Tony Snow Dies at 53

Tony Snow, former anchor for Fox News and White House Press Secretary under George W. Bush has died at age 53 of colon cancer. Snow had also been chief speech writer and deputy assistant to the president for media affairs under George H. W. Bush. Snow joined Fox in 1996 as the original host of Fox News Sunday and has worked as an anchor and commentator. While Scott McClellan, who Snow replaced as press secretary in 2006, has created controversy by criticizing Bush after leaving the post, Snow had done so before beginning the job:

As a commentator, he had not always been on the president’s side. He once called Bush “something of an embarrassment” in conservative circles and criticized what he called Bush’s “lackluster” domestic policy.

While McClellan was often on the defensive as press secretary, Snow’s approach to the job was far more aggressive as he used the position to promote conservative views and defend Bush’s policies, often in a combative manner. President Bush released 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. … 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.”

Snow’s interests extended beyond politics:

Snow played six instruments — saxophone, trombone, flute, piccolo, accordion and guitar — and was in a D.C. cover band called Beats Workin’. He also was a film buff.

With that, I’ll end with Tony Snow playing the blues:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1PEyzk4ADU]

3 Comments

  1. 1
    chuck says:

    tony snow was a good man

  2. 2
    Warmonger says:

    RIP Tony Snow.  He leaves behind a family that will miss him terribly.  No matter if you agree with his politics or not, you should have the common decency to respect his family’s grief.  If bloggers don’t….well then they really are small…of both intellect and integrity.

  3. 3
    Joyce Smallwood says:

    I have never known anyone like Tony Snow.  He was supurb in everything he did including his thoughts, his devotion to God, family, friends and country,   He gave himself completely to bnefit others.  He was the most caring person I have ever heard of in my lieftime.  The world would be a better place if we had more people like Tony.  Thank you Lord for giving us Tony Snow.

1 Trackbacks

Leave a comment