Statements about Tony Snow

President George W. Bush issued a statement this morning:


"Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend, Tony Snow. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Jill, and their children, Kendall, Robbie and Kristi. The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character. ... He brought wit, grace and a great love of country to his work. His colleagues will cherish memories of his energetic personality and relentless good humor. All of us here at the White House will miss Tony, as will the millions of Americans he inspired with his brave struggle against cancer."

Statement from MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann:


Tony Snow was an optimistic, funny, and courageous man who could set aside his politics and inspire others to do the same. It might surprise many at all political points, but while we could not have disagreed more on policy, we were in frequent contact, even during his days as Press Secretary, even as I was criticizing his work and he was — in his own words — yelling at the screen as he watched. It was with great sadness that I heard of his death today, and with sincerity I extend my condolences and my staff's to his family. In the best of us, there is a difference between the message and the messenger, and Tony Snow epitomized that.

Roger Ailes appearance this morning on Fox & Friends:


Well, I'd known Tony before. So I'd met him in Washington years ago and I knew of him. And I always thought he was a great communicator and what people don't know about Tony is that he was a genuine intellectual. He had traveled, he understood a lot about foreign policy, he was a writer. He was a very deep thinker. On top of that, he was, he played in a rock band, and sometimes did things you didn't expect of him. So he was a renaissance man in a sense and kind of guy who could go anywhere and have an intellectual conversation with anyone. At the same time, the only thing he ever worried about was his family. That was the only time I ever saw Tony show any concern about anything. If you got on to the family, he'd tell you about his wife, he'd tell you about his kids, and you could tell, that was his focus and his concern, and where he put all of his effort. So, you know, he was a man that we just all admired greatly.

Greta Van Susteren, who anchors a special edition of On The Record tonight at 9pmET, responds on her blog:

Tony was a favorite...not just of mine but of everyone who has worked with him...he was the first person in the DC Bureau to welcome me to Fox and he never stopped being just about the nicest guy you ever met. I never heard him say a harsh thing about anyone (something that I can't say about myself...) I have asked to come in tonight and do a one hour special about Tony.

Statement from CNN anchor Larry King:


Tony Snow was a remarkable colleague and a good friend. He was extraordinarily likable, not only for his sense of humor and wit, but for his gift of giving others the space to express opinions, even if they countered his own. Devoted to his country and family, Tony was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word, and he will be deeply missed.

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