Tom Foley

Tom Foley
49th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office
June 6, 1989 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byJim Wright
Succeeded byNewt Gingrich
25th United States Ambassador to Japan
In office
November 19, 1997 – April 1, 2001
PresidentBill Clinton
George W. Bush
Preceded byWalter Mondale
Succeeded byHoward Baker
Chair of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board
In office
January 16, 1996 – November 19, 1997
PresidentBill Clinton
Preceded byWarren Rudman (acting)
Succeeded byWarren Rudman
Leader of the House Democratic Caucus
In office
June 6, 1989 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byJim Wright
Succeeded byDick Gephardt
House Majority Leader
In office
January 3, 1987 – June 6, 1989
SpeakerJim Wright
Preceded byJim Wright
Succeeded byDick Gephardt
House Majority Whip
In office
January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987
LeaderTip O'Neill
Preceded byJohn Brademas
Succeeded byTony Coelho
Chair of the House Agriculture Committee
In office
January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981
Preceded byWilliam Poage
Succeeded byKika de la Garza
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington's 5th district
In office
January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byWalt Horan
Succeeded byGeorge Nethercutt
Personal details
Born
Thomas Stephen Foley

(1929-03-06)March 6, 1929
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
DiedOctober 18, 2013(2013-10-18) (aged 84)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Heather Strachan
(m. 1968)
EducationGonzaga University
University of Washington (BA, JD)

Thomas Stephen Foley (March 6, 1929 – October 18, 2013) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 49th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1989 to 1995. A member of the Democratic Party, Foley represented Washington's fifth district for thirty years (1965–1995). He was the first Speaker of the House in over a century since Galusha Grow in 1862 to be defeated in a re-election campaign.[1][2]

Born in Spokane, Washington, Foley attended Gonzaga University and pursued a legal career, after graduating from the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle. He joined the staff of Senator Henry M. Jackson, after working as a prosecutor and an assistant attorney general. With Jackson's support, Foley won election to the House of Representatives, defeating incumbent Republican Congressman Walt Horan. He served as Majority Whip from 1981 to 1987, and as Majority Leader from 1987 to 1989. After the resignation of Jim Wright, Foley became Speaker of the House.

Foley's district had become increasingly conservative during his tenure, but he won re-election throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. In the 1994 election, Foley faced attorney George Nethercutt. Nethercutt mobilized popular anger over Foley's opposition to term limits, which coincided with the Republican Revolution, leaving Foley as one of the highest-profile casualties.[3] After leaving the House, Foley served as the United States Ambassador to Japan from 1997 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton.

  1. ^ Langer, Emily (October 18, 2013). "Thomas S. Foley, former House speaker, dies at 84". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  2. ^ Post, The Washington Post | The Washington (October 18, 2013). "Thomas Foley, reluctant but powerful leader, dies at 84". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  3. ^ "Thomas Foley, reluctant but powerful leader, dies at 84". Washington Post. October 18, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2023.