Thomas's agency, Nine Speakers, Inc., immediately dropped her as a client because of her remarks. In a statement, they said "Ms. Thomas has had an esteemed career as a journalist, and she has been a trailblazer for women, helping others in her profession, and beyond. However, in light of recent events, Nine Speakers is no longer able to represent Ms. Thomas, nor can we condone her comments on the Middle East." Craig Crawford, who co-authored "Listen up, Mr. President", said "I ... will no longer be working with Helen on our book projects." Her scheduled delivery of a commencement speech at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland, was canceled by the school. The White House Correspondents' Association, over which she once presided, issued a statement calling her remarks "indefensible". In January 2011, the Society of Professional Journalists voted to retire the Helen Thomas Award for Lifetime Achievement.