Ex-Bush press secretary Tony Snow dies of cancer at 53

After a long, candid and public battle with colon cancer, former White House press secretary and radio talk-show host Tony Snow died early this morning.

Snow died about 2 a.m. EDT in Georgetown University Hospital. He was 53.

Snow previously served as chief speech writer for President George H.W. Bush and as a frequent host on Fox News Channel's "Fox News Sunday," "Weekend Live" and "The O'Reilly Factor."

He also guest-hosted for Rush Limbaugh and had his own radio talk show.

In September after 17 months in the White House job, Snow retired as President George W. Bush's third press secretary, saying that with his cancer he needed to earn more for his family than the job's $168,000 salary. He was succeeded by Dana Perino.

He said he left the press secretary job with regret, calling it "the most exciting, intellectually aerobic job I'm ever going to have."

In an early morning statement issued from his weekend retreat at Camp David, President Bush said he and Laura were "deeply saddened."

"America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character," Bush said. "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."

Popular and inevitably cheerful, even during his draining chemotherapy treatments, Snow was well-liked among the White House press corps, and with the smooth practice of a broadcaster seemed to genuinely enjoy the public sparring with media and explaining his boss' positions.

Karl Rove, Bush's counselor and chief political strategist, was traveling in the Crimea this morning but described himself as devastated at the news. Having direct access to the president like Rove had was a key demand of Snow's before accepting the job on April 26, 2006, and beginning work on May 6.

He succeeded Ari Fleischer and Scott McClellan in that position.

Snow had gone through remission, but the cancer returned and forced another operation. Despite the pain and nausea, he remained optimistic and talked openly on several programs about the experience as an aid and encouragement to other patients.

"I'm a very lucky guy," he would say frequently.

Although he had been ill recently, friends did not know the end was near. So the news was particularly stunning to those who knew the tall fellow with the large grin.

Just three months ago, CNN announced that Snow would join that network as a conservative commentator. The Kentucky native graduated from Davidson College in 1977.

Robert Anthony Snow was born June 1, 1955, in Berea. His father, Jim, was a social studies teacher and assistant principal in the Cincinnati suburbs, and Snow's mother worked as a nurse in the inner city. She too died of colon cancer when Tony was 17.

Snow was also a newspaper veteran, having written for a variety of smaller dailies before becoming deputy editorial page editor at the Detroit News and then editorial page editor of the Washington Times.

He also wrote a nationally syndicated column for Creators Syndicate from 1993 to 2000 that appeared in more than 200 newspapers across the country.

In April the Associated Press reported that Snow was admitted to a hospital in Spokane, Wash., with an undisclosed illness, and his speaking engagements were canceled. A month later he was again admitted to an Ohio hospital while traveling and told that he could not travel for some time.

"I'll miss it," Snow told reporters at his final White House briefing on Sept. 13. "I love these briefings." And it sounded to those professional skeptics like he really meant it.

For the full statement by President Bush, read the full story...

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: The White House

This item on Tony Snow is cross-posted from the Top of the Ticket politics blog.

For Immediate Release                         July 12, 2008

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

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.

# # #

Comments

[Ann]

We have lost one of the best newsmen. Tony never whined or complained even though we knew he was suffering.

Tony is now at rest with his Lord. I will miss him very much and so will the news world. Condolences to his wife and 3 children. You can be so proud of him.

God Bless and rest in peace Tony Snow, you were the best.

[Bryan Andrews]

Tony was a classmate at Davidson and although I was not a close friend, he was always such a kind and laid-back guy who had no pretense about him. I remember him strolling through the quad at Belk dorm at 1am playing his flute ala Jethro Tull. He was very, very bright and genuine with such a pleasant quick wit. He never sought to injure in a discussion or debate and had a true humble spirit that drew you in. He was never vindictive and always exuded a real happiness and joy even in the midst of extremely difficult times. He stewarded well the talents that were entrusted to him. "And what does the Lord require of you, but to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before your God (Micah 6:8)" God bless you, Tony Snow, and I pray God's comfort and peace for the entire Snow family.

[Dean Forward]

Tony Snow was every bit a Gentleman . His passing has made the world a poorer place . His loss will of course feel the greatest to his family . But today a larger part of the nation mourns . As a Conservative Canadian , I too mourn for the loss of an articulate spokesman on the right . Tony suffers no more and I hope his family think to his legacy to escape todays' grief .

[GERAL]

SNOW LIVED THE FRAUD OF A CORRUPT PRESIDENCY; HE IS FOREVER REMEMBERED AS A FOOL.

[WokeUp]

It's amazing how frauds, liars, and racists get so much gleeful attention from the corporate media press when they die. Jesse Helms was a horrific biggot and hate monger. Snow lied to the american people as the mouthpiece for the illegal corporatist regime. Good riddance to these carriers of the greed / hate plague... and may other frauds cut from the same corrupt cloth follow in his wake.

[JLS]

Sorry he died, for his family.
For me, anyone who carried the flag for Bush, Cheney Rove, Rumsfelf, and Rice is just screwed up. Period. He suffered, yes, we do to.

[Christopher]

"Found comfort in the arms of his creator"? Huh? Is Tony's dad still alive? And if so, what's comforting about someone's daddy holding a corpse? I'm sorry but this necrophilic statement by our president is just too weird. Or is our President talking about some kind of god? That's even freakier. The President of the United States believes in gods??? Whoa. What a primitive man.

[Skillet Head]

There is a time and a place for everything, but, whether you agree with Tony Snow or not, let's have the decency to save the political bile and hatred until at least after the funeral. Until then, if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.

[Jeff]

Wow Dean, karma sucks man. I hope you never suffer such a fate.

