After starting out as a newspaper columnist and editorial page editor, he began his political career as a speechwriter and media affairs adviser to the first President Bush. For many years, he was the permanent substitute host for Rush Limbaugh. He then had a very successful radio program of his own, which was the subject of a daily thread here on FR, much as is done today with Rush and Mark Levin. IIRC, the thread regulars termed themselves "snowflakes."
Tony joined FR on 4/23/1998, part of the great FReeper class of 1998. (as an aside, I still find it hard to realize that I joined some two weeks after). His screen name was "tony snow" and he'd post often , especially on the threads about his radio show.
Tony Snow was the first host of "FOX News Sunday", from 1996 to 2003, which finally gave conservatives a Sunday talking head show we could watch without turning off the TV set, and served to counter the liberal bias of the MSM.
Tony Snow joined the Bush administration as Press Secretary on May 8, 2006, and Freepers and conservatives everywhere rejoiced that we'd no longer have to put up with the inept, bumbling, fumbling Scott McClellan. Tony immediately started putting the media in their place; albeit with humor.
It should be noted here for the record that in one of the most breathtaking acts of cyber deception; just before the appointment was announced, EVERY SINGLE mention of Tony, every thread, every post, every cyber footprint by him, was scrubbed. You never would have known that he'd ever been here. Some day Jim Robinson should write the story of how that came about. Obviously, it had to be done, otherwise Snow would have had to spend the first 30 minutes of each WH press conference explaining, well...just about everything that goes on here, gets written here.
Snow was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 2005. He had surgery, returned to FOX News, and was then appointed as Press Secretary in 2006. The cancer returned, sadly, and Snow was forced to curtail his duties as Press Secretary while getting treatment. He died on July 12, 2008. He was always a gentleman, one of the best. He is still missed ( especially when we have to watch Chris Wallace on Sunday mornings.)
I haven't read anything recently about his wife and children. I hope that they are doing well in life,and are comforted by the memory of the time they did spend with him. If anyone has any information, please add it below.
I've searched YouTube, and below are links to some of the Tony's best, most memorable moments. I suspect that many have others, please add the links:
Tony Snow making Helen Thomas look like a fool
Tony Snow: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (featuring David Gregory)
schooling CNN's Suzanne Malveaux
First day at the WH podium (Helen Thomas says "Hi!")
Last day as WH press secretary ("saying goodbye")
Mocking John Kerry. STILL HIGHLY RELEVANT TODAY
I'd be remiss if I neglect to post my personal favorite..when Tony was interviewing Sen Byrd, and "Sheets" went off about "white ni**ers
FYI
RIP Tony and our prayers are with your loved ones
A true Christian Geltleman. Class of 98 BTTT.
We miss you Tony.
I’m in that age group now, early 50s and pretty scary stuff. This is the age when people you knew all your life start dropping off. A friend of mine died a couple years ago from the big C, same age as Tony I believe 52. Then you got James Gandolfini - drops dead of a heart attack only 51 same as John Candy. A lot of people buy it in their 50s for some reason, Steve Jobs, Bogart, Steve McQueen, Michael Landon, Bill Bixby, Frank Zappa, Warren Zevon, almost the entire group of the Ramones... For some reason the 50s seem to be this hump where if you can cross it you’ll probably live into your 70s or later.
I miss Tony Snow.
“Tony joined FR on 4/23/1998, part of the great FReeper class of 1998.”
I was in that class, too: joined Feb. 28, 1998.
Mr Snow was a true gentleman. He was patient and truthful. A real class act.
RIP Mr Snow.....the world is a poorer place without you in it.
Remarks of Tony Snow ... Upon Receiving Freedom of Speech Award From The Media Institute Friends & Benefactors Awards Banquet Washington, D.C. October 16, 2007
Full remarks of Tony Snow pdf.
Thank you for posting this thread and providing these wonderful videos of our FReeper FRiend. He was the only “celebrity” I know that actually enjoyed interacting with us! And told the whole world that he was doing so.
We all miss you, Tony! Miss your posts directly to us. WOOF!
Ken, this thread truly is a work of love. Thank you for taking the time to gather these wonderful moments of our beloved Tony Snow. We have somewhere to go to get away from all the insanity surrounding us now.
Our prayers are with his family.