Tom Foley, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, has passed away at the age of 84. His wife, Heather, confirmed his death today. Foley represented Eastern Washington for 30 years and was the first speaker to lose a reelection vote in 134 years in 1994. Nicknamed “Big Tom”, for his tall stature of 6’3”, the Democrat served as U.S. ambassador to Japan and calmed tensions over Okinawa and smoothed relations between two close allies that had very different cultures. Foley took his job seriously, but never himself. He found amusement in dragged out situations such as forging the bipartisan coalition with which the House ratified the North American Free Trade Act. Foley was the son of Spokane County Superior Court Judge Ralph Foley and his mother was part of a pioneer Lincoln County family.

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He started with politics in 1964, going up against established 22 year Republican incumbent Rep. Walt Horan. Foley developed a reputation for politeness from the start. After defeating Horan, he threw a reception for him. Foley was elected to a Congress that was ruled by seniority and chaired by Southern conservatives. He was also a fan of food-safety legislation and worked to give an overhaul to the federal food stamp program, which became a target of conservatives 40 years later. Foley developed a fascination with Japanese culture and supported expansion of U.S. exports rather than imposing taxes on Japanese goods. In 1969, he married Heather Strachan in a ceremony in Sri Lanka and she became the unpaid chief of staff to him. He allowed legislation that created the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area on the Snake River. Despite being a Democrat, Foley was a supporter of gun rights and was an ally of the National Rifle Association. He will be forever remembered as a person standing tall over dire situations.

Read more of Tom Foley's death at USA Today.

 

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