WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Tony Blankley, a conservative journalist and commentator who once wrote speeches for President Ronald Reagan, has died, The Washington Times said. He was 63.
Blankley had stomach cancer.
At the time of his death Saturday, he was vice president of the Edelman public relations firm in Washington, a visiting senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation think tank, a syndicated newspaper columnist, a regular weekly guest on "The McLaughlin Group," and an on-air political commentator for CNN, NBC and NPR.
Blankley was editorial page editor of the Times 2002-2007.
He had served six years in the Reagan administration in positions including speechwriter and senior policy analyst.
From 1990-1997, he was press secretary and general adviser to House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Blankley had also served 10 years as a prosecutor with the California attorney general's office.
Blankley, born in London, became a naturalized U.S. citizen after his parents moved to California after World War II.
