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Mystery: No One Knows Why Helen Thomas’ White House Briefing Room Nameplate Is Missing

by Tommy Christopher | 10:42 am, August 12th, 2010

» 13 comments

It has been a little over two months since Helen Thomas‘ whirlwind retirement, and while the final days of her career were filled with controversy, she remains a historic figure in journalism. That’s why I suggested, several months ago, that the nameplate from her front row center seat be enshrined on a plaque, either in the briefing room or at the WHCA.

On Monday, I noticed that the nameplate was gone, and in trying to find out what would be done with it, discovered that it is missing, that no one knows what happened to it.

Sources within the White House and the White House Correspondents Association don’t know where the nameplate is, and only found out it was missing when I asked what the plans for it were. A WHCA source told me, “I have a sick feeling someone just pried it off of there.”

I also spoke with Helen this morning, to make sure no one had taken it and given it to her, and so she wouldn’t read the news elsewhere. Told the nameplate is missing, Helen said, “You’re kidding. No, nobody gave it to me. Maybe they threw it in the trash.”

Not likely. In the months since her retirement, Helen’s seat has remained the number one attraction for visitors to the briefing room, right up there with the obligatory picture from behind Gibbs’ podium. Her seat was the only one with an individual’s name on it. The rest are marked by news outlet, and many were mislabeled even before the recent seating reshuffle. Her nameplate is a valuable piece of history, and it belongs either in her hands, or on public display.

Regardless of the nameplate’s location, though, neither the White House nor the WHCA was considering such a display, anyway. Evidently, the plan was to give it to Helen, and let her decide what to do with it.

If you have any knowledge of the nameplate’s whereabouts, email us. Hopefully, it turns up, and this important piece of history can be properly preserved. This is what it looks like:

Helen Thomas, WHCA, White House briefing room, White House Correspondents Association, White House Press Corps

http://apostrophejones.com Apostrophe jones

Just in : Reporter Tommy Christopher spotted leaving briefing room , tucking screwdriver into his coat pocket . (While wearing Lone Ranger – type mask and knit hat .)
Constantly

Tommy did you check under your mattress?
NORBIT

It’s not missing, Tommy, she just sewed it into her Swatztika Armband!
http://none pyrope

Uh, could it be that Thomas is now persona non grata?
tigerprez

Why not just replace her chair with a lifesize statue with a variety of pre-recorded antisemitic slurs? It would be like she never left!
BatBoy

I hear it is being held in a drawer labeled “Racists & Bigots” at the local Wax Museum for possible future use!
essequamvideri

So this is what Tommy Boy’s been up to? Running around DC as errand boy to the Wicked Witch?

He can’t seem to find the time to issue a retraction/correction/clarification/mea culpa (HA!) in response to this polite request by Retracto at Breitbart:

http://bigjournalism.com/retracto/2010/08/11/correction-request-tommy-christopher-mediaite/#idc-container

Tommy was WRONG in his story on Breitbart’s charges regarding the useful fiction of the n-word being yelled by Tea Party protestors towards the CBC as they strolled with Empress Pelosi & her Great Big Gavel on the day of the vote on ObamaCare.

He REFUSES to retract his WRONG story. Racist much, Tommy? You must be. Apparently you think you are so much smarter than Rep. John Lewis that you can put words in his mouth.
Latin2

The plague was moved and is going to be prominently placed in the front entrance of the new Ground Zero mosque, with the words “In your face America!!!”
http://apostrophejones.com Apostrophe jones

Well , someone knows . That Maynard G. ( Chuck ) Todd looks kind of shifty to me .
http://apostrophejones.com Apostrophe jones

Actually , you may want to frisk that Savannah Guthrie . I doubt she took it . Just sounded like a good idea .
brokenheart

Who really gives a rats ass, except maybe the rat. Didn’t I see that rat run across the lawn when Barry was feeding us some B.S not long ago???
Cancon1

brokenheart says:
August 12, 2010 at 7:59 pm brokenheart(Quote)
1 0
Who really gives a rats ass, except maybe the rat. Didn’t I see that rat run across the lawn when Barry was feeding us some B.S not long ago???

Man, am I with you, I farted 5 minutes ago as well. It was great.
http://www.facebook.com/people/ronke-a/509394975 ronke a

Tommy I hope Mediaite didn’t pay you for this crap that you wrote. This was a waste of space.