Fmr. Bush Spokesman Snow Dies Of Cancer

Broadcaster For Fox News, CNN Brought Partisan Zeal To Job Of Defending President's Policies

(CBS/ AP)  Tony Snow, a conservative writer and commentator who cheerfully sparred with reporters in the White House briefing room during a stint as President Bush's press secretary, died Saturday of colon cancer. He was 53.

"America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character," President Bush said in a statement from Camp David, where he was spending the weekend. "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."

Snow, who served as the first host of the television news program "Fox News Sunday" from 1996 to 2003, would later say that in the Bush administration he was enjoying "the most exciting, intellectually aerobic job I'm ever going to have."

Snow was working for Fox News Channel and Fox News Radio when he replaced Scott McClellan as press secretary in May 2006 during a White House shake-up. Unlike McClellan, who came to define caution and bland delivery from the White House podium, Snow was never shy about playing to the cameras.

With a quick-from-the-lip repartee, broadcaster's good looks and a relentlessly bright outlook - if not always a command of the facts - he became a popular figure around the country to the delight of his White House bosses.

"Tony Snow's effectiveness, when you think about it, had to do with understanding what was going on in that room better than most reporters sitting in there … It was, literally, the 'Tony Snow Show,'" said CBS News Chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod.

And while he presented a personal affability and charm, Snow was quite serious about his job in the press room.

"At the White House lectern, Tony Snow was an aggressive defender of the president's policies," said CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller. "On some issues, he was more conservative than President Bush. Snow was intelligent, articulate and unabashedly partisan - though he respected other points of view.

"But he was not shy about bluntly confronting any reporter he thought was making an unfair point."

Knoller said that, as White House spokesman, Snow brought his skills as both a speechwriter and broadcaster to his daily briefings for reporters: "He seemed to love a good rhetorical exchange. He was clever in his use of language - and zealous about making the president's case. More often that not he didn't need notes, because the president's beliefs were his beliefs."

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Podcast: Listen to a September 2007 interview of Tony Snow by CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller.

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In a statement, CBS News President Sean McManus said, "Snow will be remembered not only for his contributions as a journalist and public servant, but for his devotion to his family and his love of life."

He served just 17 months as press secretary, a tenure interrupted by his second bout with cancer. In 2005 doctors had removed his colon and he began six months of chemotherapy. In March 2007 a cancerous growth was removed from his abdominal area and he spent five weeks recuperating before returning to the White House.

"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," President Bush said.

Snow resigned as Bush's chief spokesman last September, citing not his health but a need to earn more than the $168,000 a year he was paid in the government post. In April, he joined CNN as a commentator.

CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer remembers Snow often speaking frankly about his battle with cancer. "He never wanted to be defined by it," Maer said, "but he assumed a very public and valiant role as he spoke about the disease."

"The one thing I have learned - and I've had the great opportunity, and it really is - to be able to talk with and try to help out cancer patients, [is] the biggest problem you have a lot of times with cancer is just flat-out fear," Snow said in March 2007.

As press secretary, Snow brought partisan zeal and the skills of a seasoned performer to the task of explaining and defending the president's policies.

Critics suggested that Snow was turning the traditionally informational daily briefing into a personality-driven media event short on facts and long on confrontation. He was the first press secretary, by his own accounting, to travel the country raising money for Republican candidates.

Although a star in conservative politics, as a commentator he had not always been on the president's side. He once called Mr. Bush "something of an embarrassment" in conservative circles and criticized what he called President Bush's "lackluster" domestic policy.

Most of Snow's career in journalism involved expressing his conservative views. After earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Davidson College in North Carolina in 1977 and studying economics and philosophy at the University of Chicago, he wrote editorials for The Greensboro (N.C.) Record, and The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk.

He was the editorial page editor of The Newport News (Va.) Daily Press and deputy editorial page editor of The Detroit News before moving to Washington in 1987 to become editorial page editor of The Washington Times.

Snow left journalism in 1991 to join the administration of the first President Bush as director of speechwriting and deputy assistant to the president for media affairs. He then rejoined the news media to write nationally syndicated columns for The Detroit News and USA Today during much of the Clinton administration.

Roger Ailes, chairman of Fox News, called Snow a "renaissance man."

