Cancer Takes Former Bush Press Secretary Snow

By Tim State in News on Jul 12, 2008 6:24PM

Former Bush Press Secretary Tony Snow has died Saturday of colon cancer. He was 53.

Snow earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Davidson College in 1977, and he studies economics and philosophy at the University of Chicago.

Snow had a varied career in journalism, that involved expressing his conservative views. He was the been the editorial editor for a number of papers before moving to Washington DC in 1987 to be the editorial page editor of The Washington Times. In 1991, he left journalism to join the first Bush administration as the director of speechwriting and deputy assistant to the president for media affairs. Following Bush’s term, he joined the media again to write syndicated columns for the Detroit News and USA Today.

From 1996 to 2003, he was the first host of “Fox News Sunday,” before joining the current Bush Administration as press secretary. His quick-lipped style and ability to play to the cameras often had him sparring with reporters. He was press secretary for just 17 months when his tenure was interrupted by his second bout with colon cancer. He left the White House last September, joining CNN as a commenter.

Snow is survived by his wife of 30 years, and three children. [S-T]