Former Speaker of the House Tom Foley dies
Oct 18, 2013, 8:50 AM | Updated: 9:13 am
Former Speaker of the House and Spokane native, Tom Foley, has died at the age of 84. (AP)
(AP)
Former Speaker of the House and Spokane native, Tom Foley, has died at the age of 84.
Foley served 30 years in the House representing Eastern Washington’s 5th Congressional District, more than five years spent as speaker.
Foley became the first speaker since the Civil War to fail to win re-election in his home district.
The courtly politician lost his seat in the “Republican Revolution” of 1994. The Democrat had never served a single day in the minority. He was defeated by Republican Spokane lawyer George Nethercutt.
Foley went on to serve as a U.S. ambassador to Japan under the Clinton administration.
Foley’s wife, Heather, said the Washington state Democrat died at his home in the nation’s capital.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