Senator John McCain issued a statement upon learning of Snow's passing: the passing of Tony Snow: "Whether he sat behind a radio mic or stood behind a White House podium, Tony Snow always sought to give the American people new insights into our government, political process and leaders. He asked the tough questions and took them as well. Even when diagnosed with cancer, his fight served as an inspiration to all Americans. In the coming days, we will celebrate the life of a truly great and generous man."

Robert Anthony Snow was born June 1, 1955, in Berea, Ky., and spent his childhood in the Cincinnati area. Survivors include his wife, Jill Ellen Walker, whom he married in 1987, and three children.

[honestabe8]

My condolences to his family

[cfin5]

My condolences to his wife and kids. I would miss my Dad something fierce. I wish folks would take another look at "Hydrazine Sulfate". All it does to cancer is stop its ability to eat glucose. Simple as that. Better than chemotherapy.

[sosquatch]

Can only hope his family finds some level of comfort in this difficult time.
RIP Tony.

[cbs_monitor1]

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Snow family. 53 is way too young. Cancer is a devasating thing.

[floydzepp2]

Never liked Tony Snow''s politics, but I pray that the sorrow his family feels will be eased and comforted. Its always the ones left behind that suffer the loss.

[trishab4]

Snow, who served as the first host of the television news program "Fox News Sunday" from 1996 to 2003, would later say that in the Bush administration he was enjoying "the most exciting, intellectually aerobic job I''m ever going to have."

-Too bad he was conservative, though no matter what political affiliation one is, all of us will literally hit the ground. My condolesences to his family.

[lowell43]

He was a man of dignity as well as an honorable man. He was also a devoted family man.

He fought a courageous battle with cancer.

He set a new standard as Press Secretary. He was fair and objective.

He will be missed.

[omega39-2009]

I didn''t much care for his political views but am very sorry to hear this and wish his family the best.

[ubrew12]

This is tragic. Anyone in late 40s or above now must get checked for colon cancer. It''s too prevalent, and so treatable.

[floydzepp2]

He set a new standard as Press Secretary. He was fair and objective.

Posted by lowell43 at 09:15 AM : Jul 12, 2008
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Hardly that, but I still wish his family ease and comfort in this time of great sorrow.

[anecdote1]

What a huge loss for faux news. Hopefully they can move on from this tragedy and continue their far from balanced reporting. Er, fairly balanced, no, that''s fair and balanced reporting. Sorry.

[barocalto]

I thought he was better and recovering. Very sad..

[hsinco-2009]

Now that he has died and in heell, he should let his buddies know what awaits them in their eternity.

[rafterman1]

Didn''t agree with anything the man stood for, but I regret his passing. Too many people dying of cancer these days.

[bjrober]

HOW CAN ANYONE BE SO CALLOUS AND TALK ABOUT A WONDERFUL MAN LIKE TONY SNOW. HE WAS A GOOD HONEST, CHRISTIAN, LOVING HUSBAND AND FATHER.

TO EVEN SUGGEST HE IS IN HELL, NO ONE KNOWS THE SOUL OF ANOTHER BUT GOD. YOU HAVE SOME SERIOUS MENTAL ISSUES, AND I PRAY GOD WILL FORGIVE YOU.

[richnj1]

There is no joy in anyone''s untimely death, but his career was not one to be proud of. Not only was he a mouthpiece for an evil Presidency, he totally blurred the line between journalism and advocacy. An objective press is one of the important defenses we have against the tyranny of someone like Bush, and Snow worked to turn the media from a watchdog into a lapdog. Condolences to his family, of course, but his legacy in the workplace is a dishonorable one.

[rafterman1]

I''ll say the same thing here that I said about Ted Kennedy. A lot of judging going on arond here, from a bunch of people not qualified. You aren''t God.

[anecdote1]

Posted by bjrober at 10:11 AM

Well lets just look at how HE felt about needless death...

"It''s a number." --White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, on the U.S. military death toll in Iraq reaching the 2,500 milestone

[gocubs58]

I am a life-long democrat and no big fan of Tony Snow, but it is sad when cancer takes anyone this young. Condolences to his family.

[monkfellow]

Well, either CBS isn''t paying attention, or tacitly agrees with the libpig loons that are taking swipes at a dead man. About what I would expect from pigs like those who normally hang out with the slime at the Daily Kos and Huffington Post.
Tony Snow was a strong advocate for the President''s policies and was not involved in "leading the country down the wrong path".It is a path that has kept us safe from another attack-something Bill Clinton and his minions failed at miserably.We are safe because of this administration''s efforts,despite the traitorous efforts of John Conyers,et al.
God Bless and Keep Tony Snow and his family.A pox on all lib pigs.

