Former Bush press secretary Tony Snow’s death was announced this morning on several national TV news stations. He was fifty-three, a full decade younger than I am. I can only imagine he and Tim Russert are holding political court somewhere and possibly making friendly wagers regarding the coming presidential election.
Politically speaking, I suspect Snow and I did not vote for the same candidates. Nevertheless, in the seventeen months that he was Bush’s spokesperson, I found him erudite, thoughtful, and professional. It turns out he was also battling colon cancer. Eventually the cancer spread to his liver, which caused his death today.
I can relate, because my own Mother died of colon cancer that spread to her liver. When this happens you don’t have years left; maybe months, maybe weeks. But Snow made the most of it. He resigned his post as Press Secretary in September, 2007 but made appearances at the annual White House Correspondent’s Association Dinner, the Catholic University of America, The Tonight Show, and the Late Show with David Letterman.
Then, this spring he had to cancel some engagements. If there was a mention in the news, it passed me by. Until today, when I accidentally turned on the TV while making our bed and heard the news. Tim Russert must have wanted a journalist companion really badly.
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