Tony Snow, the legendary journalist who, despite his criticism of the Bush administration, was named third White House Press Secretary under current president George W. Bush, has died of complications from colon cancer. Praised by both friends and adversaries, Tony Snow managed in his short tenure as the White House's press link to turn around a trend by his two predecessors, who did not manage to wisely deal with the hostility towards the institution they represented.

Tony Snow's honesty, professionalism, intelligence, eloquence, humor, energy, knowledge of the complicated details of policy, and, most of all, his character which imposed respect from all those who were lucky enough to know him, made the former Press Secretary an inspiration not only to journalists, but also to politicians and, after his disease was made public, to cancer patients and survivors.

He managed to be liked by reporters attending the White House, despite being the spokesman of the most criticized administration in recent history and, perhaps, in all the history of the United States. Part of the key to his success as White House Press Secretary was that he actually liked the job. "You know, everybody talks about what a horrible job it is to brief the press. I love these briefings and I'm really going to miss them," he said at his last briefing, on Sept. 12 last year.

The President also issued a statement from Camp Davis, highlighting the many professional and human qualities that Tony Snow had, which were crowned by a great love of country which he brought to his work.

Tony Snow resigned in September last year, alleging that the White House job doesn't pay too well and he ran out of money. He was missed by reporters and the administration alike, and perhaps by the American people as well. On the White House podium, he was a true showman, managing to gracefully spar with reporters, defusing tensions with humor and wit. His experience as a TV anchor meant that he knew exactly what to do and how to act to play to the cameras.

Tony Snow, whose full name was Robert Anthony Snow, also worked for President George H. W. Bush as chief speechwriter and Deputy Assistant of Media Affairs (1991-1993). Snow was also a regular personality on Fox News Channel since 1996, hosted his own talk radio program, The Tony Snow Show, and joined CNN as a commentator shortly before his death. His mother also died of colon cancer, when he was just 17.