It's all in the hands: People managing editor Larry Hackett's (left) questions ranged from expansive to specific, but former White House press secretary Tony Snow's responses stayed tight throughout.

For an out-of-work White House press secretary, Tony Snow remained remarkably on-message during an interview this evening by People managing editor Larry Hackett at the keynote session that opened the 2007 American Magazine Conference here in Boca Raton, Florida.

In a conversation that lasted just under an hour, including a handful of audience queries that followed a rapidfire stream of questions from Hackett, Snow -- who also worked within President George H.W. Bush's administration as director of speechwriting -- held the conversational line just as strongly as he maintained it throughout his stint as press secretary.

A magazine vet who currently heads up corporate communications at a major media conglomerate marveled to us after the interview, "I was fascinated by all the questions to which [Snow] said, 'I don't know.' In communications, you're supposed to have the answer for everything." To us, Snow's question marks made him seem uninformed like a fox. For all the answers Snow could and (perhaps tellingly) couldn't -- and frequently wouldn't -- provide, read on.

On serving in Bush White Houses I and II: The two Bush presidents are "different kinds of managers"

What it was like under Bush II: "Being press secretary, believe it or not, was a blast."

On similarities working in both Bush White Houses: "One thing we had in both White Houses was ratings in the 30's."

On the freedom those within the Bush II administration have when it comes to divergent opinions: "You don't see it, the process in this White House -- there are raging arguments."
Hackett: "Give us one."
Snow [instantaneously]: "No."

On whether he looks back and wonders if he'd done things differently, the president's approval rating would've been higher: "I'm not the kind of guy who's going to be able to move numbers."

On whether he had enough access to W., compared to previous Bush II press secretaries: "I had the access I needed.
You don't say to your predecessor, 'Hey, did you get screwed on access?' I had what they call 'walk-in' privileges. If I needed to see him, I'd call the secretary and usually I'd see him with 10 or 15
minutes, unless he was in the middle of a longer-term meeting."

Hackett: "Did you ever say to [Bush II], 'Hey, why did you say *that* in the press conference?'"

Snow: "Usually, someone had already said it for me."

Hackett: "Does he think the press are fair?"

Snow [with his first pause in response to a question]: "I don't know... he's not the type to dis the press."

On editors sending reporters questions, via Blackberries, etc., to ask in real time: "If you're doing that in real time, it's easy to be real stupid."

Hackett: "What was the most uncomfortable position you had to get behind?"
Snow: "There really were no dark nights of the soul when I worked at the White House."

Hackett: "Who was the best White House reporter?"
Snow: "I'm not going to do that."

On the media's political leanings: "The Washington press corps is the most reliable Democratic voting bloc."

Hackett: "Is the Democratic race over?"
Snow [immediately]: "Yes."
Hackett: "Why?"
Snow: "Because it is."

Audience Q: How much did you interact w/ vice president Dick Cheney?

Snow: [In meetings, Cheney] "doesn't speak up unless it's vital to do so."

On how Snow thinks his replacement Dana Perino handled communicating to the press exactly when former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez gave notice: "I have not spent a lot of time watching press briefings since I left."

"There is a perceived bias on the part of Fox because it doesn't treat conservatives like knuckle-dragging morons."
Hackett: "Are you saying CNN does?"
Snow: "No."

On Bill O'Reilly: "If you get in his way [salutes], nice knowing you."

On what Bush II will do once he leaves office: "He will live in Crawford[, Texas]. I'm sure he'll set up urban housekeeping, as well... He'll write a book. He'll work on things... The president's formulation for [leaving office] is, he's going to run through the tape."

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