Here's a story by Todd J. Shields in the May 22, 2000, edition of Editor & Publisher about the resignation of Helen Thomas:
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LEGEND HELEN THOMAS BOLTS NEWS WORLD
On the White House Beat Since 1961
The departure of Helen Thomas from the White House beat for United Press International (UPI) does more than leave a void felt by colleagues who valued her sense of fair play as much as her relentless reporting.
It puts into play at least two prized assets in the cramped hothouse that is White House coverage: UPI's front-and-center seat in the White House briefing room, and the wire service's booth-size office. Most reporters on the prestigious beat work newsroom-style at desks crowded together in a common room.
Thomas, 79, said May 16 she ws leaving the wire service she joined in 1943 and the White House beat she had covered since 1961.
The White House quickly asked for advice on whether to reassign the seat and the booth, said USA Today's Susan Page, president of the White House Correspondent's Association.
The board of the correspondent's association is to consider requests for UPI's space when it meets June 7, Page said, noting the Reuters and Bloomberg news services already had filed claims.
Thomas quit the day after UPI was bought by News World Communications, Inc., a company founded by the Rev. Sung Myung Moon, leader of the Unification Church.
Arnaud de Borchgrave, UPI's CEO, said he tried for several days to persuade Thomas to stay. "She said that she doesn't want to work for the new owners," de Borchgrave told E&P.
Thomas did not reveal her plans. White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart said he hoped she would pursue new ventures and "come here and cross-question me and bug me like she's done since the day I took this job." Thomas did not return phone calls.