up in a Navy family and with his two younger brothers carried on its 500+ year tradition of naval service to Great Britain and the USA then enjoyed a career with one of the largest advertising and public relations agencies working with numerous Fortune 500 companies and many of America's premier educational institutions. He maintains friendships and acquaintanceships around the world. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

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Helen Thomas Is 89 - Won’t Stay In Attic

August 6th, 2008 • Richard Cochrane
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Thank you Mr President (Kennedy to Bush)

Has been UPI White House Bureau Chief for 25 years.

White House reporter Helen Thomas, the “Crazy Lady Who Won’t Stay in the Attic”, celebrated her 89th birthday on August 4th. Born in Kentucky in 1920 to Lebanese parents, reared in Detroit a 1942 Wayne State University graduate (then Wayne University) she has been a lifelong journalist. Thomas has covering the White House as UPI White House Bureau Chief for 25-years and Presidents Kennedy, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, H. W. Bush , Clinton and G. W. Bush with her signature “Thank you, Mr. President” closing every news conference.

A dedicated Democrat and self-avowed liberal she laments press corp efforts at unbiased, non-partisan coverage. Now in her dotage and long called the “Sitting Buddha” her increasing truculence and intransigence has consigned her to purgatory by the current White House, and to avoidance by many around Washington D. C. In July 18, 2006 she attacked the later White House Press Secretary Tony Snow demanding the U. S. intervene in the then Lebanese War provoking him to respond “Thank you for the Hezbollah view.”

Thomas developed a stomach infection in May 2008, and has not appeared in press conferences or written her weekly column since. She is expected to recover and return to work as the longest serving reporter to report on the White House in American history and will continue to try to gum conservatives to death.

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