New presidential spokesman far from reserved

Willing to stand up to his boss
Snow wrote in a February column that over time, even the best presidential aides burn out “or worse, lose their capacity to tell the boss, ‘Sir, that idea stinks.”’

In an Associated Press interview Wednesday, he rejected the notion that his past criticism of the president could be an impediment as he becomes the public face of the Bush administration. He said it would be a mistake for people to “waste their time on old columns,” diverting attention from the real issues.

Former White House press secretary Marlin Fitzwater, who worked with Snow in the first Bush administration, said the commentator “has a good personality for bringing together contentious people and contentious issues,” and the independent stature to help him prod the White House staff toward better press relations.

Worked for first President Bush
Snow, who served the first President Bush as a speechwriting director and in media affairs, also has shown a healthy perspective on White House service. In a 2001 column, he offered some advice to members of the new administration, including a reminder to keep their humility in check because “you are just a visitor to the history factory” that is the White House.

“People will kiss up to you in ways you cannot imagine,” he wrote. “In 1991, while I was a minor grandee in that same White House, I received more than 400 Christmas and holiday cards at the office. The following year, following Mr. Bush’s defeat, I received 25.”

Snow’s biography reflects both his standing as a longtime Washington insider and more eclectic elements of his background. He hosted “Fox News Sunday” from 1996 to 2003 and held a string of print journalism positions earlier in his career.

He also has served as an advocate for the mentally ill, taught school in Kenya and Cincinnati and is an avid musician, playing guitars, saxophone and flute. He plays in what he calls “an old-farts rock ’n’ roll band” called Beats Workin’, attended a rock band “fantasy camp” in New York three years ago, and admits he’s a “SportsCenter” junkie.

Fitzwater said Snow’s main concerns about the job focused on health and family,

Snow, who had his colon removed last year after being diagnosed with cancer, delayed a decision on taking the job while he consulted with his doctors and had a CAT scan. Snow and his wife, Jill have three children, 9, 10 and 13.

He said Wednesday he hopes to operate as efficiently as possible and “get as much time off as I can,” working from home on the weekends.

Why give up a comfortable job with a much bigger salary for such a pressure-cooker job?

Said Fitzwater: “I always tell people you may lose your health, your wealth and your family but it’ll still be the greatest job you’ll ever have in your life.”

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