Tony Snow, RIP
July 12th, 2008 at 09:37am Matt Margolis
Tony Snow, the former White House press secretary and conservative pundit who bedeviled the press corps and charmed millions as a FOX News television and radio host, died after a long bout with cancer. He was 53.
A syndicated columnist, editor, TV anchor, radio show host and musician, Snow worked in nearly every medium in a career that spanned more than 30 years.
President Bush and Laura Bush issued the following statement:
Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend, Tony Snow. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Jill, and their children, Kendall, Robbie, and Kristi. The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character.
Tony was one of our Nation’s finest writers and commentators. He earned a loyal following with incisive radio and television broadcasts. He was a gifted speechwriter who served in my father’s Administration. And I was thrilled when he agreed to return to the White House to serve as my Press Secretary. It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day. He brought wit, grace, and a great love of country to his work. His colleagues will cherish memories of his energetic personality and relentless good humor.
All of us here at the White House will miss Tony, as will the millions of Americans he inspired with his brave struggle against cancer. One of the things that sustained Tony Snow was his faith - and Laura and I join people across our country in praying that this good man has now found comfort in the arms of his Creator.
UPDATE: House Republican Leader John Boehner released the following statement:
“Churchill said, ‘I like a man who grins when he fights’ and that was Tony Snow. For 35 years, as a writer, broadcaster, and spokesman, he fought fiercely for what he believed in, and he did it with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. His loss is a loss for our country. His newspaper columns and television and radio shows illuminated issues with grace and humor and solid insight. He served twice in government, distinguishing himself as a speechwriter in President George H.W. Bush’s White House and as a spokesman for the current President. Despite everything Tony did and achieved in life, he never forgot his hometown roots or those who grew up with him. He was a proud son of Cincinnati, and I will miss him. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Jill, and their three children.”
Entry Filed under: Announcements
15 Comments
1. Retired Spook | July 12th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Tony Snow was, IMHO, one of the most articulate voices of Conservatism, but, regardless how you felt about him, he was one of mankind’s truly nice guys.
2. semby | July 12th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Tony Snow was a great man. This nation lost an important voice!
3. phnx | July 12th, 2008 at 10:02 am
A voice of reason, and a real loss to the country.
4. TampaBayRayz-4-evah-don't-mess | July 12th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I’ll join my ideological opponents here. I consistently found Tony Snow to be an intelligent, learned, measured man who was clear the best of the four the Bush administration had in that job.
He articulated his Boss’s points of views and corrected his Boss’s misstatements in ways that even made sense to me, a 180 degree ideological opponent.
He treated a careerist and lazy press with a respect they rarely deserved and often did a better job of asking the tough questions of himself than the press did.
He’s missed on the “left” as on the “right.” I hope his own career ambitions left him with enough time to show his children what a classy guy their dad was.
5. Max Power | July 12th, 2008 at 10:22 am
My condolences to his family and friends..
6. Gozer the Carpathian | July 12th, 2008 at 11:01 am
He will be missed. No matter what you thought of what he said you had to admit, the guy had a great voice and manner of speaking. :)
7. Herman | July 12th, 2008 at 11:19 am
We can recall the courage and diligence with which which Tony Snow fought for conservative values. Television commentator Stephen Colbert, congratulating Tony Snow on becoming Press Secretary:
“And, of course, we can’t forget the man of the hour, new press secretary, Tony Snow. Secret Service name, “Snow Job.” Toughest job. What a hero! Took the second toughest job in government, next to, of course, the ambassador to Iraq.” — Stephen Colbert, April 29, 2006
*********************
Conservatives,
We know that you shall deeply miss all the snow jobs. You have my condolences.
8. Ricorun | July 12th, 2008 at 11:29 am
This is very sad news, and way too soon. My heard goes out to his family.
9. keystoneRepublican | July 12th, 2008 at 11:40 am
How sad. He was a class act. I had heard he went to the hospital about a month or so ago and figured that it probably wasn’t good news. There was no mention of it since.
10. Perry | July 12th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I was always a fan of his, from his days hosting Fox News Sunday to his radio show and, of course, his work as Press Secretary. He left this world far too early and he will be missed.
My condolences to his family.
11. Leo Pusateri | July 12th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Intelligence, wit and a sense of humor, paired with an indefatigable optimism grounded in reality.
The world will long note, and will truly mourn the passing of Tony Snow.
12. neocon | July 12th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Conservatives need more reasoned, articulate voices like Tony Snow’s and he was certainly one of my favorites. I will miss him very much.
13. FmrMarine | July 12th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
RIP Tony
Our prayers for his family.
Truly a gentleman in hard business.
14. 1H8L1B5UK | July 13th, 2008 at 6:09 am
He’s missed on the “left” as on the “right.”
Maybe by some on the left, but not many. Check out the kook comments over at americablog; those hateful pukes are the main reason 1H8L1B5.
I hope his own career ambitions left him with enough time to show his children what a classy guy their dad was.
I suspect Tony has nothing to worry about regarding his children and anyone not blinded by leftist hatred. This guy was a class act; he even doled out unwarranted apologies to the likes of David Gregory, and others on the lemming WH press corps.
Isn’t it sad how the kook blogs revel in the death of those they disagree with? Heck, even I said a prayer for Teddy, and I can’t stand the guy.
The left is classless…
15. kjstrouble | July 13th, 2008 at 7:18 am
He was a man of strong beliefs, and from what I have heard listening to people on Fox News - he made sure when he took any job that it would not get in the way of his having time with his family.
He will be greatly missed.