Tom Foley Dies

Former Speaker of the House Tom Foley passed away today at the age of 84.  Foley, a Democrat from Spokane, WA, was Speaker from 1989 to 1994, having first been elected to the House in 1964.  He was a decent, courtly and distinguished man who was swept out of office in the off-year election of 1994.  The sinister Newt "Poot" Gingrich became the next Speaker, and later caused the first Government shutdown.  Gingrich was the polar opposite of Speaker Foley:  nasty, hyperpartisan, arrogant and unscrupulous.  After his defeat, Foley served as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan in the Clinton Administration.

We would be far, far better off as a nation if there were more Tom Foleys in public office.  RIP.

(h/t to P.E.C.)