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Bush Hails Tony Snow During Funeral

By BEN FELLER
,
AP
posted: 81 DAYS 16 HOURS AGO
comments: 204
filed under: Political News, National News
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WASHINGTON (July 17) - President Bush led a poignant tribute on Thursday to his friend and former spokesman, Tony Snow, who lost his public fight with cancer but never surrendered the spirit that defined his life.
The somber president spoke of Snow as he would a member of his family, and to many of those who work at the White House, that's what Snow was. He served a relatively short 16-month stint as Bush's press secretary, but he made friends fast, and earned respect for handling his disease with grace and hope.

Snow Loses Cancer Battle

Tony Snow funeral - 7/17J. Scott Applewhite, AP

Days after former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow lost his battle with cancer, friends and family gathered at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington Thursday to pay their last respects. Here, mourners carry the urn containing Snow's remains after his funeral.

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"Everyone who worked with him quickly grew to love him," the president said. "We will always remember his wry sense of humor and abundant goodness. We'll also remember he was just a lot of fun."
Bush stood beneath the soaring arches of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, a cavernous church on the campus of Catholic University. More than a thousand people came to honor Snow, a collection of family friends, Washington journalists and White House colleagues.
A single portrait of Snow stood near the altar. It showed him in his element, holding forth at a podium, and smiling.
Snow died on Saturday of colon cancer. He was 53.
The president said Snow, in a brief life, amassed a record of accomplishment. Long before he went to work at Bush's White House, Snow was an editorial writer, a columnist, a radio host. Ever comfortable in front of the camera, he was a nationally recognizable face as a TV anchor and conservative commentator.
Snow also worked for Bush's father, the first president Bush. The current president used this bit of history to inject a little levity into the funeral service.
"As a speechwriter in my dad's administration, Tony tried to translate the president's policies into English," Bush said. "As a spokesman in my administration, Tony tried to translate my English into English."
Snow is survived by his wife, Jill, and their three children: Kendall, 16; Robbie, 12, and Kristi, 10.
The president appeared most emotional in speaking directly to Snow's kids.
He said he would often call Snow on the weekends, seeking advice, and find that Snow was absorbed in the lives of children. Snow was invariably cheering on the sidelines of a soccer match, or helping out a child with homework, when he took the presidential phone call.
"He loved you a lot," Bush told the three children. "Today I hope you know that we loved him a lot too."
It was Snow's younger brother, Steven, who served reminders of the Tony Snow that most people never saw, when he was a child. As a youngster growing up in Cincinnati, Tony Snow read the dictionary to master new words. He played his brother in tennis on days even when the weather was absurdly hot.
And then as an adult, Snow reassured others during tough times, even when he was having some of his own.
"We will remember you and miss you, Tony," Steven Snow said. "Love you, bro."
Snow had survived one bout of cancer before he became press secretary in 2006. But the cancer returned in 2007, requiring more surgery and treatment. He described his experience last year to graduating students at Catholic University, imploring them to "Live boldly. Live a whole life."
In his homily, the Rev. David M. O'Connell said Snow's life was measured by his character, courage and optimism.
"Tony Snow did not need a long life for us to measure," he said. "It was, rather, we who needed his life to be longer."
Bush was accompanied at the church by some familiar faces from earlier in his presidency, including former top adviser Karl Rove, one-time chief of staff Andrew Card and former counselor Dan Bartlett. Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne, were there, as was first lady Laura Bush.
Scott McClellan, Snow's predecessor as press secretary and the author of a scathing tell-all about the Bush White House, attended. He did not appear to cross paths with Bush. Other press secretaries from Bush's tenure and the Bill Clinton White House attended too.
For the president, it was a long day.
He flew by Marine One helicopter directly from a ball field at Catholic University to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, then jetted to California to tour fire-damaged areas and hold a fundraiser for Republicans later Thursday.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-07-17 18:30:25
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CAMANTQ

04:15 PMJul 18 2008

A Repub-lie-con mouthpeice, unlike Scott McCullen, who saved himself, Tony Snow sold his soul to the devil.. Those who lie, for the sake of political power, corporate greed, the exploitation of humanity, represent an evil that has destroyed American idea of the rule of law, equal opportunity, and the preservation of individual rights.. America keeps running out, and voting these clowns in power, so they evidently like to be used and abused.. Tony can say hello to Jerry Faldwell for us..

AVG RATING:
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Potterc771

03:56 PMJul 18 2008

I can't believe what i am reading right now. I cannot believe that There are people who are writing hateful and rude things about a person who has just passed on a left a wife and three children. Don't you have any respect? How can you write things like that? I mean honestly, how do you think it would make his family and friends feel if they read such things? I can't believe that people are so bitter a crude and would right such terrible things. I think that all of you writing things should just think about how it would make you feel if this was being written about you or one of your loved ones. I don't know about you but i certainly wouldn't appreciate it. Maybe you should think about that the next time you write something like that.

AVG RATING:
(1)

Sdave7596

01:45 PMJul 18 2008

HF...please tell us all about John McCain's stellar accomplishments after 25 years in Congress.....he has not set the world on fire....McCain/Feingold is the only legialstion bearing his name, and conservatives despised him for it, along with his failed amnesty bill...tell us all about his stance on EVERY issue and why you are supporting him....we will be waiting....

AVG RATING:
(1)

PerryFitz

01:40 PMJul 18 2008

Just another liar liar liar for the bush administration.

AVG RATING:
(2)

TFCrow

12:39 PMJul 18 2008

Here's one for the republicons. Using the 9/11 to hate the Democrats. His own words. 9/11 would not have happened if there was a republicon was in office. What planet is he on?http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/07/18/truly-disgusting-dis play/

AVG RATING:
(1)

HFPavon

12:26 PMJul 18 2008

7596No hate...just reality. Obama was hand selected by the media a year and a half ago and they will do what they have to do to get him elected.Kids on college campuses cannot tell you WHAT they think Senator Obama brings to the table except for "hope" and "change". ..and that my friend, is sad. The under-served and less fortunate will demand more, personal incentive will decline and those who get up early, work hard in the middle and stay up late will begin to ask themselves "why".The reason for the mass hysteria surrounding this inexperienced, liberal democrat charismatic political movie star is yet to be determined. On the job executive training, for me, is a turn off.Now, back to Tony Snow. You completely missed my point...because you have your Obama sticker on the back of your car. He is unvetted, he is full of surprises,

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TFCrow

12:18 PMJul 18 2008

U.S. FEDERAL DEBTJAN 21, 2009 $10 TRILLION EXPECTEDJAN 21, 2005 $7,614,468,360,651.30JAN 19 2001 $5,727,776,738,304.64JAN 21,1997 $5,310,267,076,516.85Jan 20 1993 $4,188,092,107,183.60SOURCE: OFFICIAL STATS FROM US DEPT OF TREASOFFICIAL US GOVT. SITES/STATS: the defecit under Bush for 8 years.

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TFCrow

12:16 PMJul 18 2008

The republicons will be using their racial muslim rhetoric tonight again.

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(0)

Davidjcodd1

12:14 PMJul 18 2008

Tony Snow was a very good man, seems we see less and less of them eachyear. The passing is hard to understand however Tony would just say this ispart of life.

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Sdave7596

11:11 AMJul 18 2008

HF - you accuse of others of being 'haters' yet your comments about Obama are not much better....llike I always say, the door swings both ways on hatred and knows no political party....

AVG RATING:
(2)

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