Helen Dewar
Encyclopedia
Helen Dewar was a reporter for The Washington Post
for 25 years. She worked at the Post for 43 years, rising through the ranks to cover the United States Senate
for a quarter of a century (1979-2004).
Eric Pianin, a colleague and editor, noted: "She was also a brilliant student of the Senate. She knew the rules as well as the parliamentarian." The Post's political columnist David Broder called her "one of the best reporters I ever knew". The last story written by her to be published in the Post, on January 20, 2005, predicted that, for various reasons, President George W. Bush
would have difficulties having his legislative agenda enacted by Congress.
. Her first major reporting job was at the Northern Virginia Sun in Arlington, Virginia, where she covered education for two years. In 1961, she began her career at the Post in earnest, where she started out covering Arlington and Fairfax and going on general assignments.
By 1975 she had already spent a year on Capitol Hill. She was assigned to the national desk in 1976 and tracked Jimmy Carter
's ultimately successful presidential campaign.
on November 4, 2006, aged 70, at a hospice in Alexandria, Virginia
.
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
for 25 years. She worked at the Post for 43 years, rising through the ranks to cover the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
for a quarter of a century (1979-2004).
Eric Pianin, a colleague and editor, noted: "She was also a brilliant student of the Senate. She knew the rules as well as the parliamentarian." The Post's political columnist David Broder called her "one of the best reporters I ever knew". The last story written by her to be published in the Post, on January 20, 2005, predicted that, for various reasons, President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
would have difficulties having his legislative agenda enacted by Congress.
Background
Dewar graduated from Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. Her first major reporting job was at the Northern Virginia Sun in Arlington, Virginia, where she covered education for two years. In 1961, she began her career at the Post in earnest, where she started out covering Arlington and Fairfax and going on general assignments.
By 1975 she had already spent a year on Capitol Hill. She was assigned to the national desk in 1976 and tracked Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
's ultimately successful presidential campaign.
Death
She died from breast cancerBreast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
on November 4, 2006, aged 70, at a hospice in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
.
Awards
- Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting of Congress from the National Press FoundationNational Press FoundationThe National Press Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides training for journalists and awards excellence in journalism. The Foundation was established in Washington, D.C. in 1976.- Activities :...
- 1984 - The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
s Eugene Meyer Award - 1987 - Virginia Communications Hall of Fame - inducted in January 2006
- Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington Press Club Foundation (formerly known as the National Press Club) - 2006