I have to hand it to former White House press secretary Tony Snow, besides being smart, insightful and a wonderful communicator, he is also refreshingly honest. Which is saying a lot when you are talking about people in Washington.
The broadcast journalist turned White House employee has decided to go back to TV and not because he is vain and loves seeing himself on the small screen (though I suppose that could be part of the reason). Rather, the former CNN star says he needs the money.
So Snow has re-joined CNN as a conservative commentator.
I love it.
Snow’s new duties with the cable news network, has him returning to the world of punditry he occupied for 10 years at CNN rival Fox News Channel. (He also hosted Fox’s Sunday morning news show for a few years too.) Before leaving for the White House Snow served as substitute co-host for CNN’s “Crossfire.”
In April 2006, at age 52, Snow was named White House press secretary and he left TV news. His move came about a year after he was diagnosed with cancer and had his colon removed. Snow underwent six months of chemotherapy but in March 2007, he had to endure another surgery to remove a growth in his abdominal area. Doctors determined it was a recurrence of his cancer.
Once the surgery was complete Snow took a five-week absence from his White House duties while he underwent chemotherapy for a second time. A few months later he announced his resignation as press secretary.
But in trademark Snow style instead of naming cancer as the reason for his departure the newsman told it like it was and explained that he needed to earn more than his $168,000 White House salary. “I ran out of money,” Snow, told reporters.
The father of three has also been a newspaper writer, radio host and columnist. And some of you might remember that Snow’s first gig at the White House came under Bush’s father as a speechwriting director.
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