Reaction to his exclusive interview with White House Press Secretary Tony Snow has been “tremendous”, NBC’s David Gregory tells TVNewser. The Nightly News story was a personal look at Snow’s battle with cancer. Viewers were able to watch Snow undergoing chemotherapy treatment, and saw him choke back tears when discussing the impact of the disease on his young children.
“Tony has been cautious about talking about (his cancer), about really sharing the ins and outs of it and the impact on his family, so this was different,” Gregory says. “He was willing to let his guard down and show his emotion.” Gregory says the interview was the result of “us approaching him”, discussing the idea with Snow, over a period of time.
Important to Snow, Gregory adds, was the chance for the President’s press secretary to share his experience with others battling the disease, and to demonstrate the “importance of having a determination to live and fight.” Gregory says Snow also reports getting a remarkable response to the interview, “especially from people with cancer”.