"She never failed to keep presidents — myself included — on their toes," commented US President Barack Obama upon learning of Helen Thomas' July 20 death at the age of 92. This description encapsulates the legendary journalist's legacy of never having been subdued. Throughout her long and outstanding career, she posed tough questions to presidents. While respectful, she was at once fearless and deferential in performing her job.

Together with Albert Mokhiber, the former president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, I organized a party to celebrate her 90th birthday three years ago. Where? At her favorite restaurant, Mama Ayesha's, where she often went with colleagues and friends. Many of her colleagues joined her at the party, among them Sam Donaldson of ABC and several White House correspondents, as well as several young women journalists she had inspired from DC's neighboring states as well as some from Arizona and Michigan, her home state.

A few years ago, she was stopped by Rabbi David Nesenoff as she was rushing home. He asked her a question about Israel, knowing full well that she was a firm advocate of Palestinian rights, and she answered with anger, though she subsequently apologized. Despite her apology, the White House Press Office unfairly and unjustly suspended her access to White House press conferences.

Helen was a human rights champion and to the people whose national rights are denied by conquerors and occupiers, such as the Palestinians, she was considered a champion of their cause. According to her friend of 50 years, Mahmoud al-Zawawy, Helen told him that John Kennedy was the US president most sympathetic to the Arab causes.