No One Likes the White House Anymore
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, who is battling cancer, will step down in two weeks and be replaced by his deputy, Dana Perino, President Bush said on Friday.
"It's been a joy to watch him spar with you," Bush told reporters. "He's smart, he's capable, he's witty, he's ... able to talk about issues in a way the American people understand."
Snow, 52, a former Fox News commentator who was hired last year, announced in March that he had suffered a recurrence of colon cancer.
"I don't know what he's going to do, I'm not sure he does yet either," Bush said. "One, he'll battle cancer and win, and secondly he'll be a solid contributor to society."
Snow, who will depart on September 14, said he plans to give speeches and stay involved with politics.
"I'm going to try to turn cancer into a chronic disease rather than a fatal disease," Snow added.
Snow has been working while undergoing chemotherapy. A few weeks ago he indicated he would be leaving for financial reasons sometime before Bush's term ends in January 2009.
"I ran out of money," Snow said.
