Hello again –
Looks like this is a week for obituaries. Probably a good thing to remind us all of our mortality and our need to take the long perspective of what’s important about life. Also we learn new things – often brand-new information seems to show up in the last words written about someone famous.
In Senator Helms' case, I learned from his grandchildren he loved to fix a BIG breakfast for his family – and his most recent pet was a big blue Manx cat which sat on the arm of his recliner and purred with a mighty purr – imitated by his grandson during the funeral service.
As to Tony – it was a first for me to find out he was a musician who played several wind instruments – flutes, saxophones – and guitar. Also one of the obits said when he was a student at Davidson he had long hair down to his shoulders and a full beard. Hard to get a handle on that picture considering how he rather dominated the White House press room with cheerful, almost boyish good looks – and good humor to go with it. His demeanor took the edge off what had been a pretty tense scene almost from the beginning of George W. Bush’s presidency. He gave every evidence of enjoying the job and his words at his last press briefing were, “I’m just sorry I can’t stay longer.”
He wrote speeches and he gave speeches. His last major speech was to the CEPAC convention in February – in which he utilized some of the most inspirational and challenging rhetoric I’ve heard. I quote a little bit of it in today’s program.
I guess my affinity for the work he did is because I share some of the same outlook he did – and know something of the difficulties of dealing with hostile media in a situation that sometimes seems terribly stacked against you. I don’t think Tony ever took notice of that. One writer said he just assumed everyone liked him – and that’s not often seen in
So we say farewell to someone who, even from a distance seemed like a chum and an essentially good guy to be around. His White House colleagues as well as those he worked with in the media all seemed to speak of him with genuine affection and admiration – which is saying a lot in an atmosphere which abounds with super-sized egos.
Tony – our sadness is mixed with joy in knowing you’re not going through any more pain or illness. It was good to know ya.
Cordially, IN HIM
Jack
http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama07-15-08.mp3
http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt07-15-08.doc
“JUST A MINUTE”
GONE TOO SOON
Just A Minute – Tony Snow passed away last Saturday – commended by President Bush and John Podhoretz, a former colleague who wrote this:
[Tony Snow]… wrote speeches, hosted television … and radio shows, and gave endless speeches. In all these pursuits he was agile, deft and successful. But I think it's safe to say it turned out Tony's greatest achievement was his time as White House press secretary. At this crucial job… he proved to be the best -- the best ever, without qualification. He could speak with fluency, honesty, wit, and clarity on every subject under the sun; he remained poised, unruffled…. sure of himself on the podium, in the press room.”
My guess is you’ll be hearing again his final challenge to the troops at the CEPAC convention last February (quote): “This may be a time of testing. But it's not our swan song. Not by a long shot. Instead . . . this is our moment. This is the time to do what we do best -- turn adversity into strength."
Tony’s B.A. In Philosophy came from
<> I’m
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