Fox anchor named Bush press secretary
Snow replaces McClellan as White House continues makeover
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Acknowledging the challenges ahead, former Fox News anchor and talk show host Tony Snow began his second stint at the White House on Wednesday, this time as press secretary.
President Bush appeared with Snow in the White House briefing room to announce his choice 15 years after the commentator was a speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush.
"As a professional journalist, Tony Snow understands the importance of the relationship between government and those whose job it is to cover the government," Bush said.
Snow thanked Bush and said he took the position because he believes in the president and wants to work with the White House press corps. (Watch Bush explain why he picked Snow for the job -- 4:44)
"These are times that are going to be very challenging," Snow said. "We've got a lot of big issues ahead, and we've got a lot of important things that all of us are going to be covering together, and I'm very excited and I can't wait."
Neither Bush nor Snow took questions from reporters during the brief announcement.
Snow takes the job as Bush's approval rating in opinion polls has reached a new low -- 32 percent -- and as the GOP-controlled Congress worries about winning the midterm elections. (Full story)
As a commentator, Snow, 50, has had some critical things to say about the president.
For example, in a November 11 column, Snow wrote that Bush's "wavering conservatism has become an active concern among Republicans, who wish he would stop cowering under the bed and start fighting back against the likes of Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Wilson." (Other Snow quotes)
"The newly passive George Bush has become something of an embarrassment," Snow wrote.
During the announcement, Bush shrugged off Snow's past commentary.
"He's not afraid to express his own opinions," the president said. "For those of you who've read his columns and listened to his radio show, he sometimes has disagreed with me. I asked him about those comments, and he said, `You should have heard what I said about the other guy.' "
Snow will replace Scott McClellan, who announced last week he would step down during a West Wing makeover by Josh Bolten, the new White House chief of staff.
Snow officially will take over the post in two weeks.
Before agreeing to take the assignment, Snow had sought and received assurances from Bolten and other senior aides that he would be an active participant in major policy debates and would have a significant say in press and communications hiring, sources said.
The White House hopes that bringing in the conservative commentator will smooth the at-times combative relationship between the administration and press corps, which deteriorated during McClellan's tenure.
The White House press corps often viewed McClellan as not having the needed access to the administration's decision-making to be effective.
The administration approached Snow weeks ago about the job, and sources familiar with his deliberations said he had been focusing on family, financial and health issues before making up his mind.
Snow was diagnosed with colon cancer in February 2005 and had been awaiting medical clearance before reaching a final decision.
Sources said that over the past week, he discussed the post with an array of senior administration officials as well as aides in previous GOP administrations and Republicans close to the White House.
As one source put it, Snow wanted to "address some of his questions and build a comfort level" before giving Bolten a final decision.
Snow also had lunch with Bush to discuss his role, two GOP sources said.
During the administration of Bush's father, Snow was director of speechwriting. Most recently, he has been a weekend news anchor for the Fox News Channel, which he joined in 1996. He also has hosted "The Tony Snow Show" on Fox News Radio.
In addition, he was a nationally syndicated columnist with The Detroit News in Detroit, Michigan, from 1993 to 2001 and was a columnist for USA Today from 1994 to 2000.
Before then, he was an editorial writer at The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk; editorial page editor of The Daily Press in Newport News, Virginia; deputy editorial page editor of The Detroit News; and editorial page editor of The Washington Times.
McClellan became press secretary in July 2003 after his predecessor, Ari Fleischer, resigned. McClellan had been deputy press secretary under Fleischer.
U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday named Tony Snow, a former news anchor and talk show host for the Fox News network, as his new press secretary.

Bush said in a press conference, "I'm confident Tony Snow will make an outstanding addition to this White House staff. I am confident he will help you do your job. My job is to make decisions, and his job is to help explain those decisions to the press corps and the American people."

Snow said in response, "These are times that are going to be very challenging. We've got a lot of big issues ahead, and we've got a lot of important things that all of us are going to be covering together, and I'm very excited and I can't wait."

Snow, 50, replaces Scott McClellan, who submitted his resignation last week.

Before joining Fox News in 1996, Snow was a speechwriter for Bush's father, former President George H.W. Bush.  At Fox News, Snow was a weekend news anchor and host of "The Tony Snow Show" on Fox News Radio.  He was also a nationally syndicated columnist for the ''Detroit News'' from 1993 to 2001.