--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We in the press have a special role since…" description: "\"We in the press have a special role since there is no other institution in our society that can hold the President accountable. I do believe that our d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/helen-thomas-7044_american-people_we-in-the-press-have-a-special-role-sinc_3192415.jpg" --- # We in the press have a special role since there is no… ![“We in the press have a special role since there is no other institution in our society that can hold the President accountable. I do believe that our democracy can endure and prevail only if the American people are informed.” quote by Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/helen-thomas-7044_american-people_we-in-the-press-have-a-special-role-sinc_3192415.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/helen-thomas-7044_american-people_we-in-the-press-have-a-special-role-sinc_3192415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/helen-thomas-7044_american-people_we-in-the-press-have-a-special-role-sinc_3192415.jpg) > “We in the press have a special role since there is no other institution in our society that can hold the President accountable. I do believe that our democracy can endure and prevail only if the American people are informed.” [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The press uniquely holds the President accountable; democracy thrives when citizens stay informed. **In simple terms:** Journalists check power; informed citizens sustain democracy. Key Takeaway Support a free press and stay informed. Themes democracy accountability media civic duty Mood concerned hopeful Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - election coverage - public policy analysis - media literacy programs - civic education Key Concepts political science journalism ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens verify information from the press? - What responsibilities do journalists have to the public? A Different Perspective Media bias can distort accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-democracy/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Endure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-endure-5260386/) [Endure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endure/) [Hold President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-president-1531172/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-accountable-1993334/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) ## Related quotes > [We didn't hold President Obama as accountable as we might have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/we-didn-t-hold-president-obama-as-accountable-as-we-might-have/) [Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/) > ['Duck Dynasty' is a ridiculous show, and long may it wave. America and democracy will endure. They've seen a lot worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/duck-dynasty-is-a-ridiculous-show-and-long-may-it-wave-america-and/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [A President can obstruct justice and Congress has the full right to hold a President accountable for such law-breaking through impeachment. After a President…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/a-president-can-obstruct-justice-and-congress-has-the-full-right-to/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [Congress has lost its way if we don't hold this President accountable for his actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-feingold/congress-has-lost-its-way-if-we-don-t-hold-this-president-accountable/) [Russ Feingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ-feingold/) > [I'm not saying that President Obama should be exempt from criticism, nor do I believe it is some act of racial treason for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-m-not-saying-that-president-obama-should-be-exempt-from-criticism/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“If you accept a democratic system, this means that you are prepared to put up with those of its workings, legislative or administrative, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-f-kennan/if-you-accept-a-democratic-system-this-means-that-you-are-prepared-to/) [George F. Kennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-f-kennan/) > [I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/i-believe-that-people-have-a-right-to-decide-their-own-destinies/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [I believe in a relatively equal society, supported by institutions that limit extremes of wealth and poverty. I believe in democracy, civil liberties, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-believe-in-a-relatively-equal-society-supported-by-institutions/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [I actually don't believe in governance by referendum. I believe that we have a democracy, that we elect people to make decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/i-actually-don-t-believe-in-governance-by-referendum-i-believe-that/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [I believe democracy will succeed in Tunisia, but I also believe that it will succeed in the other Arab Spring countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashid-al-ghannushi/i-believe-democracy-will-succeed-in-tunisia-but-i-also-believe-that/) [Rashid al-Ghannushi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashid-al-ghannushi/) > [An ordinary Turk, an ordinary Arab, an ordinary Tunisian can change history. We believe that democracy is good, and that our people deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmet-davutoglu/an-ordinary-turk-an-ordinary-arab-an-ordinary-tunisian-can-change/) [Ahmet Davutoglu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmet-davutoglu/) > [Especially among journalists, politics is not a pursuit that's held in high esteem. We tend to be cynical about it - but I actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/especially-among-journalists-politics-is-not-a-pursuit-that-s-held-in/) [Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/) > [If you believe in justice, if you believe in democracy, if you believe in people's rights, if you believe in the harmony of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/if-you-believe-in-justice-if-you-believe-in-democracy-if-you-believe/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [My father thought, and now I think too, that the system of democracy is entirely based upon the system of justice. If we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/my-father-thought-and-now-i-think-too-that-the-system-of-democracy-is/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More by Helen Thomas > [I never thought about heaven per se. I think when you're dead, you're dead. If anything happens after that, you just hope you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-never-thought-about-heaven-per-se-i-think-when-you-re-dead-you-re/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [President Bush has asserted the right to wiretap and eavesdrop on any American without a warrant in the name of fighting terrorism. He has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/president-bush-has-asserted-the-right-to-wiretap-and-eavesdrop-on-any/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I'm of Arab background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-m-of-arab-background/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [Anybody who runs for public office today has got to know his life or her life will be an open book. I've decided that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/anybody-who-runs-for-public-office-today-has-got-to-know-his-life-or/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [There are better ways we can transform this virulent hatred - by living our ideals, the Peace Corps, exchange students, teachers, exporting our music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/there-are-better-ways-we-can-transform-this-virulent-hatred-by-living/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I think I'll work all my life. When you're having fun, why stop having fun?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-think-i-ll-work-all-my-life-when-you-re-having-fun-why-stop-having/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [American journalism's crazy old aunt in the attic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/american-journalism-s-crazy-old-aunt-in-the-attic/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [“Today, because of the immediacy of the live TV appearance with the direct quote, the presidency seems hamstrung with governing by polls and turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/today-because-of-the-immediacy-of-the-live-tv-appearance-with-the/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [Maybe the Jefferson case will give members of Congress second thoughts the next time they get ready to legislate away the rights of ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/maybe-the-jefferson-case-will-give-members-of-congress-second/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I'm a liberal, I was born a liberal, I'll be one 'til I die, what else should a reporter be when you see so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-m-a-liberal-i-was-born-a-liberal-i-ll-be-one-til-i-die-what-else/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [If you want to be President, decide it at the age of five, and then live accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/if-you-want-to-be-president-decide-it-at-the-age-of-five-and-then/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [We are the only institution in our society that can question a president on a regular basis and make him accountable. Otherwise, he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/we-are-the-only-institution-in-our-society-that-can-question-a/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I had a lot of fun bantering back and forth with Kennedy. But for ease and comfort, it would be Gerald Ford. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-had-a-lot-of-fun-bantering-back-and-forth-with-kennedy-but-for-ease/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [“Anybody in public life is well aware of how important the judgments of the press are. I'm firmly convinced that if the good Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/anybody-in-public-life-is-well-aware-of-how-important-the-judgments/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [All presidents rail against the press. It goes with the turf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/all-presidents-rail-against-the-press-it-goes-with-the-turf/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) [Explore all 95 Helen Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) ## More American people quotes > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) [Victor Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-gold/) > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/) [Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-a-financial-institution-has-business-operations-in-the-united/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [The American people demand results, not rhetoric, especially when it comes to national security issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-hayworth/the-american-people-demand-results-not-rhetoric-especially-when-it/) [J. D. Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/) > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) [Browse all 2,233 American people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We in the press have a special role since there is no other institution in our society that can hold the President accountable. 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