Boone recalls Tom Foley as friend and statesman

When former Washington State Rep. Tom Foley died Friday, Oct. 18, it sparked a lot of memories for at least one Whitman County resident. Foley was 84 when he died in Washington, D.C.

Foley served in the House of Representatives for 15 terms, from 1965 to 1994 and became Speaker of the House in 1989. He was also U.S Ambassador to Japan during the Clinton administration.

Port of Whitman County Commissioner Dan Boone considered Foley a good friend, particularly when Boone was a county commissioner.

“I remember when I was a commissioner, Tom would come down to talk to us when they were on their break,” Boone said last week. “He came into the commissioners’ office and just put his feet up and be Tom Foley.”

“To me, he was not a politician, he was a statesman.”

Although he was a Republican, Boone said Foley never tried to recruit him to the Democratic political party.

“I generally follow (Republican) party lines, but once in a while, I cross over the line,” Boone said.

“My wife, Nancy, and I used to go back to Washington, D.C., and he always had time for us,” Boone said. “We used to go to the ‘hill’ and have lunch. We felt free to come to Tom’s office.”

Boone also remembers having lunch in former House Speaker Tip O’Neill’s office and also getting a tour of the capitol in Foley’s limousine.

“Whenever I was in town, I felt I could go into his office,” Boone said.

“He was a true gentleman,” Boone said. “There are a lot of politicians, but few statesmen. He was a true statesman.”

“He was a great guy and even though we had different political persuasions, he cared for the people,” Boone said.

Boone also said Foley was concerned about transportation, farm issues, education and financial issues, and also talked to constituents about the Snake River dams and their importance to Eastern Washington.

“I remember one time when Nancy and I were in Washington, D.C., and we were visiting with Tom and I said, ‘I kind of believe you’re trying to persuade this Republican,’ and he laughed,” Boone said.

“I voted for him,” Boone said. “I vote for the person and what they do,” he said.

“He was the neatest guy and he really heard you,” Boone commented.