At 9:10 a.m. Wednesday morning President George W. Bush entered the White House Press Room to announce that Mount Vernon District resident and Fox News radio and television personality Tony Snow would become his new press secretary. He replaces Scott McClellan who recently resigned after three years in that position.
A long-time journalist, with experience in both written and electronic media, Snow is no stranger to the White House or the press corps. He served as Director of Speechwriting and Deputy Assistant to the President for Media Affairs in the first President Bush's White House.
As a columnist and news talk show host, Snow is familiar with many of the journalists that cover the President and White House on a regular basis. He started his journalism career in 1979 as an editorial writer for The Greensboro Record in North Carolina. From there he wrote editorials for The Virginia Pilot and managed the editorial pages for both The Daily Press News and Washington Times.
"I'm confident Tony will make an outstanding addition to the White House staff. And, I'm confident he will help you (the press corps) do your job. My job is to make decisions, and his job is to help explain those decisions to the press corps and the American people," said President Bush.
In thanking the President for choosing him, Snow said, "I'm delighted to be here. One of the reasons I took the job is not only because I believe in the President, because being here I want to work with you. These are times that are going to be very challenging. We've got a lot of issues ahead, and we've got a lot of important things that all of us are going to be covering together."
Snow is no stranger to adversity and challenge. In February 2005 he was diagnosed with colon cancer. He underwent two surgical procedures and six months of chemotherapy.
He was off the air for five week after his original surgery. But, he worked throughout the time of his chemotherapy treats except for one session. "You find out what you're made of and how many people love you," he said at that time.
He has been given a clean bill of health, but continues the normal three month regimen of check ups required of any cancer survivor. After five years these normally are reduced to annual appointments.
Announcing, in a Gazette article last December, that he feels good, Snow said, "I never get cocky, this is a fiendish disease."
Snow is married with three children and plays in a Rock Band known as "Beats Working." Professionally he's been cited for his work by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Associated Press, and Gannett. For seven years he served as the host of Fox News Sunday and most recently hosted "The Tony Snow Show" on Fox News Radio as well as "Weekend Live with Tony Snow" on Fox News television.
No exact date was announced at the press conference for the hand-off from McClellen to him. McClellen will work with Snow during a transition period.