GOP 2004: Helen Thomas, the Dean of Convention Scribes

By: Joe Strupp After more than 50 years of covering political conventions, Helen Thomas complains that the quadrennial events have morphed from once-bitter floor fights over platforms and candidates into staged extravaganzas that coronate nominees.

"It will be homogenized," she predicted of this week's show. "I like pandemonium myself."

Still, the conventions are news, says the former UPI White House correspondent now writing a column for Hearst Newspapers. And as such, she's there in New York this week poised to cover the 2004 Republican National Convention with as much reporter curiosity and newshound adrenaline as she had during her first convention back in 1948. She says she had covered every convention by both parties since.

"Nothing replaces being here on the scene," a smiling Thomas told E&P during a chat Sunday at her computer in the Hearst Newspapers convention press room in the media center across the street from Madison Square Garden. "I'm a reporter, I want to see it with my own eyes. There is always a sense of excitement."

With plans to write her usual two Hearst columns -- for Wednesday and Friday deadlines -- Thomas was going over the GOP party platform, not the usual headline material, but something she considers real news in the era of staged conventions. "It's a story, it's something concrete," she said as she ticked off the anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage and pro-gun elements of the platform, which are expected to be downplayed this week.

But Thomas quickly admitted that coverage of past conventions, such as those in the 1960s, were far more fun and newsworthy. She cites the 1960 Democratic battle in Los Angeles with eight candidates as her favorite, noting "it seemed to be a real fight. It was a lot of competition (among candidates and reporters)." She also compared today's convention events to a pep rally.

Today's security also is heavier, said Thomas, although she believes the 1964 convention in San Francisco was nearly as restricted inside the convention hall. "You'd die today if you don't have your I.D.," Thomas recalled. "They were a little more freewheeling back then."

But those around her know Thomas is a legendary figure, as several fellow journalists stop by to greet her and praise her years of work as if she were a rock star or political leader herself. And when someone tells her it's a plus that she's "so nice," one of her colleagues chimes in, "Yes!"

During a pause, she remarked, "Did you see, a few more civilians killed in Fallujah? And does anyone care?"

Assigned to the same size space as every other Hearst reporter and editor on one of several long tables inside the second-floor location, Thomas' computer area shows obvious signs of someone not taking it easy. A pile of newspapers, a tissue box, a half-eaten box of popcorn and an invitation to a Hearst company dinner Sunday night cover the space.

She plans to continue her column for the near future, while also working on a book about changes in journalism from her first days up to the present (she seems to think many trends are for the worse), which is due in March 2005 and will be published by Simon and Schuster.

As a convention columnist, Thomas said she makes a point of not covering elements of the event that her Hearst colleagues are reporting on, saying she doesn't "hog the quotes." She also knows that her outspoken opinions about the president and the Republicans "makes me persona non grata." But she said the top party leaders are still accessible, and she has been invited to several parties and other GOP events since coming to town last week.

"They still talk to me," she said.