[thinkharder-]

I could not have been farther from Snow''s political positions and I found his defense of this administration loathsome, however; of all the bushites out there, I respected him most. He was bright, quick witted...I used to love watching him and Stewart go at it on the Daily Show. This guy was the best of a bad lot...I''m gonna miss. RIP Tony, and condolences to your family.

[fixhist]

Yeh! ubrew12
I agree colon cancer is prevalent, and so treatable.
Not sure if family Physician has to refer for check/test of a patient should ask for it?


OOPS!
I''m sorry, If being Canadian,I might have said some thing which might have not matched with the available options in South.

SNOW R.I.P,

True North gets better snow though.

[anecdote1]

"Oh, my goodness, it''s a silly question." --White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, when asked if President Bush should have done differently with respect to North Korea

[thinkharder-]

Well, either CBS isn''''t paying attention, or tacitly agrees with the libpig loons that are taking swipes at a dead man. About what I would expect from pigs like those who normally hang out with the slime at the Daily Kos and Huffington Post.

Posted by monkfellow at 10:20 AM : Jul 12, 2008

Blow it out your a$$. Compared to the tirades and outright slimeball comments that came from your ilk when Tim Russert passed on, the comments for Mr. Snow have been respectful and polite. You have some nerve. When someone stads so far from what you believe in its hard to honor them regardless of what position they held. But, at least the liberal commentary on here makes room to pay respects to a family that lost its patriarch at far too young an age.

[anecdote1]

"I hate to tell you, but it''s not always pretty up there on Capitol Hill and there have been other scandals as you know that have been more than simply naughty e-mails." --White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, downplaying the Mark Foley pedophilia scandal

[anecdote1]

"Having said that, I don''t want to hug the tar baby of trying to comment on the program." --White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, on the NSA phone database, in his first White House briefing

[rhs648]

There is no joy in anyone''''s untimely death, but his career was not one to be proud of. Not only was he a mouthpiece for an evil Presidency, he totally blurred the line between journalism and advocacy. An objective press is one of the important defenses we have against the tyranny of someone like Bush, and Snow worked to turn the media from a watchdog into a lapdog. Condolences to his family, of course, but his legacy in the workplace is a dishonorable one.

Posted by richnj1

Evil is in the eyes of the beholder. Sorry to inform you that not everyone sees President Bush and the Republicans as evil. Stay tuned. There have been many posters who see the Democrats and the Democratically held Congress as evil. Simply disagreeing doesn''t make your opponent evil. Congress--bring the price of gas down. Do something for hardworking Americans besides raising taxes.

[anecdote1]

"Well, thank you for the Hezbollah view." %u2013-White House Press Secretary Tony Snow to Helen Thomas, after the longtime White House reporter asked why the U.S. had vetoed an Arab-backed U.N. resolution

[truthspeake2]

Well, either CBS isn''''t paying attention, or tacitly agrees with the libpig loons that are taking swipes at a dead man. About what I would expect from pigs like those who normally hang out with the slime at the Daily Kos and Huffington Post.
Tony Snow was a strong advocate for the President''''s policies and was not involved in "leading the country down the wrong path".It is a path that has kept us safe from another attack-something Bill Clinton and his minions failed at miserably.We are safe because of this administration''''s efforts,despite the traitorous efforts of John Conyers,et al.
God Bless and Keep Tony Snow and his family.A pox on all lib pigs.

Posted by monkfellow at 10:20 AM : Jul 12, 2008



LOL...you''re a freakin idiot!

[anecdote1]

"We think it''s important that, in doing that, they try to limit as much as possible the so-called collateral damage, not only on civilians but also on human lives." %u2013-White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, on Israel''s conflict with Lebanon

[anecdote1]

"Helen, will you stop heckling and let me conduct a press conference... Well no, I''m making an argument, and you''re, you''re pestering the teacher." --White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, to veteran reporter Helen Thomas

[formrusmcsgt]

"(Snow)would later say that in the Bush administration he was enjoying "the most exciting, intellectually aerobic job I''m ever going to have."
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Not easy trying to convince multitudes that black is white....

