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Breaking News: Tony Snow dies; ex-Bush press secretary was 53 | Top of the Ticket | Los Angeles Times

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

Snow died about 2 a.m. Eastern in Georgetown University Hospital. Snow was 53 and is survived by his wife Jill Ellen Walker and their three children. Kendall, Robbie, and Kristi.

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

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

Last September after 17 months in the White House job, Snow retired as President George W. Bush's third press secretary, saying 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," the president 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's positions.

Labels: Media, White House press