The White House briefing welcomed the return of Helen Thomas, the first female member and president of the White House correspondents Association, who entered the room to applause from the assembled reporters on Wednesday morning.
“We’ll let the sparing begin here in just an instant,” White House press secretary Dana Perino said after welcoming Thomas back and saying that she was missed.
Thomas seemed to be in good humor as photographers crowded around snapping pictures of her seated in the front row.
The 88-year-old White House correspondent was hospitalized in May after collaspsing in the middle of delivering a commencement address at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa. Thomas was released from the hospital in August after suffering a colon infection.
Helen Thomas has been White House press since January 1961 when she began covering President-elect John F. Kennedy.
–Lauren Vernon