[mandylou4u]

Whatever the man actually stood for personally, he still is a person that died and left a family behind. You folks being so cold toward him must not have a family. Maybe someone in your family doesn''t agree with your views, do you hate them this much? There has always been some kind of war going on somewhere. To pick out one person and hold them responsible is ridiculous. I do remember watching Tony sometimes and one thing I noticed, he almost always had a smile on his face. He only tried to do his job to the best of his abilities, just like any of you would have done. My thoughts will be with his family and friends, I know he probably had a lot, regardless of what he did for a living.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Evil is in the eyes of the beholder. Sorry to inform you that not everyone sees President Bush and the Republicans as evil. Stay tuned. There have been many posters who see the Democrats and the Democratically held Congress as evil. Simply disagreeing doesn''''t make your opponent evil..." Posted by rhs648

No but when your opponent lies and causes the deaths of countless innocents, you then have a pretty good case.

[missingamerica]

Although I sympathize with his survivors, "Snow brought partisan zeal and the skills of a seasoned performer" when the nation merited truth and principled governance.

[sunburn4]

Tony Snow while working among the infested shark waters, made it easy to listen to things we might have diagreed with. He was a fun loving guy who seemed to always bring a smile to everyones face. God bless him. He will be missed.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by mandylou4u

I am sure Herr Goebbels also had a family, but if your loved ones were the dead victims of the policies he advocated, should we expect you to have sympathy?

[mandylou4u]

Tony Snow didn''t lead us into a war, Bush did that. Tony probably had the suckiest job at the time, but at least he had a job and tried to make it as fun as possible with the existing circumstances.

[anecdote1]

"I need to get a more precise definition." --White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, asked to define civil rights after he said banning gay marriage was a civil rights issue

[platteman]

Tony Snow was a patriot and hero. All you slim balls who belittle him in his death, I hope all of you rot in hell some day.

At least he had the guts to stand for something and not hide like a chicken in the closet behind a computer screen like those of you who mock a great man at his untimely death.
No wonder America is in such bad shape, nut jobs worrying about nothing. Talk of whiners, we got them by the truck loads.

[jimfinster]

He was a likable guy. He lied every day in that job with a smile on his face.

[mandylou4u]

I have more sympathy for someone who enters into hell when they die because they will suffer beyond suffering. None of us really know where he went though do we? We didn''t know what was truely in his heart. He could have been a totally different person than what we saw on tv. Do you really trust your tv that much?

[jimfinster]

At least he had the guts to stand for something and not hide like a chicken in the closet behind a computer screen like those of you who mock a great man at his untimely death.
No wonder America is in such bad shape, nut jobs worrying about nothing. Talk of whiners, we got them by the truck loads.

Posted by Platteman


Hitler stood for something, but I did not support him either.

[anecdote1]

"Because he wanted to." White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, after being asked why Transportation Secretary Norm Minetta resigned (well I guess that one might be true)

[stn_sage]

rhs648:

Evil is in the eyes of the beholder. Sorry to inform you that not everyone sees President Bush and the Republicans as evil....Congress--bring the price of gas down. Do something for hardworking Americans besides raising taxes.
Posted by rhs648 at 10:40 AM : Jul 12, 2008
--------------------
My response:
1. Not everyone sees Bush and the GOP as evil---but the vast majority does---and that''s enough. His supporters are too evil and blinded to see what they''re doing is wrong!

2. Great! After Bush''s ''hands off'' policy toward business---he let the oil industry---write the energy bill for God''s sake!---an idiot supporter NOW requests that the Dems fix the problem that THEIR leader caused! You''re beautiful!

3. Let the Dems raise your income taxes first, BEFORE you accuse them of it and then request they lower it, moron!

[realpatriot1]

53 is too young to die and his family has my condolences.

I strongly disagreed with his views and politics but I also recognize that he did his job well.

He didn''t have a policy creating position, so I don''t condemn him for the errors and crimes of the administration. I can''t hold his advocacy against him.

[missingamerica]

At least he had the guts to stand for something and not hide like a chicken in the closet behind a computer screen like those of you who mock a great man at his untimely death.

Posted by Platteman at 11:17 AM : Jul 12, 2008

Oh, no doubt he had guts; this Administration hid behind his wit and charming smile whenever he was at the podium.

[rhs648]

No but when your opponent lies and causes the deaths of countless innocents, you then have a pretty good case.

Posted by brianbwb

Perceptions of lies are also in the eyes of the beholder.

[jetlizhan]

most of you posters (not all) are heartless b@stards.

[talk2chief]

My sincerest and heartfelt condolences to the Snow family. Tony will be truly missed. May he finally rest in peace.