Monday, July 14, 2008

Tony Snow Had "Virtue to Withstand the Highest Bidder.”   [Steve Schippert]

Army Lt. Gen. William Caldwell fondly remembers Tony Snow as a positive and inspiring voice during difficult times.

I had the honor of communicating with Tony on a weekly basis while I was assigned to the Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) as the chief spokesman. During this extraordinarily challenging period of time Tony continually provided me, and everyone else, with a renewed sense of pride in our mission. As a personal friend and mentor, he was an adamant supporter of our efforts to communicate all that was being accomplished by the Coalition Force and the Iraqi people during a very tumultuous period in our Nation’s history. Even though his own health was failing, he provided us in Iraq with a renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm every time we spoke. . . .

George Washington once said “Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.”

Tony Snow was one of those few men.

And so he was. Though my only contact with him was a phone call or two and, later, a cordial handshake, I sensed the same things that so many have said about him in the past few days, and perhaps one more thing, shaped by the perspective of our conversations: Tony listened. There is no short supply — particularly in Washington, DC — of those who will look you in the eye simply waiting for your lips to stop moving. Not Tony Snow. I think the source of this lies the same qualities in the man that elicited General Caldwell's praise and that of so many others.

Rest in peace, Mr. Snow. You will be missed.

07/14 08:50 AMShare