[Marcee L.]

Not too many people like Tony Snow in this world, maybe that's
why he was taken from us so soon. Like the song says, "Only the
good die young". The World will not be a better place without Tony,
I can think of a lot of other people that needed to be sent to their
maker far before him. My condolences to his family and friends.

[Amit]

"SNOW LIVED THE FRAUD OF A CORRUPT PRESIDENCY; HE IS FOREVER REMEMBERED AS A FOOL"

the character of the person whoi said this is evident (and he/she won't be remembered for anything.)

[Q Jordon]

Though I was upset at Tony Snow working for the Bush Administration, Mr. Snow was on of the few conservative orators that I could stomach. He seemed genuine and sincere, but he did serve an administration that was and still is based upon deceit.

For Tony Snow the journalist, he will be missed. As far as the person, one never really knows a television personality on a personal level, but you get an idea from their wit, charm, and humor. Mr. Snow had all three of these qualities and more.

Mr. Snow, you will be missed by many - even by a democrat such as myself.

[George]

Poor Geral.
I'm sure Tony would forgive him, but Geral's remarks pain anyone with a heart.

[Duncan]

SNOW LIVED THE FRAUD OF A CORRUPT PRESIDENCY; HE IS FOREVER REMEMBERED AS A FOOL.

Posted by: GERAL

That may be your opinion sir, but for those that loved and cared for the man , this is not the place for your crude and hurtful remarks.

[Plumeria A.]

Tony really did make a impact on people all around the world - like me. I'm from Guam and I always loved to watch him when he came out to talk to the press reporters. He always gave them a sincere smile while he spoke and his words (his "being") just expressed so much honesty, kindness, and even a sort of deep concern and love towards the reporters themselves. His presence behind that podium just brought a smile to my face, knowing that someone on the news was going to know his information completely, answer it as best as he could, and was not going to say it in a manner that we should just believe it because it's his opinion. So often we just see a lot of harsh debates and people just trying to get the last word in. So to watch Tony Snow was always like a big sigh of relief. When I watched the times that he spoke about his cancer, it just really broke my heart. I just about cry in front of my tv everytime he came out and was losing more and more of his hair and spoke with less and less strength. Even though I'm just a tv vewier so many miles away, he was like a close friend to me, and I miss watching him on the news very, very, very much.

[Susie]

Incredible that some people out there are so cruel and vicious at someones death. SHAME SHAME SHAME. All because of politics and if this is how people on left react to the death of someone who served in the Bush White House thank goodness I am a Independent.

[John]

For his family and children my heart goes out to them for their loss. But it's still hard to miss a liar.

[Not surprised at the hateful left]

It's not surprising to see so many hateful comments aimed at Tony Snow on the day he died. Those on the left have no decency so for them to rejoice at the death of Snow is par for the course. And liberals, leftists etc. wonder why they are regarded with such disdain by the entire country. Face it gang: you're irrelevant.

[Brandon]

I'm saddened to see such hate and lack of class from many commenters here. When Senator Kennedy was diagnosed with a brain tumor I did not gleefully shout that he'd received his comeuppance, though I disagree with him on many things political.

And to the individual who posted that religion is primitive, show some tolerance for those who believe differently than you.

If this is what America is turning into...

[sportsDoc]

Some people's crude comments merely confirm the state of political discussion in the country these days. Some people's hatred for Bush so colors their lives that they can see no good in anyone. Some comments are just plain stupid and come from people with very tinny minds.

[Geral's Mom]

So sorry for Geral's/WokUp incredibly insensitive and crude remarks. Geral tends to act out when he isn't the center of attention and can be a noxious little sphincter when he hasn't had his meds, or the fluttering bladder syndrome flares up. Guess we will have to hide the keyboard again! We sincerely apologize for his rude behavior and wish to extend our profound sympathy to the Snow family for their great loss.

[David]

I wouldn't wish colon cancer on anyone--my father died of it--but I cannot grieve for the likes of Tony Snow. When the full truth of the Bush Administration is finally exposed, Snow will be just another in a long list of cynics who deceived, obfuscated and lied to the American public. As a journalist he was a fraud.

[Robt]

I a world of intense pressure and consent conflict where very word from your mouth is dissected 20 ways by 100 different people - Tony Snow was all class at all times; a rare breed to be sure.

People like geral and dean have no idea that such a characteristic even exist within people of differing viewpoints. They each are so incredibly tasteless that I feel embarrassed to share similar political views and I think only a fellow liberal can apologize for their complete and utter stupidity. Sorry.

[Brian]

May Mr. Snow, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. May his family and friends be consoled during this time of loss.

I wish no person harm and certainly not the departed or their bereaved. How clearly it shows the extent to which those of us who recognize the damage done by the Constitution-hating Bush administration are waiting, counting the minutes to election day and January 20, 2009 when one considers my feelings upon hearing that Mr. Snow had died. After the initial flash of "thank God his suffering has ended" my thoughts immediately turned to the fact that he was the spokesman for and purveyor of lies in his position. I am thankful that the Divine Lover searches hearts because Mr. Snow will certainly find more mercy at God's hands than at mine. Yes, this is a difficult era for all truly patriotic and decent Americans.

May Tony Snow rest in peace, through the mercy of God, Amen.

[DLE, Cary, NC]

This is what's wrong with America. A person, a human being, a body, a spirit, one who never never hurt anyone is trashed by some. As someone else said, If you can't say anything nice about someone then don't say anything. If my grandmother heard you speak ill will of someone she would have kicked your butt until you screamed that you had had enough. Tony, God will comfort you and he has taken the pain and suffering from you. He and you will now watch over your family as they move forward with your memory. Bless you Tony, I will miss you.