WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's former press secretary Tony Snow has died of cancer, the White House confirmed on Saturday.
Snow, 53, who had been a conservative radio and televisioncommentator, resigned in August 2007 as Bush's spokesman aftertaking the job the previous year.
Bush in a statement said he and his wife Laura "are deeplysaddened by the death of our dear friend," and called Snow "oneof our nation's finest writers and commentators" who "earned aloyal following with incisive radio and television broadcasts."
Snow learnt in March last year that the cancer he hadfought earlier had returned, and he subsequently underwentchemotherapy. He said his decision to quit his post was forfinancial, not health, reasons. He had earned far more as acommentator than his White House salary.
The affable Snow was credited with livening up the dailynews briefings and was admired for his skill at sparring withreporters.
Bush in his statement noted Snow had worked as a speechwriter in the administration of his father, former PresidentGeorge H.W. Bush, "and I was thrilled when he agreed to returnto the White House to serve as my press secretary."
Bush said it was "a joy to watch Tony at the podium eachday. He brought wit, grace, and a great love of country to hiswork," and said Snow's colleagues "will cherish memories of hisenergetic personality and relentless good humour."
Snow and his wife Jill had three children.
