Remembering Tony Snow, a First-Rate Human Being

So much has been said and written about Tony Snow--albeit less than was written about Tim Russert, another good and capable journalist.

I offer, however, my own personal recollection. While a junior in high school, ca. 1994, I attended the Washington Journalism Conference. The Conference was a chance for high school kids considering a career in mass communications to experience the center of the media universe up-close.

The first night, the keynote speaker was a young columnist and former White House speechwriter by the name of Tony Snow. I was ecstatic. One of the few conservatives present, I had just been listening to Tony subbing for Rush Limbaugh that week.

After his speech, I confidently asked him a question. I was troubled by the media double-standard in how they'd treated Reagan-era scandals versus those of the (pre-Monica) Clinton administration. Whitewater was on my mind. The media's lack of coverage was as well.

Tony told me that I was looking at things the wrong way. He told me that the job of reporters wasn't "to tear the other guy's face off." He told me that the search for truth was what mattered, and a willingness to report facts without prejudice, without malice. Essentially, he told me journalists needed to proceed as gentlemen.

Later that night, he good-naturedly agreed to pose for a photo with me--a kid who no doubt was starting to overstay my welcome. I have that photo to this day.

Now, it's an even more precious memento of a man whose character will always mark him as a giant, and a reminder of what it is to do a job well.

Tony Snow is one of my great heroes. He will be missed. I just consider myself lucky to have actually been personally touched, and made better, by him.

Christian W. Peck of NY 1:46AM July 16, 2008